Web Design Forums

Snowy · 15-11-2006, 13:55

Hi, can anyone help me please?

I have recently had a website designed and built which in essence I am very pleased with, certainly the look and graphics etc.

http://www.petersnowdon.com

However, there seems to be a recurring problem now where a number of people either cannot view it at all, or can only see the main background colours and rotating photo's along with the navigation bars whilst hovering over them. No text content whatosever appears.

I am assured by the designer, whom I must stress has done an excellent job and is also trying to resolve this, that it is a problem with Flash Player. Apparently, it requires the latest version, 9 I believe, but nothing appears on my site to inform people of this. Additionally, there is apparently a problem when downloading the latest version from Adobe, in that it states it had updated successfully but it hasn't and you need to un-install the old version and re-install the latest.

Basically, I just need to get to the bottom of this so that I can direct people to the site in confidence which I can't currently.

I am not a web designer but I'm hoping someone out there would be able to help?

Regards,

Snowy
http://www.petersnowdon.com

skyrocket · 15-11-2006, 18:53

Looks fine to me on my system (Win XP SP2 using Firefox 2.0 & IE6). No problems at all. Just interested - did you get permission to use that music track?

silverback · 16-11-2006, 02:38

i had to update my firefox for flash player, but once i did it was fine, ie 6 is fine aswell, its a good site, but i would wonder if you have a licence for the music, if you do then dont worry but i would speak to the designers just incase

Dusteh · 16-11-2006, 06:24

Firstly, the document has not got a doctype - mention this to the designer as its bad form not to use one. The keywords need seperating with commas as well.

As for the problem, I can't see anything on the site that means it has to use the latest flash - can he not export it to an older version so that everyone won't need to update to version 9?

**edit** fix retarded typo

Snowy · 16-11-2006, 07:28

Thanks for your reply. Glad you can see the site ok but it seems that you do need Firefox to view it? Given the nature of the business I am in, it is embarrassing to point existing/potential sponsors to the site only to find that need to go through another process, that is not explained in any way to them, to view it. So far, I have had half a dozen or so people unable to view it and totally unable to even load it on one extreme occasion. It is these people, and any further potential similar ones that I need to re-assure.

Snowy · 16-11-2006, 07:30

Hi, thanks for the reply. Forgive my ignorance but what do you mean 'the document has not got a docutype' and why does it need when. As I said, I am not a designer but I really do appreciate your help on this.

Snowy · 16-11-2006, 07:31

Hi, and many thanks for your reply. Glad you can see the site ok but it seems that you do need Firefox to view it? Given the nature of the business I am in, it is embarrassing to point existing/potential sponsors to the site only to find that need to go through another process, that is not explained in any way to them, to view it. So far, I have had half a dozen or so people unable to view it and totally unable to even load it on one extreme occasion. It is these people, and any further potential similar ones that I need to re-assure.

Dusteh · 16-11-2006, 07:52

A doctype is a line of code at the start of the webpage, we can't see it but your browser can, and it tells the browser how it should treat the rest of the page. For example, DesignersTalk has;

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">

Which tells the browser to treat the following page as XHTML Transitional, it removes any chance of potential inconsistancies when the page is rendered (created) by your web browser. I'm sure your designers will understand.

Your page works for me in both Firefox and IE6.

Snowy · 16-11-2006, 15:16

Dusteh, once again many thanks for the help. I will pass on the doctype info.

As an aside, what do you think of the site?

Regards and thanks,

Snowy

Dusteh · 16-11-2006, 18:28

It does the job. As long as you like it thats the main thing. I don't understand why they needed to build it in Flash however. What is there that couldn't have been achieved using XHTML, CSS and a spot of javascript?

Snowy · 17-11-2006, 11:30

As I said, I am not a designer so I can't answer these things. My only concern is that people, especially sponsors can view it with no problems. That is the main reason for having it built.

