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Report for meeting 15 May 2010
Robert read a report written by his son Adam setting out way to optimise web sites to make them easy to find by the web search engines and to get them listed at the top of the listings. It is very complex and takes a lot of time.
We then looked at blogs and tweets to see how they work and what they are used for?
We looked at NOF Essentials to see what we can do with
it. Next month we will look further into NOF Essentials.
Regards
Robert
Report for meeting 17 April 2010
We installed a copy of Photoshop 6 for the SIG to use when photo enhancing.
Bob showed us some of the features of KompoZer. We found it opened best using Google Chrome. Some features did not show in Firefox or IE8.
We will look further into NOF next month.
Regards
Robert
Meeting of March 20th, 2010
We continued to embellish our web page with menus, using buttons generated by GIMP. These allowed our menu buttons to change with the 'mouseover' JavaScript elements available in KompoZer.
We had a look at some free downloadable javascripts that provide special effects (e.g. scrolling banners) that can be pasted into the source view of Kompozer.
Peter
Meeting of February 20, 2010
Today we tried a new program to build web sites. Firstly we set up a directory structure to hold our files so we can find them easily. The next step is to design the structure of the site - what pages we need and how they link together. Only then do we start to build the pages using KompoZer. We looked at how KompoZer generates web pages. It uses 'styles' and 'classes' to control how pieces look. It's a lot easier to say “this is paragraph header” or “this is emphasised text” than setting font type and size each time. Then, if you later want to change the colour of 'paragraph header' you change the style once rather than finding and changing each paragraph header.
We saw how a basic web page is created using the <div> element and css. Images can be added, and we looked at making thumbnails with GIMP, and linking the to full images.
Peter
Report for meeting 16th January 2010
We looked at my new site and set up some new customer project pages. After that we looked at setting up GO Menus for the customers and their projects.
I will not be here for the next two meeting due to being on holidays,
The next two meetings will be run by Bob and Peter who will be starting up a new site from scratch and will probably use the Kompozer program.
Regards
Robert
Report for meeting on December 19 2009
We discussed knee replacements. It seems Bill may need one?
We then looked at NetObjects Fusion and made a small typo change - not mine.
We then looked at my “new” site, and examined the GO Menu option. It was interesting and we found out how the main one works. We looked at making a hierarchy menu but unfortunately this version does not do it. We think Ver 10 does.
Next meeting is the 17th January 2010. See you there.
Regards
Robert
Report for November 2009
We reviewed our work on cookies and discussed some uses for them.
Stephen’s friend had a problem with a web-site which had download links. Some were in a different format, but didn’t work as they should - giving 404 Not Found messages. We were able to open the download directory as it had been left unprotected with an index.html file in that directory. We found that the files were not there, the different format for the links seems to be from Dreamweaver when it couldn’t find the files.
We looked at the new features in IE8, developer tools accessed by F12. They allow highlighting of various structure elements to see what overlaps. Many more functions are available to play with.
We loaded the K-Lite codec pack from FileHippo but this didn’t help our video problems.
For our problem with images (noted last month) we erased the local publish and server copies of the site and re-published to see if that fixes the problem
Meeting next month on 19st December is on for those with time to attend.
Robert & Peter
Report for Meeting on 17th October 2009
We revisited the Video page which was not working on some browsers. It seems that this is the normal behaviour.
For a .MPG file it seems you need to use the Real Player plug-in. This works on Internet Explorer, but not Firefox or Opera
For a .MOV file you must use the QuickTime plug-in. This works in Opera, Internet Explorer and Firefox.
We were unable to get the Windows Media Player to work correctly, even after downloading the browser plug-ins. Although Opera did play the WMV file, but not the .AVI file.
So .... use a .MOV or ???
We then went to the w3schools page on javascript cookies. We found it very easy to paste the java scripts into the <HEAD> tag and almost as easy to modify the <BODY> tag to run them. The Cookie Baking page demonstrates these cookies.
We corrected the problem of some images not appearing by editing the filenames on the server side - correcting links*.gif to Links*.gif. Why this was needed is unclear.
Peter
Report for Meeting September 2009
We used the new computer for the first time and downloaded the NOF files from the old HD. Peter set up the folders.
We opened the Websig file and tried to see the video. We were initially unable to make it work. Bryan suggested using Real Player and using MPG. This worked fine.
I will be away in October and Peter will run the meeting. His love of Netobjects Fusion should make an excellent meeting.
