Date: 01/04/06 (Java Web)    Keywords: web

Dear Readers, If you find my Stem Cell Research blog useful, please consider voting for it for the MedGadgets award. This blog is labor of love. The Stem Cell Blog has been nominated under three categories: 1. Best Medical Weblog 2. Best New Medical Weblog (established in 2005) 3. Best Medical Technologies/Informatics Weblog Looking forward for your support. Thanks, Angsuman Chakraborty

Source: http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/medgadgets-award-please-consider-voting-for-the-stem-cell-blog/

Date: 01/04/06 (Java Web)    Keywords: web

Yet another interesting use of Flash. The presentation is in Q&A format. You move your mouse over a student to get a question. Then click on the student for the answer. Strange UI technique but be rest assured the answers are quite useful if you are a blogger or web publisher or wannabe one. Sample Q&A Q. [...]

Source: http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/copyright-faq-for-bloggers-web-publishers/

Date: 01/04/06 (Web Technology)    Keywords: web

Promotion of a 33-year-old executive underscores the media conglomerate's renewed focus on the Web.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6017550.html

Date: 01/05/06 (WebDesign)    Keywords: cms, software, html, database, web, hosting

Hey all. I'm in the process of creating a client/project survey to give to clients. Right now I'm focusing on web and html/text email blasts. Does anyone have any good references to this stuff already. I had a few, but can't find them in my infinite number of bookmarks {that's next on the list}. If you can, please review the questions I wrote below and tell me what's crap and what's gold or if I missed anything. Also, do you think this is too long to give a client? I've seen them usually be 10 questions or so long. Please look at the sections as two different ones that I may or may not give to clients. Thanks so much.

x-posted in design, webdesign, designrants, graphicdesign

WEB SITES

Figuring Out What You Need:

1. What is the Main Purpose or Goal of the site?

2. Is this a new web project/presence or a redesign?
a.) If it’s a redesign, what are the good and bad parts of your current site?
b.) Will the content be the same / How will it differ? Is it ready or does it need editing?

3. Who is your main audience and user base?

4. Do you want Flash for your site? If yes, please explain the desired implementation.

5. How many and what kind of pages does the site need? Please be as specific as possible.

6. Are there any special functions of the site? Ex: User info submission forms; e-commerce/take payments; etc.

7. Name some competitors’ sites or sites you like and why.

8. What are the short term and long term project timelines?


Management/Maintenance:

9. How often does the site need updating?

10. Who will be doing the updates? Will the person require training?

11. What existing technologies do you have to support the site? Ex: Is there already web hosting and domain name registration in place? Does the site have a database installed yet? Proper software & hardware for updating the site?

12. Will a Content Management System {CMS} benefit your organization?


The Big Picture:

13. What is a realistic length of time for your company to complete this project?

14. What is your company’s budget for this particular project?



HTML/TEXT EMAIL BLASTS


1. How many emails per month? How many email addresses in each blast?

2. Who is your user base? Will there be different newsletters for different audiences?

3. Who creates the content?

4. Is there already a system in place for this?

5. What is the budget and timeline for each email blast?

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/1035914.html

Date: 01/04/06 (Java Web)    Keywords: web

Overview This plugin makes any mp3 links (in post or page or any other location in your blog) playable directly on your webpage. In addition, your visitors will have the opportunity to easily tag and post the mp3 link to del.icio.us. This script is extremely lightweight, as is the flash movie that plays on demand. Must-have [...]

Source: http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/taraganas-delicious-mp3-player-wordpress-plugin/

Date: 01/04/06 (PHP Community)    Keywords: php, web

I'm looking to add PayPal's subscription service to a current project/website, with a secure login service in order to access the content. I was wondering if someone would be interested on working on the project with me, dealing with the coding/PHP for said subscription service. The bulk of the site is already in place, and I just need to add the subscription service in order to complete the site. I'm an artist, not a coder, and much of the implementation of the php/subscription code is beyond my technical expertise! If you're interested, give me a shout/comment.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/php/388990.html

Date: 01/04/06 (Security)    Keywords: web

Company, under fire over timing of fix for a serious Windows flaw, pulls early version of patch off the Web.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6018263.html

Date: 01/05/06 (See my site)    Keywords: web

Hey all,

My name is Robb and I have just started a web design/development company with my good friend Devin. We just launched our site a few weeks ago and we are looking for some feedback, not only from the design community but from anybody. So check out our site and let us know what you think. (good or bad) We want to hear anything you have to say.

http://www.wafflesandbacon.com

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/see_my_site/93865.html

Date: 01/05/06 (WebDesign)    Keywords: web

'm putting together a vague estimate for a corporate business in which I may be designing some marketing collateral and redesigning their website.

