Trixology

General Category => General Computing/Macintosh => Topic started by: xairbusdriver on July 27, 2015, 12:07:17 AM

Title: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on July 27, 2015, 12:07:17 AM
Attn: html experts

As I've said before, I don't like iframe, but it seems to be the easiest way to get the webcam video into my <test website (http://mid-southweather.com/midsouth/index.html)>. However, I don't like the way the page displays when opened from any other page on the site.

I've tried several link 'tricks' that work fine in 'normal' html, but iframe seem to ignore all other rules. I want the page to open just like any other 'normal' web page; with the top of the page at the top of ones browser window. This page, opens with the iframe at the top of the window! Of course, that completely hides the minimal navigation! [banghead] Temporary "solution" is with a hard-wired, internal page link to "top".

Having an "id='secondary_section_of_a_page'" in the html tag for that part of a page can be used to go directly to that section with a link that includes "#secondary_section_of_a_page". Doesn't seem to work that way with an iframe in a page; the "id='top'" 'anchor' is completely ignored. BTW, pre-html5 allowed "name" in place of "id".

Anyone have a solution for this? I might even be willing to use some javascript! After all, I've already dirtied my hands with iframe...  >:(
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: Alan Rowley on July 27, 2015, 06:39:15 AM
I like the look of your test site. One day, I'll get around to designing my own template.

ALAN.
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on July 27, 2015, 01:47:04 PM
Thanks! Your site is coming along nicely! [tup] I assume you have fish. Perhaps you post on some 'Ponding' forums? I have a very much smaller pond, as you may have seen in my video. We have only Shebunkin (and frogs), can't afford Koi! [rolleyes2]

I think I can avoid the iframe method is I can figure out how to get Evocam to start streaming its video. It won't have the up-to-date weather data like WC inserts. It also may require hacked html to allow many browsers to display the vid. Oh well... At least I know the boss well, so I don't have to worry about getting fired! [lol]
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: Alan Rowley on July 27, 2015, 08:19:47 PM
Hi,

No, I don't have fish. When we moved into this house in 2008, we had a major landscaping job done on it, and a wildlife pond and wildflower meadow were part of the landscaping. The pond was soon teeming with life, and this year we have moorhens nesting for the first time. They have raised seven chicks. We also get mallards, herons and hundreds of frogs.

There is another older pond, and a stream, in one of the fields. These are inhabited by frogs and toads, with the occasional wildfowl.

I've had to use a few frames in my pages, purely because the pages didn't work within the Leuven template. I still have a long list of problems to sort out, but I'm very pleased with the site at the moment.

ALAN.

ALAN.
Title: Even more stupid tables. (Re: Stupid iframes...)
Post by: elagache on July 27, 2015, 10:24:22 PM
Dear X-Air, Alan, and WeatherCat web spinners,

Attn: html experts

Well, I guess that dismisses me right there.  I never was an expert and I learned my HTML design techniques mostly in . . . . 1998!  :-[

As I've said before, I don't like iframe,  . . .

. . . .

Anyone have a solution for this? I might even be willing to use some javascript! After all, I've already dirtied my hands with iframe...  >:(

I assume that this technique is positively insulting to a modern web page developer, but back in 1998, a way to get things to line up nicely without the miseries of frames was to use nested tables without borders.  If you look at my website, it is a mess of tables one inside the other.  It isn't a particular clean way to implement it and my understanding is that you can get this sort of thing in a more rational way using CSS, but since I don't know how - that's all I can suggest . . . .

Anyway something to ponder until somebody suggests something better.