Dusteh · 17-11-2006, 11:45

In that case maybe a HTML alternative site for people without the correct version of flash?

stickmus · 17-11-2006, 11:45

I can see it, and I have to say, that looks awful

Stickman · 17-11-2006, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusteh

As for the problem, I can't see anything on the site that means it has to use the lastest flash - can he not export it to an older version so that everyone won't need to update to version 9?

That's worth doing too. Flash without the updates hassle.

Snowy · 20-11-2006, 07:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by stickmus

I can see it, and I have to say, that looks awful

How do you mean, it looks awful? Can you expand, constructively please?

Snowy

skyrocket · 20-11-2006, 08:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowy

So far, I have had half a dozen or so people unable to view it and totally unable to even load it on one extreme occasion. It is these people, and any further potential similar ones that I need to re-assure.

If you are still concerned about this I would ring the half-dozen people that said they couldn't load the site and ask them exactly what happened. Just ask them if they are on dial-up or broadband, how old their computer is, maybe even what type of browser they're using. It could be as simple as them not having an up-to-date version of the Flash plug-in. It could be related to the file-size of the website. That music track alone probably weighs in at 3-4MB(?) even inside a Flash movie. That's a lot of bytes to download for folks on prehistoric modems and last millennium computers.

finbarr · 20-11-2006, 09:37

you say youre pleased with the result but the fact of the matter is is that if the guy who built it for you knew his stuff he'd have ironed out these problems before it went live. I say send him the link to this thread and ask him if he knows what everyones talking about.

I suspect he wont

BatteryLow · 20-11-2006, 17:16

Yea - from what I've seen - there is no reason this can't be saved out as a lower version of flash. Save it out for the version 7 player. You should be safe with that.

I also agree with the previous post about not doing the site in flash at all. Everything on that site can be achieved in XHTML with CSS and Javascript rather than flash.

Another thing to consider is... this site needs to do the purpose for which it was intended. If it's not doing what you wanted... then it's not working. It really doesn't matter how cool the site looks... if it can't be viewed, then it's no good.

stickmus · 21-11-2006, 05:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowy

How do you mean, it looks awful? Can you expand, constructively please?

Snowy

Constructive? Hmm...

Just looks really dated, and it's not very useable, buttons are too small. Music just seems really inappropriate (and even more dated).

firsthand · 09-12-2006, 11:14

sorry but i dint find the site attractive at all....i wonder how such designers get work??

15-11-2006, 13:55	#1 (permalink)
Snowy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7	Difficulty Viewing Website Hi, can anyone help me please? I have recently had a website designed and built which in essence I am very pleased with, certainly the look and graphics etc. http://www.petersnowdon.com However, there seems to be a recurring problem now where a number of people either cannot view it at all, or can only see the main background colours and rotating photo's along with the navigation bars whilst hovering over them. No text content whatosever appears. I am assured by the designer, whom I must stress has done an excellent job and is also trying to resolve this, that it is a problem with Flash Player. Apparently, it requires the latest version, 9 I believe, but nothing appears on my site to inform people of this. Additionally, there is apparently a problem when downloading the latest version from Adobe, in that it states it had updated successfully but it hasn't and you need to un-install the old version and re-install the latest. Basically, I just need to get to the bottom of this so that I can direct people to the site in confidence which I can't currently. I am not a web designer but I'm hoping someone out there would be able to help? Regards, Snowy http://www.petersnowdon.com

16-11-2006, 06:24	#4 (permalink)
Dusteh Sir digby chicken caesar Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 5,382	Firstly, the document has not got a doctype - mention this to the designer as its bad form not to use one. The keywords need seperating with commas as well. As for the problem, I can't see anything on the site that means it has to use the latest flash - can he not export it to an older version so that everyone won't need to update to version 9? edit fix retarded typo Last edited by Dusteh : 20-11-2006 at 09:24.

17-11-2006, 11:45	#13 (permalink)
stickmus hmmm... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Yorkuk Posts: 2,127	I can see it, and I have to say, that looks awful __________________ George Smith - a vain attempt to get higher on google for my name

20-11-2006, 09:37	#17 (permalink)
finbarr who the fuck am i? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: london Posts: 2,670	you say youre pleased with the result but the fact of the matter is is that if the guy who built it for you knew his stuff he'd have ironed out these problems before it went live. I say send him the link to this thread and ask him if he knows what everyones talking about. I suspect he wont __________________ who the fuck r u?

