Personal Websites

Hi Ray,

The no right click thing was a joke to start with, but it stayed, for some reason..

The open in new window thing, problem is people run software like popup killers to top new windows opening, so nothin would open... I'll try and get a script under a button on there to goback to previous page maybe.

Sadly, not heading to outback challange, but could be the last year for it apparently. Apparently they charge you a substancial fee to go see the event, bollox to that!

Ray

If you hold down shift whilst clicking on the link, it will open it in a new window. This is in Internet Explorer. Unsure if Netscape behaves in this manner.

cheers,
Sam.

Personal sites, my host charges $50 a yr, or you can use your own ISP account like optusnet.com.au etc wihch are free.

I didnt use my optusnet account as its a PITA when you change ISP's which Ive done several times over the yrs!

the .com domain name is ~$50($25us)
$15 /yr for org.au (need to be an incorporated body)
$30 Yr for .com.au (need an ABN)

I do all the work myself using Notepad in Windows...
You can get pages done for around $300 thats images scanned in and uploaded, and around 5 pages.. Frames or no frames.

Funding, $100 aint all that bad! I dont want to get commercial, but I would like freebies :-D

Its upto you. what do you like is the way I look at it!

Depends on what you want with the site. Im not worried about search engines so I may be different..

There are 10000000's of commercial sites out there with frames, and they come up in search engines quite fine! PHP is the latest thing but its not simple...

Other option is you can use a table like this site, left and top frames, gives the effect of frames. Gets complicated with sub tables etc etc

Im actually going to mates to learn Cold Fusion and some tricky shiat this weekend if I can get parole from woman..

when it comes to this box of buttons im lost so its interesting to hear from diferant people as i know nothing about code writing if it wasnt for front page iwould still be working on the damded web site thanks for the info
Regards bruceBudget Signs

G Day Malissa
just a tip i built my web page using frontpage & it is abit limited in its effects the other thing you need to watch out for is that many of isps dont host front page extensions ,es pecially the later version of front page so might be worth checking that you are able to upload big pond before you pay up
Regards
BruceBudget Signs

Thanks Bruce, already checked with Bigpond and shouldn't be a problem.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

Melissa
when you say fade / blend do youmeen as a dynamic effect where one set of words fade awy to be rplaced by anouther or where the letters them selfs are blended from one coluor to anouther ie dark blue to lite blue
Budget Signs

Hi Bruce,

I was referring mainly to picture graphics where two or more graphics lend inot each other. An example of this is at:
http://www.fishingtheterritory.com.au
On the LHS there is a logo layered on top of a background graphic. No problems so far, I can do this. What I can't figure out is how to seemlessly blend this "background" with the other graphics being the fish and the water. Or is this really only something the experts can do? BTW, I have Paint Shop Pro.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

Melissa

you should be able to do it with PSP. You just need to use layers and fiddle with the transparency settings for each layer
ie you have the water as the base layer
then place the fish in a layer over the top of this. then you somehow need to set a mask over the area you need to change the transparency on.

Make sure you work in PSP's native file format to ensure full support for the layers. Once you are happy you can then flatten the image into a bitmap or jpeg or whatever format you wish to use.

cheers,
Sam.

Hi Sam,

Thought it was something like that. I had a play around with layers and transparency masks a while ago but I just couldn't seem to get it to work and gave up in the end because I wasn't sure if I was on the right track or not. I'm not trying to do anything too fancy...I have a great photo I want to use as a background then blend in a pic of our rig.

I'll have to give it another try.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

Melissa

isnt that how most pages end up ? HUGE... Also remember to test it in different browsers of different versions, as you will find it wont work with some and others have problems to!

10 meg should be TONS! The thing to look at is if they have a thruput of data limit.

Frontpage, HATE IT.. Puts so much code in there that you dont need... Tried it once, my pages went 3 times the size in KB, and the site slowed down to a crawl.

Took me 2 weeks to fix it all again till I was happy, but was an excuse to do it.


I think people worry too much about it, like Lizard says hes worried its not very professional. WHO CARES DUDE! Its YOUR site, and its up there telling people about the world.

Hi Melissa,

I just managed to work out how to do it in Photoshop. PSP has the ability for basic work, but I dont think it can do it like Photoshop.

What I did was set up a document with 2 layers. Selected the top layer. Set Quick Mask mode on, used the lasso tool to creat the selection. I then used the gradient tool to creat a horizontal gradient on the selection. Then turned off the Quick mask mode and saved the selection to a new Channel named alpha. Then having the layer selected, i clicked on the Add Vector mask button at the bottom of the layer palette.

PSP seems to work with simple black or white alpha but I had trouble working out how to get it to work with a greyscale gradient. So if you can get PSP to run with a 256 Greyscale Alpha channel then you are laughing. This might be possible by using other greyscale images as the basis of the mask, but I am not sure.

Photoshop is definately easier for this job.

Anyhow, good luck

cheers,
Sam.

Malissa
looks like Problem solvered let us know when your site is up & running would love to Have look at it , i am almost inspired enough t a have anouther crack at my site it could do with some improvement
by the way its www.budgetsigns.biz for anybody thats interested comments &advise would be greatly apreciated
Regards BruceBudget Signs

Thanks Sam,

I'll try to get hold of Photoshop. I've spent hours in Paintshop trying to figure how to do what vou've done in an hour in Photoshop! I had the same problem you encountered in Painshop...black or white alpha. Couldn't seem to get greyscale gredient.