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on July 28, 2015, 03:32:14 AM
Yes, it's much simpler with CSS, and with CSS3, there is even  'display:table' or something like that. The big advantage with CSS is that it makes the structure of you page much less complicated and easier to edit. Using a "class='paragraph_expert'" can save writing the same dozen words for a "style" or list of keywords every time you want that "style"! Plus, if you want to change that style, even totally, all you need to edit is that one 'definition' in the CSS file! CSS is no harder to learn than HTML, and tons easier than AppleScript! ;)
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: Blicj11 on July 28, 2015, 06:03:10 AM
I use several "stupid iframes" on my site as it is the only way I can figure out to get some things to properly display (including SteelSeries gauges and my weather webcam). I assume you already know all the html elements that you can use with iframe and that many of them do not work with html 5, but here is one source for a reminder of the code that still works:

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/iframe
Title: Engine builder that's a gorilla . . (Re: Stupid iframes...)
Post by: elagache on July 28, 2015, 10:54:23 PM
Dear X-Air, Blick, and WeatherCat Web spinners, . .

Yes, it's much simpler with CSS, and with CSS3, there is even  'display:table' or something like that.

Oh I'm sure it would be easier . . . if I had time to learn it all!  Right now I'm kinda busy . . .

CSS is no harder to learn than HTML, and tons easier than AppleScript! ;)

Yeah, except that right now I need tons of force!!  . . . or at least it sure felt that way.  We are having a nasty heat wave in Northern Caiifornia, so it is ideal weather for painting engine components.  The extra heat will insure a good seal.  Just one problem, the first engine builder must have been something of a gorilla!!  I wanted to remove the bracket that support the power steering pump and . . . Nada, no way, would not budge!!  I finally had to use some thread releasing solvent and a 2 foot piece of pipe for extra leverage on my socket wrench!! . . .  [banghead]

Oh well, at least the effort seems worthwhile.  This poor bracket was clearly not painted before being installed.  So just one more thing to do . . . .

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 02, 2015, 01:51:27 AM
I discussed my plans with Mr. van der Kuil and he suggested I use some of his stand-alone scripts in my "in-progress" site. I started with his "forecast" scripts collection and ran into a problem. I then decided to use his "NOAA warnings/advisories" collection since there are many fewer scripts to juggle. Amazingly, I ran into exactly the same problem!

The problem was not with Wim's scripts, however! I caused all these problems, myself, thank you very much! I had added a bit of php to the 'webcam' page to insert two different, random images. However, I was having trouble getting past php ererz! Research finally disclosed that I needed to edit my .htaccess file. Even though I was using php in my other site without any problems and the same .htaccess file, I had to add a line that specifically allowed php for my new site/domain. After making that change, my random image display worked fine.

All that was before I started working with the 'forecast' or 'warnings' scripts, however. When I started using those, I got the same error message! Turns out Wim is using php5 and I had only identified php4 in the edits to my .htaccess file! [banghead] Typical rookie, dangerous-when-not-supervised mistake! [blush] Once I got that sorted out, it was clear sailing (note: I am not a sailor!)

Not one to leave things "well enough alone", (Where did that phrase come from?!) I decided I didn't like the warnings layout that used a table. "No problem! I'll just convert it to css-styled text. Wim has already done all the hard work of parsing the NOAA xml file."

So, here is how it looks, now: <temporarily out-of-service> Just don't use the "Contact" menu item.

I knew you would... Are you happy, now?! [rolleyes2] Somewhere, in the bowels of two different php collections, there is a simple html path mistake. That's why the image and some of the text is missing. I've looked at the code almost all day and my Iz are sore! This is keeping off the street, so all is not lost! Oh well, maybe Monday, Sunday is my day off from retirement!
Title: Center on browser and graphs? (Re: Stupid iframes...)
Post by: elagache on August 02, 2015, 11:18:53 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat web spinners, . . . 

Guess what, I'm painting yet another pulley . . .  [rolleyes2]  However, between coats I'll toss out two thoughts. .

So, here is how it looks, now: <Home/Index/"Current Weather" (http://mid-southweather.com/index.html)> Just don't use the "Contact" menu item.

Okay, it looks nicer than before.  One thing that would make it look better on my computer is to put contents in the center of the browser window instead of the left margin.  That way people can have their browser set to any size and the contents will appear in the center of their display.