I'm charging $x.xx/hour, and I'm just leaving it at that in regard to the print collateral, since they don't have enough details at this point for me to even venture at a vague estimate (I think they're more interested in my hourly rate anyway).

The web redesign is the part I'm not so sure about. The fact is that I still have a lot of learning to do (I'm a fast, but a bit obsessive--too thorough-- learner), and though I'm confident that the end product will be excellent, I'm a bit squidgy about charging hourly for something I'm still pretty slow doing. I considered giving them a lump sum estimate, or charging per page, but both of those make me extremely nervous, since I don't know what I'm getting myself into with this company yet.

So, I think I've decided to give them an estimate based on my hourly fee using a reasonable amount of hours for the job, and bill accordingly. If I feel like things are taking me an unreasonable amount of time, I just won't clock those hours (consider them my personal learning time). That way they won't get screwed because I'm being slow, and I won't get screwed if a huge amount of my time is sucked up by their excessive revisions, etc.


So my question is, since I have no personal frame of reference: What's an average range of time it would take you (a seasoned web designer) to design a site with the following specs? Perhaps a range of time to develop the overall look, then more streamline per-page average?
-13 total pages
-Nearly every page is basic, informational (about us, management, contact info, etc)
- A couple pages with forms and a section you are required to log into in order to download a demo are the most complicated things they have so far (I can do these no prob), and I don't foresee that they will want anything much more fancy


Thanks for your help. Right now I'm thinking five hours per page seems about right for an estimate...? I just don't know...sometimes that seems way too high to me, sometimes too low. I think it would take me a lot less time than that for most pages, but I'm good at underestimating time, and I don't want to seel myself short...

(x-posted to graphicdesign / webdesign)

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/1036200.html

Date: 01/05/06 (WebDesign)    Keywords: web

Is there a possibility to ban your website from all search engines?
It would be great, since I really need some privacy and I don't want anyone finding my site who shouldn't see it.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/1036574.html

Date: 01/06/06 (PHP Community)    Keywords: php, mysql, html, sql, web

So what is the best way to serve documents (DOC PDF Images, other…) from a location outside of your public html directory?

I thought about using mysql and the LONGBLOB attribute.

But surely there must be a way to simply store the files and use php to retrieve them????
(I’ve done more web searching than I care to admit)

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/php/390051.html

Date: 01/05/06 (PHP Community)    Keywords: mysql, database, sql, web

Okay, stumped.

if ($_GET['id'] == "") { $link = mysql_connect("localhost","iop","iopweb") or die ("Could not connect"); mysql_select_db("iop") or die("Could not select database"); $select_string = "SELECT `id`,`name` FROM internships WHERE `approved` != \"yes\" ORDER BY `post_date` DESC"; $result = mysql_query($select_string); while ($current = mysql_fetch_array($result, MYSQL_ASSOC)) { echo "<a href=\"internships_edit.php?id=" . $current['id'] . "\">" . $current['name'] . "</a><br />"; } //end of first clause of get_id if statement } else { echo $_GET['id'] . "<br /><br />"; $query_id = $_GET['id']; echo $query_id; $select_string_specific = "SELECT * FROM internships WHERE `approved` != \"yes\" AND `id` = " . $query_id . " ORDER BY `id` DESC"; echo $select_string . "<br />"; $result_spec = mysql_query($select_string_specific); // Print out the information while ($current = mysql_fetch_array($result_spec, MYSQL_ASSOC)) { echo "<td><b>ID</b>: <input type=\"text\" name=\"this_id\" value=\"" . $current['id'] . "\"/><br /><b>Name:</b> <input type=\"text\" name=\"this_name\" value=\"" . $current['name'] . "\"/><br /><b>Post Date:</b> " . $current['post_date'] . "<br /><b>Title:</b> " . $current['title'] . "<br /><b>Deadline:</b> " . $current['deadline'] . "<br /><b>Description:</b> " . $current['description'] . "<br /><b>Application Requirements:</b> " . $current['app_requirements'] . "<br /><b>City:</b> " . $current['city'] . "<br /><b>Contact Name:</b> " . $current['contact_name'] . "<br /><b>Contact Address:</b> " . $current['contact_address'] . "<br /><b>Contact Email:</b> " . $current['contact_email'] . "<br /><b>Contact Phone:</b> " . $current['phone'] . "<br /><b>Contact Fax:</b> " . $current['fax'] . "<br /><b>URL:</b> " . $current['url'] . "<br /><b>Link to Application:</b> " . $current['app_link'] . "<br /><b>Job yes/no:</b> " . $current['job'] . "<br /> <b>State:</b> " . $current['state'] . "<br /><form action=\"internships_approve.php\" method=\"post\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"approved\" value=\"yes\"> <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"submitted\" value=\"yes\"><input type=\"hidden\" value=" . $current['id'] . " name=\"id\"><input type=\"submit\" value=\"Click to Approve\"></form></td>"; } }

