MOW
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Post by MOW on Jan 25, 2014 10:17:50 GMT 9
I am beginning plans to renovate/update the 456th FIS website www.456fis.org
This update will be long and tedious as Bob had collected a ton of data and info on just about everything relayed to, well, everything related to flying whether it be 456th related or not. The update will probably change that to a degree as the site really should be geared towards everything 456th, which will make it much more manageable as well as enticing for people to visit knowing they are coming to a 456th FIS website.
That said, I see many parts of the current website going away such as some categories under the Histories menu that are not related to the 456th at all. I will also implement a few things we already have on the F-106 site such as a Photo Gallery, Alumni database (from the current Alumni database, but just with 456th), and more.
I will probably be asking you guys questions for guidance as I go through this, but my first questions is about layout.
I created our f-106deltadart.com site, and this Forum, as a full page, aligned 'left' layout and with the renovation I've done recently, allows for growing or shrinking to fit the type of displayed being viewed on.
I created my VFW Post website, that I am getting close to finishing renovation of, as a 'centered', 1028 wide layout, except for the photo gallery, which can't be easily centered and also looses some viewing real estate when doing so. It looks good, but I like page consistancy as with our Six site, so every page has the same look and feel. The VFW site, although ok, does have a different look when viewing anything in a photo gallery, but it is centered, which many viewers like.
Is there a preference you guys like over the other?
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Post by pat perry on Jan 25, 2014 21:53:10 GMT 9
I am beginning plans to renovate/update the 456th FIS website www.456fis.org
This update will be long and tedious as Bob had collected a ton of data and info on just about everything relayed to, well, everything related to flying whether it be 456th related or not. The update will probably change that to a degree as the site really should be geared towards everything 456th, which will make it much more manageable as well as enticing for people to visit knowing they are coming to a 456th FIS website.
That said, I see many parts of the current website going away such as some categories under the Histories menu that are not related to the 456th at all. I will also implement a few things we already have on the F-106 site such as a Photo Gallery, Alumni database (from the current Alumni database, but just with 456th), and more.
I will probably be asking you guys questions for guidance as I go through this, but my first questions is about layout.
I created our f-106deltadart.com site, and this Forum, as a full page, aligned 'left' layout and with the renovation I've done recently, allows for growing or shrinking to fit the type of displayed being viewed on.
I created my VFW Post website, that I am getting close to finishing renovation of, as a 'centered', 1028 wide layout, except for the photo gallery, which can't be easily centered and also looses some viewing real estate when doing so. It looks good, but I like page consistancy as with our Six site, so every page has the same look and feel. The VFW site, although ok, does have a different look when viewing anything in a photo gallery, but it is centered, which many viewers like.
Is there a preference you guys like over the other?
MOW, I prefer the left aligned pages. Bob had used centered and it wastes a lot of screen real estate. I believe the old 456th.org site could use a good structural makeover and hopefully we can keep a lot of the content. When Bob built that site for the 456th, he went far afield into many areas of aviation that captured his interest. I still am amazed at the thousands of pictures he archived that he never had time to organize into story pages. Pat P.
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MOW
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Post by MOW on Jan 26, 2014 7:25:42 GMT 9
MOW, I prefer the left aligned pages. Bob had used centered and it wastes a lot of screen real estate. I believe the old 456th.org site could use a good structural makeover and hopefully we can keep a lot of the content. When Bob built that site for the 456th, he went far afield into many areas of aviation that captured his interest. I still am amazed at the thousands of pictures he archived that he never had time to organize into story pages. Pat P. Ok, good. I agree, I like our Six sites style of align left. That;s what I wanted to do also. Yes, Bob's collection is of all things interesting with planes and what I'll probably do is make 2 different sites for it; 456th related site with all (only) things 456th related, and then something else for the rest of the collection, not sure what I'll call it, but another site to consolidate it off the 456th site. We won't loose anything in the end, I just can't have it all on the 456th site. There are currently 300 main directories (folders) under the 456th... it hurts to even open it
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MOW
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Post by MOW on Jan 30, 2014 15:23:59 GMT 9
UPDATE
I decided on a format that is a mix of full screen and centered. Header and footer is full screen, while body contents are centered at 1028 width.
I am working with a test page at www.456fis.org/indextest.html which will eventually replace then current home page. I've been at this a week now and have a few pages converted for testing, yes only a few, it's time consuming recoding this old site to current standards.
I am going to incorporate use of our Photo Gallery a lot, combine many current pages into single pages and reference general F-106 topics from the F-106 site in order to save on duplicate photo's, documentation and information, and reduce the amount of unnecessary code and server space used. You'll see what I mean as you click through some of the things I've done so far.
This is just the beginning, this is going to be a long project because of all the pages, folders and info that is scattered around. But, it's a start.
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Post by Mark O on Jan 30, 2014 15:37:28 GMT 9
Now that is an AWESOME look MOW! Fantastic job!
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Post by Jim on Jan 30, 2014 23:58:42 GMT 9
Don't understand what you said, but like what you did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jan 31, 2014 0:35:04 GMT 9
I second Mark's comments.