The other thing I'm noticing is that graphs appear to have an odd 8 hour gap from about 10pm to 9am.  Is this just a glitch or is your station having "issuez" . . . ?

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 03, 2015, 02:47:27 AM
Quote
I'm painting yet another pulley
I do hope you are only painting the outside of them! [lol] Will you be painting the heads of all the bolts a matching or contrasting color? When is the show date?! [cheer]

Thanks for your suggestions!

I'll be centering the content later, should be a "simple" matter of one more outer <div>. ;) That data is from a static set from the WC SKD, it's purely for testing. The other, template site is still connected to the data logger. This testing is on my iMac and will be transferred when it's complete... unless I die first! [banghead]

Dumping the Contact page is an easy solution, but I don't like giving up, just yet. "We may have lost one engine, but we've got plenty of fuel and lots of altitude! Besides, we've still got those in-flight meals to eat..."

I nice gentleman in Northern Belgium gave me some good tips on why the two php "collections" don't "play well" together. I suspected it was mostly a file structure thing, but I'm not sure exactly how to get things organized. The "structure" is not very logical and I'll probably just get that fixed before anything else happens. Better to do it now than trying to track down the "missing" links later. Always plan ahe
ad? [biggrin]

BTW, the link in my last post is probably broken right now (I need to edit that post and delete that (http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u666/xAirbusDriver/thumbup_zpsfgqhxlem.gif)). No use publishing anything until I get the structure set up. It's not that complicated a site, really, but it wasn't set up with different php "collections" in mind.
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 04, 2015, 06:31:39 PM
Body of page now centered.

Also fixed problem with Contact page not showing "Last updated" time. Since that "page" is actually several php files and it was suggested that those should all be in one location, WC was updating the 'header.php' part, but dumping it into the 'root' level. I don't think WC can ftp to more than one location at a time. Seems we've had that discussion already...

My heavy-handed solution was to include a php copy function that copied the WC edited page into the location of the other php scripts (cleverly named the "scripts" folder [rolleyes2]). That bit of php is actually in all the main html pages to avoid the update time getting changed while surfing the other parts of the site.

I still don't know, for sure, that the Warnings/Advisories will work correctly in the Contact page, since we seem to have a shortage of severe weather right now. I'll go back and search the NWS/NOAA site(s) to see if I can find a zone I can use for testing purposes. Later in the day might be best.

Next project is to figure out CUSTOMGRAPH$.
Next big project is to include one of the various forecast php collections from Mr. van der Kuil!

Latest 'in-progress' site is <Testing... testing... Can you hear me now?! (http://mid-southweather.com/index.html)>
Title: A few more things . . . (Re: Stupid iframes...)
Post by: elagache on August 04, 2015, 10:46:56 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat web "art critics" . . .

Body of page now centered.

Okay, how's this for a challenge?  Could you also center the navigation buttons?  That would give the page a more uniform look.


Next project is to figure out CUSTOMGRAPH$.

Oh, okay that explains why the graphs right now look a bit odd.  Custom graphs are very straightforward and you'll be very happy to have the additional control.

Latest 'in-progress' site is <Testing... testing... Can you hear me now?! (http://mid-southweather.com/index.html)>

Well, for whatever reason, when I visited your site the statistics page was showing the WeatherCat Stats codes instead of having the values substituted for the codes.  Perhaps that was a moment when you were fussing with the site though.

Also, under the section of Station, you also list location information.  You might want to break that out into a separate menu item like I have on my station:

http://www.canebas.org/Weather/Canebas_region.html (http://www.canebas.org/Weather/Canebas_region.html)

If you want the slick Google maps image for your website, download my Seamonkey web templates:

http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=956.0 (http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=956.0)

Included in the instructions is directions on how to make your own custom Google map like I did with complete control over how much (or little) detail you provide.