Next meeting is on October 17th.
Regards Robert
Report for Meeting of 15th August 2009
Warren asked if we could look into how to add a video vile into Fusion 9, he supplied us with a file with an extension of flv. We had no luck at all getting this file to work. Peter to the rescue. He had a conversion program and converted the file to a mpeg. This file is now visible in the Websig site.
We updated to Explorer 8 and a mass of XP updates.
Next month we will look at Firefox and possibly install it.
By next month we hope to have our new computer set up ready to upload our SIG files.
The next meetin is on Saturday September 19th.
See you there.
Regards
Robert
Report for meeting 18th July 2009
A good roll-up today.
We decided that guest books were too difficult in the short term and may look at it later.
We looked at a site for spam protection for forms.
After some difficulty we added some new reports to the site and we uploaded the site to the SPCUG web site.
Steve asked us about multilevel menus for page layout. We found it could be done via the menu property box. Steve is using Ver. 11 of Netobjects and needed to use custom menus.
Next month Warren asked us to look at inserting video files into Netobjects.
Should be interesting. The next meeting is 15th August an early meeting next month. See you there.
Regards
Robert
Report for meeting 20 June 2009
We looked into despamifing our guestbook. After much discussion we decided it was too difficult. It would require external modifying of code. NOF 10 can do this internally, we await NOF 10 eagerly!
We looked at a guestbook plugin from Bali but were unable to make it work in Fusion 9. Looking at www.protectwebform.com we may have come across a Java script which did not have time to try out. - Next month.
Meeting is on the 18/7/
See you there.
Robert
Report for May 2009
We started the meeting (only a small turnout) by reviewing some of the proposed formats for an updated SPCUG website. Joomla based clone of the existing site, A site that emulates the old Frames format with fixed outer zones and a scrolling inner zone. And some ideas about using Captcha to block spam in guestbooks.
After tea we had a look at how to include cookies in a website, to welcome back a past visitor, or to modify behaviour when re-browsing the site in the same session (eg turn off a welcome sound on the home page). We followed the tutorial at w3schools.com using javascript.
Peter
Report for Meeting April 18th 2009
We checked the Guestbook that we uploaded at the March meeting at the URL:
http://www.fotopagedesign.com.au/websig/index.html
It appears to have been taken over by spam-bots, adding as many as 350 rubbish entries per day, starting from April 1st.
We looked at a different type of Guestbook which needs scrambled letters to be deciphered by a human before guest comments are accepted. This scheme uses "Captcha" images.
One such Guestbook called PhocaBook which runs under Joomla! was demonstrated on the following URL:
http://picclub.factors-online.com
Stephen handed out CDs containing four interesting Web programs for us to try.
19/02/2009 10:00 pm 2,886,409 hksetup.exe
17/04/2009 10:21 pm 2,307,018 icon-editor.exe
27/03/2003 12:57 pm 2,967,667 ts25pro.exe
26/03/2009 10:57 pm 1,526,800 ts3lite.exe
Next meeting is on the 16th May. See you there.
Robert Backstrom
Report for meeting 21st March 2009
A very interesting meeting this month. Warren asked us to look into inserting a guestbook on a Fusion site. We used our own Websig site. It did take a little time and a bit of confusion but we achieved it !!!!!
I will be on hols next month. A cruise around the Mediterranean and a stay in Spain - life is tough.
Bob Backstrom will run the next meeting in my absence.
We might look more into Joomla.
The next meeting is on the 18th April.
Regards
Robert
Report for meeting 21 February 2009
We looked at Fotopage Design’s new site. We edited the banner and changed the page layup. We selected pictures for the site and added a background colour pattern. Also we found out how to put a border around a picture and match the colour in the picture using the colour selector.
Next meeting we will look at inserting a guest book and continue building the ‘new’ site.
The next meeting is March 21st, See you there.
Robert
Report for meeting January 2009
A good roll-up today, very pleasing. We checked out our site and upgraded the reports. We then looked at my ‘new’ site and discussed options for designs. We made up a series of text styles using the CSS function in Fusion. We discussed if there are any new PDF files to update the MWRPA site. Nothing at the moment.
Next meeting we will look further into my ‘new’ site?
The next meeting is Saturday 21st. See you all there.
