Web Page Development

[letsgetsilly]

I'm developing a web page that will deliver static graphics/information along with a small window on the front page that will present up-to-date content that is easily added/changed.

Does anyone have any information on what technologies/programs are available to do this best? It must be compatible with all web browsers, so iFrames and .NET are out because I believe they are only supported on IE. I don't know what is available in Java.

I'd really like to do a good job on this, so this is probably the first post of many. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[kamper]

iframes are supported on most major browsers, although they aren't particularly elegant. I don't see why you'd need them, though.

.NET doesn't matter in the least because it's a serverside thing (when you're talking about web pages, anyways) so any browser can handle it. Unless you get too fancy, that is, and start generating a bunch of ie-specific html/javascript, but that's a risk with any web framework.

The first question you need to ask is what you have available in deployment. If you've got a j2ee server waiting for you, java might be an option but otherwise you really want to steer clear unless you have a pretty good idea of what you're doing. Probably the most ubiquitous technology is php. It's fairly simple to get started with and could be the least hassle if you're doing something small like this.

One other thing to think about: where is your data coming from? Database? Textfiles? Pulled down from somewhere else on the web? Fortunately, just about any of the above tools can do all of those but you do need to plan a bit for it

 

[igowerf]

So you want a small portion of the page to constantly update with the latest information without refreshing the entire page?

You won't be able to support ALL browsers, but you can support most modern browsers with Flash, which can easily get information from dynamic pages or databases. This might be a good solution since users can just download a plug-in to add functionality to their browser. A Java applet could probably provide the same functionality, but Java applets are a lot more annoying than Flash.

Also, don't be too quick to rule out iFrames because they're supported by most modern browsers.

 

[letsgetsilly]

Thanks for your response.

I'm not sure about the setup here. I've just started working here and this project is something that I will discuss with our CTO. The overall task will be complete revamping of the website, something that I don't have much experience with and will need help.

My job now is to look over the plans for the website and prepare to provide some suggestions for which technologies to use. Although our CTO will know what is going on, I would like to have some fore-knowledge as well and come with some suggestions.

I don't know where the data is being pulled from, but my guess is database. The dynamic content will be headlines, like "XYZ won this contract". Our development team here is heavily microsoft based, so I'm guessing that the web server doesn't have much to do with java.

PHP i do not know, but I have started going through the web tutorials.

Here is a basic overview of what the front page will be like:

LOGO---------------------
HOME ABOUT SERVICES ITEM ITEM ITEM

Graphic{______________}DYNAMIC HEADLINES
{____________________} item
{____________________} item
{____________________} item
{____________________} item

The subsequent pages will look like this:

LOGO---------------------
HOME ABOUT SERVICES ITEM ITEM ITEM
sub-cat1 info info info.....
sub-cat2 ................
sub-cat3 .........

I have also thought about flash, but I'd like to avoid that annoying problem of having people download the plugin. Often times customers won't know how or just don't want to download, in which case they won't see it. That said, I haven't ruled it out.

Thanks for the help so far!.

 

[kamper]

I hadn't considered what igowerf said. Do you need the content to update without the user refreshing the page? An iframe could work nicely for that. I'd recommend staying with straight html(/css/javascript) on the client side as it's more than enough and flash/applets might be overkill (it could really annoy some people too, but that depends on your target audience).

The absolute easiest and usually cleanest way to get stuff done is to go with what you know and what fits with your environment. If you're all microsoft, chances are people there can help you with .net and your production site might very well be ready to handle it, whereas php might require some installation (no point in pissing off the server maintainer ).

 

[igowerf]

It seems that he just needs a dynamic page that pulls the latest headlines from a database.

letsgetsilly, since you guys are heavily Microsoft, you can probably just use ASP or ASP.NET to do what you need. I don't imagine it requiring more than a few lines of code to pull some info from a database and format it into the HTML.

 

[jjones]

It seems to me that you are mostly looking to pull current headlines from a db, and that the headlines won't necessarily need to be refreshed in an ongoing manner; unless I'm reading this wrong and you'll have continual headline updates throughout the day. If the headlines are only new every 24 hours or so, I say keep it simple and use a server-side scripting language to pull them from a db.

 

[letsgetsilly]

Thanks guys

I doubt they have to be updates w/ out user refreshes...probably every 24 hours or so the company will update headlines and allow prospective customers to click on those links and be directed to the topic. I think the emphasis is more on easy updateability and the presentation of positive information, although I could be wrong.

I'm sorry but my project details aren't too clear and our CTO is a very very busy guy, so I haven't (and won't) had a chance to sit down with him. We'll meet later this week to discuss in more detail.