That should keep you amused for at least another 24 hours . . . .  ;D

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 04, 2015, 11:41:45 PM
Thanks for looking and commenting. I've already forgot most of what you said and don't agree with the other parts, but it's the thought that counts! [lol2]

Quote
Could you also center the navigation buttons?
Probably, but I'm still 'playing' with just how many menu items I might have, although that's not really relevant to your request. Their shape may also change, I like folder tabs thingies rather than the simple boxes... Right now, it also becomes a vertical menu (left side) when the window narrows enough. That helps with making it 'mobile-proof'.

You are correct about he custom graphs. But I just changed the custom graphs to 600 pixels wide, so that means I'll have to start thinking about the 'mobile' event sooner! [banghead] I usually test the window width in pixels and start reducing width for images as little as possible. Once you get down to smart phone portrait widths, some images just aren't worth displaying them. I fear that this exactly what will happen with those things. :( Also, remember, the site is still using 'dummy data'.

I have WC setup to update only every 5 minutes. Even as slow as I type, I often upload a page between those updates and you then get the tags instead of what they turn in to. Might as well change all those in WC Prefs...

I'm still paranoid about putting my location for public perusal in any map. I don't even have my email address visible on the site, that's one reason I stuck with the Contact form.

Supper Time! [cheer]
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 05, 2015, 10:57:53 PM
All "development" stopped. Thunderstorms have knocked out the power... finally! I've never seen the power flu hate for so long before finally giving up! My iMac is on an UPS, but not the mini. Just hope the drives didn't get messed up during a write cycle! I had changed the WC update cycle to 1 minute for several pages! [banghead]

I also realized I may not want WC making updates to several pages! All I really want is for it to upload the dozens of images. It's hard to get CSS to affect things when the HTML is already created by the app. I've changed the Graphs page to simply use the images so I can write my own HTML.

Last time I could use the computer, I was working on a PHP erer! Maybe tomorrow... assuming we get power back by then. [cheer]
Title: Forcing Custom web processing (Re: Stupid iframes...)
Post by: elagache on August 05, 2015, 11:03:37 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat website spinners seeking privacy . . .

All "development" stopped. Thunderstorms have knocked out the power... finally!

Hope your equipment is no worse for the trauma.

I also realized I may not want WC making updates to several pages! All I really want is for it to upload the dozens of images.

Some of the templates you are using are using WeatherCat's CGI interface and indeed do not need to be processed by WeatherCat custom web.  If you have pages that are a mix of graphs and CGI, you might want to have a "bare bones" page that contains the graphs you need to have uploaded and have WeatherCat process that.

You are correct about he custom graphs. But I just changed the custom graphs to 600 pixels wide, so that means I'll have to start thinking about the 'mobile' event sooner! [banghead]

It is possible to have a separate website displayed for mobile devices.  I use this simple one:

http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=213.0 (http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=213.0)

That way you can have a "lush" website for those with computers and tablets, but still have something that is easy to read on an iPhone.  That template is so nice that I never bothered to setup WeatherCat for iPhone to outside of our local WiFi network.

I have WC setup to update only every 5 minutes. Even as slow as I type, I often upload a page between those updates and you then get the tags instead of what they turn in to. Might as well change all those in WC Prefs...

Stu added a little known AppleScript feature that allows you to force WeatherCat to upload custom web pages on command.  This tiny AppleScript will cause WeatherCat to process custom web pages and upload them to your server:

Quote
-- Force processing of WeatherCat custom web.
--
-- Running this script will cause WeatherCat to immediately
-- process custom web templates and upload them to your
-- server

tell application "WeatherCat"
   set RunCustomWeb to true
end tell

I've attached the AppleScript (in .spt format) for you or anyone else who might find this tool handy.  For ultimate laziness, save it as an application and you could just double-click on it to force WeatherCat to update all your custom web pages.