Robert
Report for November meeting 2008
While waiting for people to arrive we belatedly updated AVG to version 8. This brought up many Adware alarms when running Internet Explorer, so we installed Spybot S&D and ran it. Much later ... we deleted about 150 Adware references. KEEP YOUR PROTECTION UPDATED
John had brought in his setup of Xampp & Joomla to show us, Steve said he had installed this and Peter was looking at it to run Perl (great minds think alike). We copied John's setup to the SIG machine, but later decided that a fresh installation would be better. We tried to set up a local Joomla site but were foiled by our inability to access the MySQL database, maybe a user/password problem ? (we need more great minds). Steve said he had successfully set one up on his machine, but couldn't remember this problem. Steve, Peter & John will try again before next meeting.
Report for Meeting October 18th 2008
We started with a presentation of KompoZer by Peter Collard. Many thanks to Peter.
We updated the MWRPA site with recent newsletters and a brochure for a new community bus service to the shopping centres etc.
We updated Adobe Reader and looked at enlarging the print capabilities of Reader to enlarge the type.
Next meeting is 16th November. See you there.
Robert
Report for Meeting September 2008
A good role-up this month. Bob showed us Joomla at a test site and showed some on line editing. We began to copy text off my web site but didn’t get far.
After tea break we reviewed making forms for Warren. Then looked at how to insert a guest book using NetObjects component using the tutorial on the NetObjects web site.
Next month we will look further into adding a guest book and forms. The next meeting is Saturday 18th October. 2pm see you there.
Robert
Report for meeting August 2008
There was no July meeting this year due to the illustrious Pope and the youth day business. Steve South reported that the traffic was very light and very few people were in the city. We could have had the meeting.
The attendance this month was a bit light. We welcomed Elaine to our meeting.
We looked at Joomla web site. We realised that we needed Bob to tell us what it is all about. Where were you Bob? it took us ages to set the computer up!
Steve showed us how to log into the forum. If anyone is having any trouble loging on, re-register.
Next month meeting on the 20 September we hope to have Bob available to show us Joomla. Also we will look to update my new website and the MWRPA site.
See you there
Robert
Report for meeting of June 21st 2008
Peter Collard wrote a report about freeware sources. Peter did not use Netobjects and we had some trouble? We used the Fusion method - great! It is a great report many thanks to Peter. It is now on our Links page. This is great information for PC Users.
Our next meeting will be July 19th. Where Peter will give us a rundown on Kompozer, a free web design program.
See you there Robert
Report for meeting May 17th
We discussed web security and the benefits of using the PCUser Group moderated Forum rather than an open blog for communication between sig members. We suggest all members register to use the Forum.
We discussed web hosting because our current site is going to be closed shortly.
Consequently we began redesigning a new Fotopage Design site. We will continue at our next meeting on Saturday 21st June.
See you there.
Regards Robert
Report for meeting March 2008
Seven members attended the meeting. James Gaudry sent his apologies. Christina sent her apologies.
When we arrived today we found our meeting room had been let to someone else. The whole floor was unavailable. We were very impressed by the notification we received. We subsequently held our meeting in the corridor of the third floor.
We then spent a lot of time taking out a soft bullet in the text in the MWRPA site. A fun exercise.
The new projector is extremely good, we were very impressed.
The Netobjects Fusion Essentials is available for free download here:
http://www.netobjects.com/html/essentials_download.html
The next meeting is on Saturday April 19th.
See you there
Robert
Report meeting February 2008
Once again we had a good roll up.
Just for a change this meeting we had a look at my video of a wild life trip to Sabah Borneo. Next meeting the Caribbean. We also looked at how to set up cascading style sheets.
Also we will look to get a form working for the MWRPA site.
The next meeting is 15th March.
See you there.
Regards
Robert
Report for meeting January 2008
Our usual team arrived this month where we continued looking at uploading the MWRPA site. After much anguish and discussion we found our problems were caused by the way FTP Commander operates. We also had problems using NOF FTP so we installed the free Core FTP program. This seemed to have a better user interface. We were then able to get everything working as it should.
We also set up Core FTP to upload our own sig website.
Next meeting is Saturday February 16th 2008.
At the next meeting we will update the MWRPA site after user feedback.
See you there.
Robert
Report for Meeting December 2007
Our usual crowd arrived and we continued to work on the Meadowbank West Ryde Progress Association site.
The site now looks good and we tried to upload it to the server. We were able to log on to the server and delete most of the existing site. But there is a problem accessing the directory with both FTP Commander and NOF. I will probably have to contact the previous web master to sort out the problem.