Everything works fine until the else portion is reached. At that point, the query that is echoed works just fine if I paste it into my MySQL db, but it acts like an asshole here, apparently, because I get the old "not a valid resource" error message that we all live for. It should only be selecting one record, the one with the corresponding ID number (there are no duplicate IDs) and then displaying the information associated with that ID number after obtaining the ID number from the url as a $_GET. (I know there's some unnecessary variable re-setting in here - I was trying anything I could.)

I can't figure this out. It's something so simple, I bet, and that's why I'm not seeing it because I've been swearing at it for over 30 minutes now.

Any help is appreciated.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/php/389386.html

Date: 01/06/06 (WebDesign)    Keywords: programming, software, web

I'm looking to skip the degree college and get my ass back into the computer things I love. The link below is to Macomb Community College and these are classes in which I'm looking at finding similar ones for maybe even less if possible or maybe more in depth ones.I took a programming class and that helped me open my mind a lot but I need some help in the web design area...specially graphics but also the applicaitons.

Take a look at the list and then if you know of some good deal for a program let me know please....
TYPE OF CLASSES I'M LOOKING FOR

Any suggestions? I have about $1000 to work with but thats only tuition not books and don't really want to spend a thousand on software.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/1037343.html

Date: 01/07/06 (WebDesign)    Keywords: cms, php, java, web

I work for a non-profit website which gets a ton of traffic, and is bascially all ad supported. At the present moment, most of the ads are hosted in column #3 of our three column layout. Most of these ads are 125x125px button ads, some are animated gif, some a flash, and some require some javascripting. Basically though this column is about 9000px long (OYE!) and our page load time can take up to 5-8 seconds. On cable.

I removed all the ads (but one) and the page loads in .9 seconds. So the load problem is defintely coming from the ads.

Now, I'm not able to reduce the quality of the ads, as people have paid for these spots, and that's pretty much how it has to be.

Currently the ads are stored in a php include file. Someone suggested using an iframe (which I tried, but load time didn't differ) but wouldn't that be the same as using an include? Just a different method (and a lot more code?)? I thought perhaps it may make a difference if I took the entire column, and broke it up into three more includes (so on the main index we have include col3, than inside the col3 file we have 3 more includes for the top, middle and bototm), but that didn't really make any differnce either.

So what can be done in the meantime, (as we discuss and prototype a "realignment") to reduce pageload time? This may help - some of the ads repeat. Actually they all repeat at least once or twice.

So any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

BTW, thanks for the suggestions yesterday to my Multiple Author CMS question. I've ultimately decided to go with Wordpress for the ease of use, ease of customization, easy interface and no rebuilds. Plus, we have over 5 writers, and we're not in a position to spend the 99bucks on MT at the moment as we are preparing for our next paper publication this spring.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/1038430.html

Date: 01/07/06 (Computer Geeks)    Keywords: web

A friend of mine is desperately looking for web design work. She lives in NJ. Any suggestions or places I can recommend she look? I've asked before, but gotten no replies (at least I think it was on this group). Suggestions appreciated.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computergeeks/852559.html

Date: 01/08/06 (Computer Help)    Keywords: virus, antivirus, web, yahoo, microsoft, google

On my older computer (a Dell that runs Windows 98), I keep getting invalid page fault errors. Several occur after Windows has loaded:
YOP (that's Yahoo Online Protection)
rundll32
and something called autodown

It also occurs when I startup Internet Explorer, I get that program error message asking me if I want to send data to Microsoft and then the program crashes. I can't access the Internet even though I'm connected.

All the errors say that the program caused an invalid page fault error at module "unknown"

I've tried running anti-virus (AVG) and Ad-aware... I have that computer networked with this one (running Windows XP) and sharing a DSL connection. After some issues in the beginning, I finally got the network up and running so I've been using this computer to download the antivirus programs so I can run them on the other one since I can't get IE to work there at all.
Another thing that may or may not be related: if I uncheck automatically detect settings under LAN settings in internet options, then IE doesn't crash, but the pages won't load.