I'm still paranoid about putting my location for public perusal in any map. I don't even have my email address visible on the site, that's one reason I stuck with the Contact form.

I understand your concern, but you might play with the Google interface just out of curiosity and to see if you could make vague enough to feel comfortable.  My map has a scale on the order of 100 square miles, so that isn't going to help anybody figure out where I am.  To be really secure, you could give an entire state view.  That would be good enough for someone to have a general idea of where this weather data is coming from without compromising your privacy in any real way.

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 06, 2015, 04:15:43 AM
Not sure when the power came back on. We had dinner invites from friends and they still had power, so we went and enjoyed warm food while the live-in relatives stayed home in the dark!!!! [blush]

WC Updates: I created a page with not much besides a list of WC tags, earlier than the storms. I had one already doing nothing in it except the MOVIE$ or WEBCAM$ tag and the snapshots. Don't really use the snapshots, but I just added the other tags to that page. I didn't get a chance to go back and delete many of the "Additional pages" items, yet.

Most professional web designers suggest writing "mobile first"... of course, I'm not a professional! [rolleyes2] One of the reasons I decided to not use the WC updated pages is exactly because there is no way to add CSS to the <img> HTML that the app creates for you. Just having the images uploaded is all I really want.
Title: "Hidden" pages will upload images for you. (Re: Stupid iframes...)
Post by: elagache on August 06, 2015, 11:44:51 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat web spinners,

Not sure when the power came back on.

You don't have some of those "ancient" clocks with analogue movements and are plugged into the AC?  :D


Just having the images uploaded is all I really want.
. . . .
WC Updates: I created a page with not much besides a list of WC tags, earlier than the storms.

That is probably the best strategy if you want to use CSS to define how the images appear.  Create minimalist HTML page(s) that do nothing more than list the images you want to use in the rest of the website.  Have WeatherCat process those web pages to cause it upload the images you desire to include in the other web pages.  Then create your web pages as you desire them and reference the image names directly instead of using the WeatherCat tags.  So long as there isn't any link to the minimalist HTML page(s), nobody will know they exist on your web server.

Most professional web designers suggest writing "mobile first"... of course, I'm not a professional! [rolleyes2]

I'm not sure that is a suggestion based on technical reasons so much as trends in usage.  As people use their mobile devices increasingly as their main source of Internet access, it is increasingly important that a website look best within the limitations of those small screens. 

You have to decide for yourself how interested you are in such issues.  Personally, I find the ipwx template very well suited to my needs on my iPhone.  I don't spend extended periods away from home and when I do, usually I have my iPad with me so I can view my regular website and all the information it includes.  However, everybody is different and you need to decide how serious you are about having a website with a significant following.  I keep my website low-key as part of my strategy to maintain my privacy.

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: Steve on August 07, 2015, 02:21:30 AM
I had the ipwx file as default for iPhones on my site, but changed it to an option. The very few viewers that contacted me prefer the full site. Personally, I have a "desktop" icon/app on my own iPhone and iPad that takes me directly to the Steel Series gauges for a quick, clear view of current conditions. I prefer it even over the WeatherCatMobile app.
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 07, 2015, 03:19:22 AM
Quote
everybody is different and you need to decide how serious you are about having a website with a significant following
No expectations of any "following"! [lol] The station just provides me with dynamic stuff to play with on the web! Just a learning experience, the fact that the data can be of benefit other collectors is a big bonus!

One reason to do "mobile first" is that it's easier to "get fat" than it is to "slim down"! [rockon] If you've ever tried to lose weight, you'll know that's true! But I'm spoiled by my 27" iMac and do as little 'surfing' on the iPhone as I can. The iPad is much better, but mine doesn't have cellular capabilities, so surfing on it is limited to home and rare trips where WiFi is in the over-night accommodations. Still, I'll probably use something like the template you mentioned and pick and choose what to display on the smallest devices.

