CSS Layout MAYHEM! + PHP Possiblities

[AdemoS]

Some of you may remember my OLD layout idea, well since then, I've changed my whole concept COMPLETELY.

I made a new logo, new color scheme, etc etc. And I decided to use the amazing CSS, HOWEVER, I have had alot of LAYOUT ISSUES, and can't seem to find any CSS experts to assist me.

Here is the page I need help fixing up, I'm sure you'll find alot of errors, but that's why it's called verision .1 :P

Site: BLKFLM||WISDOM : Bittorrent Network
Materials: Index of /TESTING

As for PHP, I'd like to make a PHP based, search engine, page database (site.com/articles.php?id=3432) and a "related articles" type dealie.

ANY help would be greatly appericated.

My homepage, I will eventually add a info box like this but for now, it works well enough till I fix it. BLKFLM || Destination Select

[GoldNetX]

An interesting site, but I am slightly confused as to exactly what you need help with. Do you have an image of what you want the site to look like, or possibly specific bugs or code you can not get to work?

If you could give me some details as to how you wanted to to turn out, I could help you out.

The database idea is also pretty simple to implement. Just takes some basic MySQL knowledge and a little setting up.

[AdemoS]

Hey there GoldNetX, thanks ALOT for your quick response, I really appericate people responding that quickly.

Couple things:

- Checked out the two sites you made, and have some constructive critism; jalbooie's tagline has a simple grammar issue "You're new home" should be "Your new home" unless there was a tagline copyright issue, or something similar, it looks pretty sloppy to leave that obvious mispelling RIGHT at the top. I did like the HUGE fonts on the textareas though, so nice work on layout overall, and solid coding.

The other site WorkAholic is interesting, but for people not logged into Facebook (like me) strange error messages about PHP are issued. Beyond fixing those issues, I'd try to set up a much nicer-for-laymen error message, so when something you didn't expect to happen, DOES, you won't look like you were caught with your pants down. ;P An example of a easy-to-understand error mesasge would be something I tried out on my site. Try blkflm.com / anything and see what the 404 says. Or try to load up blkflm.com/images and see the 403. Rather than a boring, and hard to understand (for non-coders and non-technical people) I choose a silly, and simple to get message to greet the eyes of the unfortante.

I really applogize for all the preaching, and I have VERY little web-expirence to back up my help, but I saw some potiental with your work, and wanted to try to help you improve it

Now, moving on the my website (the topic at hand :P)

When I have a chance to work on it later on, what you mentioned is an AMAZINGLY GOOD but SIMPLE way of showing what I want to get, and for some INSANE reason I never even THOUGHT of it.

I can just go into Photoshop, draw some arrows and descriptions of how I want things to look on the page, and clearly explain what I'm trying to do. I REALLY appericate the great idea, cause that will make things SO much easier for a more design-orriented person like myself. So I will be SURE to do that and post it here for additional help.

---I always FORGET how awesome this place is, with amazingly-easy Photoshop tutorials, coding help...just wow---

Also, with the PHP database stuff, MySQL would be fine, but I just have NO REMOTE IDEA how to use it. :P So any assistance with that would be a huge help as well.

Agian man, thanks ALOT for the quick and well-informed response. I hope to use your help in the future, and perhaps have you use some of mine.

[GoldNetX]

I would suggest that before trying to set up a database driven site, you probably want to get familiar with how to work a MySQL database and interact with it through PHP. This tutorial is a very good start:

BioRUST.com :: Tutorials >> Basic mySQL Queries And PHP

If you want I can probably help out getting you set up with a database/article based site after this week.

//---

Thanks you the comments about the sites. I just design and coded the Jaloobie.com site, all the content and logos were created by the owner, but I will pass the suggestion on about fixing the "your". It does look pretty bad.

WorkAholic is actually a work in progress. I just have it up as a small example until I can find more content to replace it. Currently it is only the Framework of features and only usable by the developers of it. I will definately fix all of the error messages though before it launches.

//--

Anyway, if you post and image of what you want your site to change to I would happy to help. See you around.

[AdemoS]

I applogize about the LOOONNG wait, but I have been EXTREMLY busy with my new job, so I haven't had a SECOND to work on my explanation.

However the explanation is NOW DONE!

Once anyone reading this, (who wants to help) is finished looking at the explanation, please list both feedback and help.

In case anyone lost track of the page I'm working on, this is it.

Basiclly, for the blue part, I need help coding the CSS and XHTML aspects. For the red part, I need help with PHP-type coding.

If anyone needs clarification on something, please let me know.

Thanks in advance for any help.

EDIT: For the "More Screenshots," "Discuss," and "Additional Information," links, I want to have the div layer for the article be an iframe, so that when you click those links, ONLY the iframe loads the new page. I do not want the whole page to reload. If this will be too complicated/accident-prone though, I won't bother. I just thought it'd be cleaner.

[metsatöll]

A List Apart: Articles: Build a PHP Switcher is that what you were looking for?

also you can find some usefull info at Digital Web Magazine - Stuff and Nonsense: Strategies for CSS Switching

[AdemoS]

Hmm, I'm not sure "style switching" is what I want, can you explain further what it's purpose is?

For everyone else, if you want to try your hand at coding the blue-elements, I'd love to see what you could pull off. I've been running into roadblocks so far, especially when it comes to making it fit smaller resoultions...

[jbiljr]

Hey AdemoS,

You may want to look into a blog backend like Wordpress or MovableType. They are easy to set up and will give you the features you are looking for. Plus you do not have to go through the hassle of writing your own publishing system. Since both are written PHP they are completly scaleable can be customized and modified with a little effort.

I am writing this with the assumption that you are looking for a way to manage your articles and content, and allow users to query a database of old articles and posts.

[AdemoS]

Hey guys, got some CSS help from a friend, and it's COMPLETELY W3 compliant now for both XHTML and CSS, however...I still can't make it work at 800x600. Every larger res works fine.

Any ideas, without changing the layout? Since changing the layout would defeat the purpose. :P

BLKFLM||WISDOM : Bittorrent Network