Updating PHP Website - Comments & Suggestions

[RHoldenSr]

Between our oldest son and myself we have been updating my website Holden Photography for the last few weeks. We now have the main site loading in under 2secs and reloading in most cases under 1sec (Broadband).

I would love to hear any comments, suggestions and feedback on my website. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

My main design idea for this site was a place for my gallery number one and second have the option to purchase prints. If at some time I decide to I will add a services menu and etc.

I had the PHPNuke theme and Gallery Skin created by sort of a rent-a-coder.

I am not really big on coding a website but I do get by. I did all of the installations for PHPNuke, PHP MyAdmin, Gallery, and the Modified Jenado Cart. Some bugs were worked out when the rent-a-coder installed the theme and skin for the site.

Does anyone here have PHPNuke, MSQL, and PHP Gallery experience?

I would like to hear suggestion on the best way to edit and view/preview the PHP webpages? As you know they can not be viewed in a Windows environment.

Also if you have any additional module or block ideas for the site let me know.

You can send me a PM, Email or contact me on AIM via RLHoldenSr


Robin Holden, Sr.

[LoungeLizard]

Originally Posted by RHoldenSr

Between our oldest son and myself we have been updating my website Holden Photography for the last few weeks. We now have the main site loading in under 2secs and reloading in most cases under 1sec (Broadband).

I would love to hear any comments, suggestions and feedback on my website. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

My main design idea for this site was a place for my gallery number one and second have the option to purchase prints. If at some time I decide to I will add a services menu and etc.

I had the PHPNuke theme and Gallery Skin created by sort of a rent-a-coder.

I am not really big on coding a website but I do get by. I did all of the installations for PHPNuke, PHP MyAdmin, Gallery, and the Modified Jenado Cart. Some bugs were worked out when the rent-a-coder installed the theme and skin for the site.

Does anyone here have PHPNuke, MSQL, and PHP Gallery experience?

I would like to hear suggestion on the best way to edit and view/preview the PHP webpages? As you know they can not be viewed in a Windows environment.

Also if you have any additional module or block ideas for the site let me know.

You can send me a PM, Email or contact me on AIM via RLHoldenSr


Robin Holden, Sr.

I love your photos of Bryce Canyon and the others. The colors are incredible. I visited Bryce back about 14 years ago - right after visiting the Grand Canyon. After leaving Grand Canyon, I never thought I'd see anything as impressive - then I got to Bryce. Wow. The colors - specially at sunrise.

I've scanned some of the slides, but the colors and detail are not the same (to me) as with digital.

[bburton]

Robin,

With this observation, I'm not saying that your web site isn't appealing as constructed, and I'm not neccessarily endorsing Ken Rockwell's views on photography and photographic equipment, BUT I do advocate the way his web site is set up.

http://kenrockwell.com/

He uses a simple, fast loading portal as the main index, leading into the rest of the site with its more detailed pages with advertising etc.

In this day of the rapid, impatient surfer, I endorse a simple, fast-loading main page with just the basics visible.

Bruce

[saroy]

Nice site! You've obviously put a lot of work into it.

My main suggestion would echo what the previous poster said -- there is a lot of stuff on your front page, which is a bit distracting. It's personal preference for sure, but I always find myself spending more time on sites that are simply designed and only have what's necessary. For example, your "Main Menu" is very small and buried on the left -- if it's truly the main menu, make it obvious. :)

There are so many links on your main page that an impatient, short-attention span viewer (like myself!!) doesn't know where to start.

I'm not trying to be overly critical, just sharing my personal tastes. :)

[RHoldenSr]

I love the comments please keep them coming :)

As I mentioned my knowledge of PHP and etc is limited.
I did manage to scrape enough together to do the installs I needed.

I only recently solved the problem of the right blocks not appearing on the right hand side of the pages.

The messages I had posted on the main page were in simple HTML code and were inserted into the "Message" Module for display on the main page. I finally copied them into the 1st page 2000 editor (FREE :) ), pasted them in as "tables", copied it all back to the "Message" Module and the right blocks worked correctly :) Apparently the table codes that were added allows for the data to adjust in width as needed where the HTML code did not.

I really would like some advice on what new pages I could add or if I really should break any of it up. I'm not quite sure how to break it up using PHP? I'm not familar enough with all the various modules and blocks and how they all do work.



Quote From First Post:

I would like to hear suggestion on the best way to edit and view/preview the PHP webpages? As you know they can not be viewed in a Windows environment.

Also if you have any additional module or block ideas for the site let me know.

You can send me a PM, Email or contact me on AIM via RLHoldenSr

[Abel]

hmmm what little php changes ive made have been thru opening the file in a text editor like TEXTPAD and then uploading the file to my live site to see if it works out ok...

since i use PIXELPOST software for my website, most of the coding and such is already there, i just have to tweak it a bit here and there...

i think DreamWeaver MX does support PHO editing and Previewing

[RHoldenSr]

My son turned me onto using this:

GridinSoft Notepad



It is great with line numbering code highlighting and etc.

But one thing I can not find is the best way to preview the PHP files on a windows environment without having to load them to the server and replacing my originals.

I guess there are two ways this can be done.

One is to setup a sandbox on the server with a dup of the site and work from it.

Or

Have a server setup at home with PHP, PHPnuke, MySql and all other programs needed. This is what my son is doing now. He is creating a backup of my website and the server on a computer at his home in Austin.

[azinwood]

looks good.

php and css coding is lots of un.

i usually just upload and review after i make changes.

[RHoldenSr]

It can be very frustrating when you are trying to learn as you go :)

I think what I need to do is have a entire new theme design created for my website :) The one I have is rather poorly designed I think.

Originally Posted by azinwood

looks good.

php and css coding is lots of un.

i usually just upload and review after i make changes.

[RHoldenSr]

Well I have installed an entire new theme and made quite a few changes.
If you get time check out my site and let me know what you think.

I have to go work on revising the site logo now.

Holden Photography