My main project, right now, is to get my Leuven table NWS/NOAA weather warnings converted to html/CSS! I'm learning a lot about php just by studying Wim's stand-alone scripts!
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 11, 2015, 01:12:59 AM
I've decided to 'throw in the towel' for a while, the one that 'wipes' out some of the NOAA data when used on the Contact page. [banghead] It keeps the main text and some others but it can't find the image folder at all. Most confusingly, it 'forgets' the 'from' and 'until' date times. No ererz, just blank output and the 'broken image' symbol. All I can figure is that it is the result of the 'noaaWarning.php' and the 'start.php' being 'included' in the "contact-header.php". All the other pages are 'pure' html, but the 'Contact' page is actually a collection of php files.

BTW, all php files are in one directory, one level up from 'root'. CSS files are, also. The 'NOAA_icons_small' is an additional directory. The warnings/advisories work just fine in all the 'html' pages. I spent most of the day changing these warnings into just html from the original table method. Tables are too complicated! [rolleyes2] Oh yeah, I changed the gradients to horizontal so there is no longer an unintended repeat when the page gets longer than the browser thought at first download. Also discovered Micro$oft has finally developed a gradient capability, probably for the latest version or two. I don't usually bother using anything for Exploder, but a couple of lines doesn't add much weight to the files! [rolleyes2] I haven't tested the page in that browser, yet. I think there is still a free site or two that will give you a screen shot for numerous browsers/platforms... later...

Next project: get some forecasts working! [cheer]
Title: Should warnings be on all pages anyway? (Re: Stupid iframes...)
Post by: elagache on August 11, 2015, 11:27:38 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat web spinners, . .

I've decided to 'throw in the towel' for a while, the one that 'wipes' out some of the NOAA data when used on the Contact page. [banghead]

I hadn't noticed that you put the warnings on all the pages but Contact.  Maybe that just doesn't make any sense anyway.  I had set up my website to display warnings generated from my WC Storm Monitor AppleScript, but I only displayed them on the current conditions page.  I suppose it could make sense to display warnings on other pages that might be relevant to the current conditions like the graphs page.  However, it does seem a bit silly to display that on the description of your weather station hardware and certainly you hope that people don't visit the contact page looking for warnings.

I agree that it gives you website a more uniform appearance, but perhaps that's not a good idea either.  My website changes appearance with the warnings which immediately calls attention to a regular visitor that something different is going on.  Perhaps instead of displaying a banner with the message: "There are no active watches, warnings or advisories for the Mid-South area," could you only have that banner displayed when there is a significant announcement from the national weather service?

Next project: get some forecasts working! [cheer]

I know that goes against the grain of most WeatherCat web spinners, but something to think about is whether or not you want to display information from other sources on your website.  If you put a link to your local national weather service website, a visitor has no allusions about where the forecast came from.  If you display a forecast gleaned from another source, a web visitor is able to get all their weather information in one stop and thus is more likely to rely on your website as their single source of information.  That's good if you want a popular website, but that's bad if you don't want people to come back to you complaining that they did something based on your website and effectively "it rained on their parade."

I know that most weather station owners prefer a glitzy website with all the bells and whistles, but it never hurts to think about the alternatives.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 12, 2015, 12:09:53 AM
I agree with most of your opinions. ;) OTOH, I don't want anyone bookmarking one of my pages and not seeing a severe weather notice. We had those probably more often than in your area. Right now, a 'warning' of approaching rain might cause an "advisory"!! ;) OTOH, not many people will even need/use a "Contact" page and even fewer would bookmark it!

Secondly, the "Nothing dangerous is happening" line changes color (different colors for different levels of severity) and takes up only one line, normally. There is no point in having an alert system if it's not seen on all the pages, in my opinion. Things can change rapidly around here, just because there wasn't a warning while watching the mesmerizing time-lapse video doesn't mean there is a tornado warning popping up that you won't see if you leave the site from that page. OTOH, (I've lost count of how many virtual hands we're at...), the warnings may not be updated until another page is visited...

