bloomtech

Wow, over two years later and I have just come across this which I was posting with you all, thank you. I have now moved on to CMS but have always been wondering if I should return to writing my own code by hand CSS etc? If anyone is still monitoring this and wish to have another look at my site deanbloom.com which is CMS then it might help me to decide if I want to go back to CSS static HTML manual website, more control, more power over my own settings etc. Nice to see you all again. Dean.

Dear Guezala, Thank you very much, however, it still does not work. I have tried everything. I think I will have to just leave the code as it is. I have uploaded the amended page versus the original so you and others can see what I mean. You can see the difference between the two. Hope this helps to explain what I mean? Here is the original index file http://www.deanbloom.com/index.html (this one is linked to default.css) Here is the amended one that does not work http://www.deanbloom.com/index2.html (this one is linked to default2.css) I really am trying hard to get this right but can't seem to get it to work. When I change p.h1 to h1 and amend the html to match it changes the font and also the spacing between the paragraph. Hope you can help. Best regards, Dean.

Hi Peter, I tried your helpful suggestions but when I applied the changes described, it changed all the fonts, spacing, bold font and the whole look of my page layout. I tried experimenting with different combinations but no luck. It seems that when I get rid of the p.h1 in favour of just h1 and then also amend the html page, it changes all the fonts and the whole look of my page. I really value your opinion and really want to implement your suggestions but only if the page looks the same as it does now. Please are you able to help? Best regards and thank you. Dean.

I tried this, but it changed the font completely from what it was before. It now looks bolder and a different font completely, even though all I changed was the bits you suggested? Dean.

Thank you, that's the sort of feedback that encourages me to carry on with my manual coding on my main site and maybe jazz it up a bit. Cheers for the opinion. Dean.

OK I have already submitted my main site for review and received some really nice constructive feedback. Thank you all loads for all for great feedback and help. Just for interest, I have now uploaded a test front page, which I created in iWeb just to show the sort of thing I have created without coding by myself and was wondering if you could please take a look for me. I am not sure if it's any better and I definitely want to keep trying to stay with coding my own sites in a text editor. I nearly gave up many times and was tempted to go back to WYSIWYG such as iWeb as iWeb is so easy to use and build nice looking sites with. However, I have persevered with my own code. Also, my main issue with iweb, is the massive amount of code it creates just for a very simple page and the pages take ages to load. This is the main reason I decided to go it alone and create my own code by hand and try and keep my site really slim, simple and fast. Anyway, here is my test front page (not my main site you understand) for your comments compared to the one I have created by hand. The test page here http://www.deanbloom.com/test/ My main site here http://www.deanbloom.com Looking forward to your thoughts and of course if I can be of any help to others please ask. Thank you once again for your help. Dean.

OK everyone, thank you all loads for all for great feedback and help. Just for interest, I have now uploaded a test front page, which I created in iWeb just to show the sort of thing I have created without coding by myself. I am not sure if it's any better and I definitely want to keep trying to stay with coding my own sites in a text editor. I nearly gave up many times and was tempted to go back to WYSIWYG such as iWeb as iWeb is so easy to use and build nice looking sites with. However, I have persevered with my own code. Also, my main issue with iweb, is the massive amount of code it creates just for a very simple page and the pages take ages to load. This is the main reason I decided to go it alone and create my own code by hand and try and keep my site really slim, simple and fast. Anyway, here is my test front page (not my main site you understand) for your comments compared to the one I have created by hand. The test page here http://www.deanbloom.com/test/ My main site here http://www.deanbloom.com Looking forward to your thoughts and of course if I can be of any help to others please ask. Thank you once again for your help. Dean.

Peter, Thank you for your suggestions and help. I can now see what you mean about the h1 instead of p.h1 In the mean time, I have now uploaded a test front page, which I created in iWeb just to show the sort of thing I have created without coding by myself. I am not sure if it's any better and I definitely want to keep trying to stay with coding my own sites in a text editor. I nearly gave up many times and was tempted to go back to WYSIWYG such as iWeb as iWeb is so easy to use and build nice looking sites with. However, I have persevered with my own code. Also, my main issue with iweb, is the massive amount of code it creates just for a very simple page and the pages take ages to load. This is the main reason I decided to go it alone and create my own code by hand and try and keep my site really slim, simple and fast. Anyway, here is my test front page (not my main site you understand) for your comments compared to the one I have created by hand. The test page here http://www.deanbloom.com/test/ My main site here http://www.deanbloom.com Thank you once again for your help. Dean.

Hmm, that's very interesting. I know what you mean. Over the years, I have had many versions of my front page as I have three main parts to my whole site and am constantly trying to find ways to show the world that I have these three main areas. I think my best attempt was after using iWeb as it was easy to create but I realise not a professional approach, however, it did let me run away with my imagination and get down to the design... I suppose I could upload previous version of my front page to see what people think? Thank you. Dean.

Yes, understood, but I am trying to make my site look clean, easy to navigate and more pleasing on the eye and don't want it to look just like all the others out there on the net. I do however, very much value what you have said along with all the other comments, so will take a fresh look in due course at my site layout etc. Thanks again. Dean.

Dear Kevin, Thank you for your comments and for taking the time to write feedback. I take on board what you are saying. I know the design is probably a bit dated but I try to keep my pages really simple and clean looking and I try to make my sites look different to what all the others on the net. I feel that every site looks like the next in one way or the other and while mine looks simple and plain, I like to try and make the navigation and layout easy on the eye etc. Thanks again for your help. I will also definately take a look at the links you have provided and the programs you have suggested. All the best. Dean.

Sorry, I somehow duplicated a reply (I am getting used to this forum) and can't see anywhere to delete this post, so I have edited it to this text. Thank you. Dean.

Dear ElanMan, Thank you very much for your information, much appreciated. I think I know what you mean about the code. I think my stylesheet will also need amending to allow me to use <h1> instead of <p class="h1"> in the html file? I am really finding CSS a great way forward and much easier than just using HTML, although difficult at first. I can see the power CSS has. I will have a go at implementing your suggestions when I get a moment. Thank you once again for your help. Regards, Dean.

Dear Forum, I have always designed my web site using WYSIWYG type programs such as Frontpage or lately iWeb. I have created a brand new site using just notepad (Text Wrangler on my Mac). This time however, I have tried to learn CSS. I have a very basic newly learned knowledge of CSS and so please would you kindly take a look www.deanbloom.com and let me know what you think. Many thanks. Dean.

Dear Forum, My Son Matthew has introduced me to this forum. He has had a load of good feedback and values this area. I have been designing my own web site for a number of years and have created many versions. I have used many hosting companies over the years too. My latest site www.deanbloom.com is now uploaded and I would be really grateful for any feedback. The biggest difference with this site is that I used only notepad (well text editor using my Mac) and no WYSIWYG at all and have tried to learn CSS at the same time. In the past, all my sites have been created using Frontpage, other web page creators and then lately iWeb. However, I decided to learn CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and have done this whole site using just a text editor myself. I know it's not a brilliant site, I can do better with iWeb etc but I would really value your feedback and thoughts accordingly. I have tried to keep the site clean looking too. Hope you agree. All the best and looking forward to hearing from you. Dean.