Website Help
Note: that while the website is currently in v2.2 status (history of the site), there are often problems. There may be some bugs in terms of certain browsers not working with it (although this was designed while checking a number of browsers so they should all work) or if with mispellings, grammatical errors, or broken links. If you find something wrong with the site, please send an email to the church.
Navigation: The site is designed to be a digital version of the church's promotional brochure. With that in mind, the five "themes" of the church are summarized at the top of each page (under the top image bar). These links will take you to the various topical pages. As well, on each page there is a link to the next page (and the previous page), if you were reading them in order. As well, there are links to additional information throughout the page. In time, the navigation system may have to be re-thought if we add a number of additional pages.
Rotating Images: After scouring the Internet for ideas of how to design such a page, I found that the best non-profit websites are those designed for colleges and universities. One of the ideas that was often used was this type of rotating or random image generator. Due to the limitations of the church's budget, I had to use JavaScript to create the desired effect. With the release of Windows XP SP2, IE may not immediately show the image. I promise that the church is not using any malicious code. Please let us know by email if you discover other problems with this generator.
This site is best viewed at a resolution of at least 800x600. Very few webpages are still designed with a smaller resolution in mind. At this time there are not plans to make the site viewable on a smaller resolution as it would require a large redesign but this could change if browsing on cell phones takes off.
Text: If all the text on these pages are bunched together without blue borders around the body, your browser most likely does not support Cascading Style Sheets. If this is the case, I would suggest upgrading to Mozilla Firefox, which has a number of great features like Tabbed Browsing, pop-up blocking, and it automatically blocks malicious software from installing itself on your computer.
How do you design a webpage? Answer: Notepad. There are a number of programs that now claim to help people with no web knowledge design a website. I found that they usually produce poorly coded and hard to view sites. These programs can be helpful if you do have some knowledge of web design to begin with. A place to start is here.
Future Plans: When I first designed this page, tables were still in vogue. I should have designed it using CSS for layout as well as for formating. It is a powerful system that allows quick changes to the look and would help in the movement to browsing using mobile devices. If, when, I have time I will begin to convert the site to CSS. Other additions to this page that should be made are to allow members to have weekly access to bulletins, announcements, prayer information and more. However, this would require weekly work that I do not have time for and so I have not yet devoted the time to creating member pages.
Website Version History:
2.2 - Problems with the site's server and Tim off at school, Tim has to recreate the site from a previous version. Cleans up mistakes from the last iteration and includes latest draft of the church's brochure. (4/10/05)
Posted on-line. (12/28/03)
2.1.3 - Reimplement columns, this time the place for images. Balances the page according to a graphic designer. (9/26/03)
2.1.2 - The church's new brochure's text added to the format that I had been working on. As well as all but two pictures added.(9/6/03)
2.1.1 - Text page loses the columns, front page's text changed, layout ready to go. (9/5/02)
2.1.0b - Creates new text page for all the text (as seen today with a column for links. (12/23/02)
2.1.0 - Creates new front page (as seen today) with image reloads. (12/23/02)
2.0.5 - Decides that he is not happy with layout, to start again. (12/18/02)
2.0.4 - Implements a modified script to change pictures.(12/16/02)
2.0.3c - Heads back to school; delays search: finds NYU website with changing images. Idea is hatched for how to do splash page.(12/15/02)
2.0.3b - Searches the net for a church with a good website to give ideas, doesn't find a thing. (late 8/02)
2.0.3 - Decides at some point that he does not have the patience or skill with Photoshop to make a Splash Page that looks good. Decides to find a new way to show the front page. (7/02-8/02)
2.0.2 - Has bright idea that implementing the church pencil sketch would be a good idea. Spends the next month and a half going pixel by pixel to fix the drawing.(7/15/02 - 8/30/02)
2.0.1 - Begins work on a front splash page with multiple pictures that would then flow into brochure information. (7/8/03)
2.0.0 - Tim begins work on a new website - decides on basic format of links at top, text in the middle, copyright at bottom.(7/6/02)
1.0.1 - Changes made for a variety of reasons. To keep things up to date. (1997-2000)
1.0.0 - Tim's friend David Yang took the time to design this site. (May 1997)
0.1 - First release of the church site. Some things are broken but if you want to look at one page, here you go. (April 1997)
There were other iterations in there but I cannot find them. This is the best I can do.
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