I'm also having a small, unrelated issue on this computer (the windows XP one). I can't get the internet options setting for "never dial a connection" to stick. I have DSL, so I'm always connected, but certain sites make the dial a connection box pop up. And when I head back to internet options, the "dial whenever a network connection is not present" option is checked off.


Any help or suggestions are much appreciated! I've tried Dell's support website as well as Microsoft's and Googled 'til I couldn't see straight, but I haven't come up with any solutions for my problem.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computer_help/563008.html

Date: 01/09/06 (PHP Community)    Keywords: php, mysql, sql, web

First off, new to this community so I hope this is okay :)

Hello, I tried creating my own php based script... and lets face it that was a mess haha (I had so many errors, it was sad really). I've been looking all over the web (literally, I've emailed 20+ people by now) and no one seems to be able to create this project that I am doing (although, one did reply but they were asking for over $500 which I can't afford :/). Basically I'd like a script created, for a project I was hoping on opening a month ago (that went well eh?). Of course I can pay, but I don't have too much money but I'm sure something could be worked out. If interested a discription of what I'd like done (or something similar) will be in the cut below. Thanks in advance, if more detail is require that is fine.


I am creating a project for my up-and-coming forum (despair.nu) where when members join they can take
part in different projects. Project will be like that of xposure.nu (might still be down, sorry)

The project that I need some help on, is creating a php/mysql script where when members join this project they are then approved by having a certain type of link placed on their site. Then a few days a week members are sent random emails containing the user ID, user site address, and user site name and then they must comment on the 3 sites they are sent. Would also like to have it where the emails also contain the comments that the members are supposed to recieve. Also wouldn't mind having some sort of report system, so if someone doesn't comment they can report the member and then member will recieve some sort of warning.Thanks for your time. I was also curious as to 1) How much this project would cost (if you can do it)? and 2) What payment methods you accept (i.e. paypal etc)?.
Thanks for your time


Thanks for those who have read this, that's at least something in my opinion (as cheesy as it sounds). Comment here if interested, or email works as well. Thanks again. Or if someone could point me in the direction of either, learning how to do it myself (which I doubt but, hey call it wishful thinking) or of someone who could possibly do it.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/php/391284.html

Date: 01/09/06 (PHP Community)    Keywords: php, web

I'm a programmer that usually codes in ruby or python not php so I'm all of you will be so kind as to help me find the php equivalents I'm looking for. Right now I need to send some http request. Python has urllib and urllib2 for these.

Basically, I need to retrieve a webpage with a php script. Something like $page = retrieve('http://livejournal.com') but i need more control. I need to be able to specify the http headers and such. Anyone know the php functions for this sort of thing? I know of the raw socket functions but I'm hoping for a more abstract method.

Side note, the docs on php.net are great if you know the function your looking for but not so great if you don't know the names of what your looking for :(

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/php/391045.html

Date: 01/09/06 (Asp Dot Net)    Keywords: xml, asp, web

I recently installed the new visual studio and I am having a bit of a hard time remembering everything I heard at the 2003 PDC about the new features I can use when doing C# development.

I do remeber the following few:
Generics --> has anyone tried this ? Seemed better than having to write your own custom class, is it ?
Parial classes -> omg I love this feature ! I love that the very boring generated code wont be in my file. I like my files nice and navigatable. YAY
The Xml editor is slightly better but doesnt seem blazing fast as promised.
Also I bet some people like not have to use a real web server to test asp pages.

Had anyone tried the ream features ? How are they ? Should we get ris of Test Director ?

Thanks !

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/aspdotnet/53224.html

Date: 01/09/06 (Asp Dot Net)    Keywords: web, apache

At my job we seem to not have the most competant IT department, so in my effort to help rather than criticize I'm looking into ways to help them out. One of the problems that they seem to have is that their web server (which I'm assuming has IIS 6, or maybe 5) will get bogged down to the point where it has to be rebooted. They host a mix of .NET and Frontpage pages. I seriously doubt that this is how things are "supposed" to be, because then Apache would have a great ace in the hole. Anyways since I'm not very good at server administration (and apparently neither are these guys) is there anything any of you can think of that would cause such problems? It seems like there's a problem with resources not being freed up or something along those lines. If anyone has any ideas/experiences with this it would be appreciated. Thank you.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/aspdotnet/52938.html