I've just got Visual Studio to work on here, so that definetly points towards ASP.NET, ASP, html, however we may want to do this whole thing in HTML to make it simpler for viewers. Of the little time I've spoken with our CTO, the impression I get is a good looking site (of course) with great compatability and this dynamic headline aspect.

Thanks again for the help, any information on these technologies is helpful as I don't command significant knowledge in any area, but I can begin researching and putting together ideas from this discussion.

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: letsgetsilly
however we may want to do this whole thing in HTML to make it simpler for viewers.

You would use ASP.NET/ASP to generate HTML on the server side so your user would receive only HTML.

Server side languages are used to dynamically create webpages by generating HTML. The user just receives an HTML document and the only indication that any server side language was used would be the file extension (.php, .asp, .jsp, etc).

Flash, Javascript, Java applets, etc are all client side. They're downloaded and executed in the browser.

 

[letsgetsilly]

Thanks for the distinction. I was semi-aware of that information, but I was under the impression that while most of the ASP.NET stuff was runat=server side, not all of the technology. Any chance you can clarify that there would be no client-side actions for ASP.NET?

 

[notfred]

This forum is written in ASP.NET. Can you use it in Firefox? Is that clarification enough for you?

 

[letsgetsilly]

Originally posted by: notfred
This forum is written in ASP.NET. Can you use it in Firefox? Is that clarification enough for you?

Ouch. Sorry, I just want to be as prepared as possible when presenting ideas. I spoke to a coworker who said otherwise about ASP.NET, that is the reason for my skepticism.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: letsgetsilly

Originally posted by: notfred
This forum is written in ASP.NET. Can you use it in Firefox? Is that clarification enough for you?

Ouch. Sorry, I just want to be as prepared as possible when presenting ideas. I spoke to a coworker who said otherwise about ASP.NET, that is the reason for my skepticism.

you asked the same question three times, kept getting the same answer, and refused to beleive that answer. It's not our fault that your coworker doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[letsgetsilly]

Ok, well this seemed to die real quick. Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm sorry you are witness to an entry IT guy trying to start off well. If anyone has any helpful suggestions, I'd appreciate them still.

Thanks!

 

[beggerking]

asp.net supports a built-in advertising control you could use to do exactly that.
all you had to do is to edit web.config file which is on the server side.

 

[letsgetsilly]

Ok, so the built in advertising control will give access to advertisers to update or change their advertisement content? That is a good idea, thanks. Ill see if I can find more info on that control.

update: I've looked for an advertising control through google and found a bunch of scrolling plugins that will do the trick, but I didn't find the one that is ASP.NET. If you had a control name I can look at it.

 

[letsgetsilly]

Originally posted by: letsgetsilly

Here is a basic overview of what the front page will be like:

LOGO---------------------
HOME ABOUT SERVICES ITEM ITEM ITEM

Graphic{______________} DYNAMIC HEADLINES
{____________________} item..........................}
{____________________} item..........................}
{____________________} item..........................}
{____________________} item..........................}

The subsequent pages will look like this:

LOGO---------------------------------------------------]
HOME <b>ABOUT</b> SERVICES ITEM ITEM ITEM

sub-cat1 info info info.....
sub-cat2 .......................
sub-cat3 .......................

Are there any suggestions on what tags/tools/technologies I can use to keep these borders, titles, subcategories looking the same on each page as the data changes?

I've been experimenting with the use of a control, but it is becoming really difficult to manipulate the tables where I want them. Plus, I need to have the page titles change image when selected (not just color change).

I have tried messing around with CSS to create a horizontal menu, but I don't know how to access the modified UL when the specifications are in an external style sheet.

Any tips, opinions, suggestions are welcome. Thanks again.

 

[beggerking]

its called adrotator control

in web.config file, its like
<advertisement>
<ad>
<properties = xxx>
etc et
</ad>
</advertisement>

read here

 

[beggerking]

you could create another app to easily update/edit web.config file. ( use readxml /write xml etc)

the asp.net page is automatically updated whenever web.config file change.

 

[beggerking]

Originally posted by: letsgetsilly

Are there any suggestions on what tags/tools/technologies I can use to keep these borders, titles, subcategories looking the same on each page as the data changes?

I've been experimenting with the use of a control, but it is becoming really difficult to manipulate the tables where I want them. Plus, I need to have the page titles change image when selected (not just color change).

I have tried messing around with CSS to create a horizontal menu, but I don't know how to access the modified UL when the specifications are in an external style sheet.

Any tips, opinions, suggestions are welcome. Thanks again.

read this book

 

[letsgetsilly]

read this book

[/quote]

Ill check it out, thanks. I think I can have the company reimburse me. Any online tutorials would be good help too.