I'm also with Jim, I don't know what you said, but like it.
It looks great.
Jim Too
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Post by pat perry on Jan 31, 2014 1:53:32 GMT 9
UPDATE
I decided on a format that is a mix of full screen and centered. Header and footer is full screen, while body contents are centered at 1028 with.
I am working with a test page at www.456fis.org/indextest.html which will eventually replace then current home page. I've been at this a week now and have a few pages converted for testing, yes only a few, it's time consuming recoding this old site to current standards.
I am going to incorporate use of our Photo Gallery a lot, combine many current pages into single pages and reference general F-106 topics from the F-106 site in order to save on duplicate photo's, documentation and information, and reduce the amount of unnecessary code and server space used. You'll see what I mean as you click through some of the things I've done so far.
This is just the beginning, this is going to be a long project because of all the pages, folders and info that is scattered around. But, it's a start.
Wow MOW! If Bob could see this now there would be tears of joy in his eyes! Great job! Pat P.
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MOW
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Post by MOW on Jan 31, 2014 6:50:17 GMT 9
Don't understand what you said, but like what you did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's what I needed on this crappy Fri morning... a good chuckle, thanks Jim
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MOW
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Post by MOW on Jan 31, 2014 6:52:37 GMT 9
Thanks guys, I know I'm on the right track then.
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MOW
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Post by MOW on Feb 7, 2014 15:12:12 GMT 9
Making progress slow but sure with www.456fis.org
It will take a life-time to actually convert the entire site, so I am splitting it up into sections to work on.
You will see some pages open in the new format layout (like the home page), some open up in a popup window, some jump to the photo gallery, and others jump to data on the F-106 website.
The new pages themselves, like the home page, are completely re-coded to today's approved standard web formats (won't get into specifics).
The 'popup' window pages I will modified to the new color scheme, but not reformatted the code as there are way too many pages to that to. I have done a couple already, but tons left to do.
Utilizing the F-106 site photo gallery is the best way to share common photos across the websites.
Jumping to some of the 'data' type pages on the F-106 website eliminates data duplication and errors.
Doing it all this way will allow me to keep almost all of Bob's info that is currently on the site while not impacting the overall sites performance. as well as take advantage of other data already collected and shared. Old code that is not up to today's standards strains and drains servers and performance, however, by keeping many of the old coded pages only as popups greatly reduces, at times eliminates, the strain... not to mention greatly reduces the time it takes me to convert!
So bottom line: So far so good!
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Post by Diamondback on Feb 7, 2014 15:26:18 GMT 9
Maybe incorporate the unrelated pages as a "Bob's Other Research, Preserved in Memory of Our Founder" along with a little biography/tribute page to his memory?
To be honest, I was starting to think about suggesting an In Memoriam page not just for fallen Sixers, but a separate on for those who've helped give the bird a Web presence... maybe add something about departed and influential members of this forum like DaOleGuy and Steve too if families permit?
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Feb 8, 2014 1:39:48 GMT 9
MOW, there is no way any of us can adequately thank you for all the work you do to keep this site up-to-date and keeping all of us computer knowledge deficient members able to easily navigate and to things on the site.
The hours you spend, I know, are a labour of love, but they are hours you could probably find something else to do, like polishing your Mustang.
Thank you, Pat, for all you do to make our experience with this site a pleasant one and for being there to make sure all our questions get answered.
I know you have had some help, but you are the main propulsion unit for this group and I can't thank you enough, or often enough.
Thank you is not enough, but it is all that our language allows.
So, THANK YOU.
Jim Too
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Post by Tom Dlugosh on Feb 8, 2014 2:40:59 GMT 9
I second the Pastors comments.
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MOW
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Post by MOW on Feb 8, 2014 6:56:19 GMT 9
Maybe incorporate the unrelated pages as a "Bob's Other Research, Preserved in Memory of Our Founder" along with a little biography/tribute page to his memory? To be honest, I was starting to think about suggesting an In Memoriam page not just for fallen Sixers, but a separate on for those who've helped give the bird a Web presence... maybe add something about departed and influential members of this forum like DaOleGuy and Steve too if families permit? As for Bob's old pages, they deserve to remain where he originally put them as part of his site. If someone writes up a dedication or tribute here in our In Memory Of... board, which is for anyone and everyone we wish to add to it, I would link to it. But at this point, I'm not making anything new, just trying to update the hundreds of current...
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MOW
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Post by MOW on Feb 8, 2014 6:58:24 GMT 9
MOW, there is no way any of us can adequately thank you for all the work you do to keep this site up-to-date and keeping all of us computer knowledge deficient members able to easily navigate and to things on the site.
The hours you spend, I know, are a labour of love, but they are hours you could probably find something else to do, like polishing your Mustang.
Thank you, Pat, for all you do to make our experience with this site a pleasant one and for being there to make sure all our questions get answered.
I know you have had some help, but you are the main propulsion unit for this group and I can't thank you enough, or often enough.
Thank you is not enough, but it is all that our language allows.
So, THANK YOU.
Jim Too
Thanks Jim, yes a labor of love, I just wish there were more hours in a day... or more hours I could stay awake anyway
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