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15-11-2006, 18:53	#2 (permalink)
skyrocket SkyRocket Design Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chichester Posts: 536	Looks fine to me on my system (Win XP SP2 using Firefox 2.0 & IE6). No problems at all. Just interested - did you get permission to use that music track?

16-11-2006, 02:38	#3 (permalink)
silverback Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Redcar Posts: 9	i had to update my firefox for flash player, but once i did it was fine, ie 6 is fine aswell, its a good site, but i would wonder if you have a licence for the music, if you do then dont worry but i would speak to the designers just incase

16-11-2006, 07:28	#5 (permalink)
Snowy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7	Thanks for your reply. Glad you can see the site ok but it seems that you do need Firefox to view it? Given the nature of the business I am in, it is embarrassing to point existing/potential sponsors to the site only to find that need to go through another process, that is not explained in any way to them, to view it. So far, I have had half a dozen or so people unable to view it and totally unable to even load it on one extreme occasion. It is these people, and any further potential similar ones that I need to re-assure.

16-11-2006, 07:30	#6 (permalink)
Snowy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7	Hi, thanks for the reply. Forgive my ignorance but what do you mean 'the document has not got a docutype' and why does it need when. As I said, I am not a designer but I really do appreciate your help on this.

16-11-2006, 07:31	#7 (permalink)
Snowy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7	Hi, and many thanks for your reply. Glad you can see the site ok but it seems that you do need Firefox to view it? Given the nature of the business I am in, it is embarrassing to point existing/potential sponsors to the site only to find that need to go through another process, that is not explained in any way to them, to view it. So far, I have had half a dozen or so people unable to view it and totally unable to even load it on one extreme occasion. It is these people, and any further potential similar ones that I need to re-assure.

16-11-2006, 07:52	#8 (permalink)
Dusteh Sir digby chicken caesar Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 5,382	A doctype is a line of code at the start of the webpage, we can't see it but your browser can, and it tells the browser how it should treat the rest of the page. For example, DesignersTalk has; <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> Which tells the browser to treat the following page as XHTML Transitional, it removes any chance of potential inconsistancies when the page is rendered (created) by your web browser. I'm sure your designers will understand. Your page works for me in both Firefox and IE6.

16-11-2006, 15:16	#9 (permalink)
Snowy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7	Dusteh, once again many thanks for the help. I will pass on the doctype info. As an aside, what do you think of the site? Regards and thanks, Snowy

16-11-2006, 18:28	#10 (permalink)
Dusteh Sir digby chicken caesar Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 5,382	It does the job. As long as you like it thats the main thing. I don't understand why they needed to build it in Flash however. What is there that couldn't have been achieved using XHTML, CSS and a spot of javascript?

17-11-2006, 11:30	#11 (permalink)
Snowy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7	As I said, I am not a designer so I can't answer these things. My only concern is that people, especially sponsors can view it with no problems. That is the main reason for having it built.

17-11-2006, 11:45	#12 (permalink)
Dusteh Sir digby chicken caesar Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 5,382	In that case maybe a HTML alternative site for people without the correct version of flash?

20-11-2006, 17:16	#18 (permalink)
BatteryLow Rice Cooker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 62	Yea - from what I've seen - there is no reason this can't be saved out as a lower version of flash. Save it out for the version 7 player. You should be safe with that. I also agree with the previous post about not doing the site in flash at all. Everything on that site can be achieved in XHTML with CSS and Javascript rather than flash. Another thing to consider is... this site needs to do the purpose for which it was intended. If it's not doing what you wanted... then it's not working. It really doesn't matter how cool the site looks... if it can't be viewed, then it's no good.

09-12-2006, 11:14	#20 (permalink)
firsthand web designer Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 17	sorry but i dint find the site attractive at all....i wonder how such designers get work??

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