I'll let you know how I go.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

gday all i just tried it in photoexpress & if you spent the time to get it right you shuold be able to achieve it ,if you would like a loan of iphoto express let me know
Regards bruceBudget Signs

Melissa,

It seems that Paint Shop Pro 8 has the ability to handle a gradient mask. I have just been playing around with it and managed to achieve the desired effect you were after. Photoshop still seems to pull it off better though. But it looks like PSP8 has some nice improvements over 7. Still looking at all of them as I have only just got hold of it.

cheers,
Sam.

HiSam,

You're obviously having more luck than me. It's got me completely stuffed because despite spending hours on it I just can't seem to figure it out. I've been trying to get hold of Photoshop but with no luck. Just about decided to take Bruce (above) up on his offer for a loan of PhotoExpress.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

what is a frame?_____________________________________________
Countin the days till July 5th. *Cape York Trip*
_____________________________________________

Voxson,

A frame is exactly as the name suggests. If you have a look at the link Truckster provided in the initial post of this thread to his web site.

You will see that the menu on the left hand side remains still (static) whilst you scroll up and down the right hand side.

This is allowable through the use of frames.

What you have is an underlying 'parent' document which contains the information for the layout of the page(s) you will actually see.

Each frame is a seperate web page (or 'child' page), but through the use of frames, multiple pages can effectively be viewed as one, allowing for such features as menu pages, header pages, footers etc. This allows some pages or frames to remain static (ie a Menu), whilst the "body" frame can be updated to contain information that reflects on a particular item on the menu page you clicked. (refer to Trucksters page - ie clicking on Contact Us in a menu would load contact details into the "body" frame).

hope I haven't confused you - best this is to look at Trucksters site.

cheers,
Sam.

Yea its as Sam said.

Look at my page, you see 2 1/2s...

The left is the list of things to click on EG the MENU(Frame 1)

Then a line down the page...

Then the right half with the info in it, EG the car with water Applet(Frame 2) When you click the words in Frame 1, they open in frame 2.

You can actually have as many frames as u like!, one on each side, and top and bottom, but I hate that as it doesnt leave much room for the information inside the center frame.

If you want a page, I can do the code, you send me the info, and basics of what you want designed on a piece of paper, send me some $$ with it, and then I'll scan in the images, and also will burn them to CD for you, and upload the page...

You tell me where you want the site, or contact Steve he can host there, doesnt have to be a domain, can be http://cocka.offroad.au.com/ or for $$25us www.cocka.com if its not being used ;)~

Hi Lizard,

Checked out your web-site and enjoyed your trip journals. Next best thing to being on hols yourself is reading about someone elses adventures. Course, it doesn't help the itchy feet LOL.

Noticed you're in Pinjarra (I'm in Mandurah). I recently started a WA Campertrailer group and have quite a few members in our general vicintiy. Drop in and say hi if you like at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wa_campertrailers

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

Lizard.

Dont put yourself down as its YOUR page, doesnt have to be microsoft.com to be impressive. Remember that.

Basic pages are quicker, and easier to navigate!

Look at some sites are they are crappy they are that packed with stuff and SLOW.. look at Spy V Spy my ALL TIME fav band, but their site is the pits...

shouldnt that be vspyvspy truckster.they were a good band wernt they.easter fun at jamison

Diamond, sort of.

They had to change their names in the 80s to just spy v spy, and they are still going. Ive over the years seen them 21 times in and around NSW!

They were touring up till Xmas and had a whole load of dates for Vic, but couldnt get venues. http://www.fadzter.com/smilies/censored.gif

I just ordered another AO TV Mod Ver CD as I wore out the original one!http://www.fadzter.com/smilies/buttrock.gif

Truckster (Vic) posted this followup

Diamond, sort of.

They had to change their names in the 80s to just spy v spy, and they are still going. Ive over the years seen them 21 times in and around NSW!

They were touring up till Xmas and had a whole load of dates for Vic, but couldnt get venues.


I just ordered another AO TV Mod Ver CD as I wore out the original one!

Lizard..
I checked out your web site tonight. Its cool. I love to read of others trips into the outback, as we are novices and our planned first "big" trip is at least two years away, it gives us great ideas when we read of trips by others!
My web site is just one week old at present.... built with FrontPage Express!! I may graduate to something better in the future but at present I am having fun with what I have got.
the address is
http://home.iprimus.com.au/chapples/ if you fancy taking a peek.
Cheers and keep up the stories!
Brian

beaut

thanks Truckster

will look into it

sounds like a pretty good deal

cheers,
Sam.

Dude, that $8000 is worth $20k in my opinion.. TD42s regularly get 500k klms... Theres not many 3.0's out there with that many klms, but theres problems with some..

YMMV, but the horror stories on the patrol list about towing with 3.0's I wouldnt wee on one. Take a look for yourself.

Theres a Database in progress from the 850+ users on the patrol list about problems with the Patrol series, it will be fully searchable the lot.

YMMV

Michelle,

Not sure if I should ask here or via 'Contact Us', but what sort of rates would you charge?

Just looking at somewhere to put all my travel info for family and others to see - something very basic.Just Do It!

Glenn,
Never been asked to do a private site for anyone because of the cost involved. Most people who want a private site do it themselves - and spend heaps of time mucking around trying to work out what to do. I suppose if time is money to you then you might want to pay someone to do your site. We charge to cover our time and bill accordingly. We give you options for domain registration, hosting etc. We can offer free hosting for this sort of site.

Send me an email direct with specifics - concept, number of pages, images etc. The trickiest thing about not doing your own private site is you have to keep paying someone to update it. What we do for business customers is provide ftp access and we often build them a database front-end if they have shop products etc to maintain images, prices, descriptions etc so they don't have to know how to build webpages to change their own site on the fly. Guess you don't need that however...ExplorOz