I understand your concern about getting 'blamed' for a bad forecast, but he 'weather department' seems to live through most of those problems. Additionally, I have a red-lettered warning at the top and the bottom of every page reminding people to depend only on a NWS site. That would include not depending on any private radio or TV station, no matter how many meteorological diplomas their people may have. [rolleyes2] Your safety is not their reason to exist. [banghead]

Bottom line, I think many people would expect to see some kind of forecast displayed on a "weather" site, not just a link to another one. Finally, it's my site and I will make it the way I want! :P ...assuming I can get the php working... and I don't run out of time or my allowance...   [woohoo] [blush] [computer]

Even with this selfish attitude, however, I really do appreciate others opinions! [cheer] [bounce]
Title: It's a free country - at least for weather websites! (Re: Stupid iframes...)
Post by: elagache on August 12, 2015, 11:12:42 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat web spinners, . . .

I agree with most of your opinions. ;) OTOH,

Oh! Brother!! . . .  [wink]

Secondly, the "Nothing dangerous is happening" line changes color (different colors for different levels of severity) and takes up only one line, normally.

Okay, that makes it less likely that someone would miss an alert because the alert bar is part of the "wallpaper" of your website.

I understand your concern about getting 'blamed' for a bad forecast, but he 'weather department' seems to live through most of those problems.

It is just something to think about.  There is a natural desire to create a very nice looking website.  It is a point of pride like keeping your yard tidy, your car clean, and all the rest.  Still, I think we all need to be honest about how much web traffic we are likely to receive on these websites.  If in the end the most frequent visitors to our own websites are going to be ourselves, family, and friends - perhaps they can be more personal in that way.  As such, they don't require all the bells and whistles that a commercial weather website is expected to have.

Additionally, I have a red-lettered warning at the top and the bottom of every page reminding people to depend only on a NWS site. That would include not depending on any private radio or TV station, no matter how many meteorological diplomas their people may have. [rolleyes2] Your safety is not their reason to exist. [banghead]

Well, . . . when I learned to be a scuba instructor, I was taught explicitly to remind the students many times of the risks they were taking as part of a carefully orchestrated program by the certification agency to avoid attempts to sue scuba instructors.  Even so, students find lawyers to manage to sue anyway, even if they were "warned."  I have to admit the experience was traumatizing that I only taught a few advanced classes and gave up.  I didn't want that burden on my head.

To this day, I don't find disclaimers very reassuring.


Finally, it's my site and I will make it the way I want! :P

Now this remains true  [cheer] . . . until the government puts its nose in yet something else it has no business interfering . . .  [rolleyes2]


...assuming I can get the php working... and I don't run out of time or my allowance...   [woohoo] [blush] [computer]

 ;). . . . Now in this, you might yet be licked! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/computer_sock_it_to_me.gif)


Even with this selfish attitude, however, I really do appreciate others opinions! [cheer] [bounce]

 ;) . . . I repeat . . . Oh! Brother!! . . .  [wink]

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Stupid iframes...
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 12, 2015, 11:22:15 PM
... and you'll be hearing from my lawyer, any day, now...  [lol2]
Title: Remember? . . . . (Re: Stupid iframes...)
Post by: elagache on August 12, 2015, 11:36:08 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat "strollers down memory lane . . . . "

... and you'll be hearing from my lawyer, any day, now...  [lol2]

Remembering how I became a scuba instructor and all the liability worries, I had a bumper sticker on my trusty wagon when she was known as "da' divemobile."  I first learned to scuba dive in the early 1990s when the AIDS epidemic was raging and at the same time resorts and certification agencies would certify just about anybody - even those in marginal health.  At that time I found the bumper sticker that summarized the lunacy perhaps too well:

Remember when sex was safe . .
and scuba diving was dangerous?


Things sure have changed . . . and I'm not sure for the better! . . .  :o

Edouard