Next meeting is 19th January 2008
See you there.
Robert
Meeting 17 November 2007
We looked for a new version of AVG antivirus and mentioned www.filehippo.com where all sorts of freeware programs can be found.
We then tried to log on to the MWRPA site host server, without any success. Will need to get contact details.
Next we looked at many new site styles for the MWRPA site. We chose to use ‘Virtual City’. This made a much improved site. We modified the front page and created the meetings page.
Next month we will continue to build the site by importing data from the news letter.
The next meeting will be on Saturday December 15 - 2pm see you there.
Robert
Report for meeting October 20, 2007
We installed NetObjects Fusion 9 then cleaned up a lot of old files from our hard drives.
We used Photoshop to update our latest member photos and upgraded our site front page.
From now we are going to use Fusion Version 9 as our standard program.
At our November meeting we will do more work on the Meadowbank West Ryde Progress Association site which has alreaded been upgraded to ver 9.
The November meeting is on Saturday the 17 November.
See you there.
Robert
Report for September 15 Meeting 2007
We had a good roll-up this month with one new member attending.
We discussed getting everybody a copy of NetObjects Fusion 9, which came out in PC Authority September issue.
We then began to build a new site in Fusion 8 for the Meadowbank West Ryde Progress Association. We used a a style called Crossback - Orange Blue. We edited the style to make the text larger and more readable
The home page is nearly complete.
Next month we will continue to build this site. Look forward to seeing everybody next month.
Saturday 20 October at 2 pm
Robert.
Report Sig meeting 18-8-07
We had a bad start to this months meeting. We found that our meeting room had been booked by others! After standing around for some time John arranged for us to get a room (the boardroom) on the third floor.
We started the meeting by taking some new photos of our group to update our website.
We discussed the templates for Fusion 8. We created a blank page on the site from an existing page - The command is export as template (see file menu). This can be imported whenever we need a new page.
We then discussed forms. The CGI scripting seems to be able to be downloaded from the ISP. The link must be inserted in the ‘settings’ for the form properties pallet.
Next month we will use these skills to make a new site for The Meadowbank West Ryde Progress Association.
The next meeting is Saturday the 15th September see you there.
Robert
Report for July 2007
Christina, Steve and Peter send their apologies for this meeting.
We looked into templates as a left over from last meeting. After some experiments (a bit risky we lost one of our reports. Fortunately I was able to recover it.) we decided that it needs more research.
We will be waiting your return Peter!!
For the next meeting we will look further into this.
The next meeting is Saturday August 18. I will be taking a couple of photos to update our image!! So we need everybody there.
See you (the lot).
Robert
Report for meeting June 16, 2007
As Robert has taken his password on holidays we didnīt continue with the forms.
We created an archive reports page and tried to get a template page set up. For some unknown reason this failed in a peculiar way - referencing an unknown file beyond its end. But it should be possible, as Steve got it to work on his machine. Googling this error we found it is fixed in "update 2 for NOF8", so we downloaded updates 1 to 4 and installed them. This cured the problem.
Bob showed us how to validate HTML syntax using the http://validator.w3.org site. He also showed us some of the requirements of XHTML which is set to replace HTML for web pages.
Peter
Report for meeting May 19.
We had a good attendance this meeting.
We looked further into forms and form handling. We created a form using NetObjects Fusion’s form tools. The form looks good but we will need to get the OK from Comcen to operate the CGI script.
We then looked at Pacific.net.au forms and we made up a form from their help page, Technical support. This form worked successfully.
We then looked at Jotform.com and tried their system of form creation. We copied the source generated into a NetObjects Fusion text box HTML properties field. This generated a readable form which we need to set up an account with Jotform to test it.
This is very interesting stuff. Will look into it further when I get back from holidays for our July meeting.
Our next meeting is on June 16. Tony and Peter will jointly run this meeting.
All for now
Regards
Robert
Meeting 21 April 2007
We had a good roll up Steve South and Christina sent their apologies.
Bob showed us the latest version of Opera.
We looked at the Meadowbank West Ryde Progress Association site with a view to reworking it.
We noticed forms in the comments page and decided to see how they work. We spent some time checking out CGI scripting. We checked out Comcen and found code available for us to paste into our document. We are now trying to figure out how to successfully paste it in. Very interesting!
For our next months meeting we will continue with our forms handling code.
Meeting is the 19th May, at 2 pm. See you there
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