How I create my websites

[CavySpirit]

I've been asked a number of different questions related to the content and format of my websites. I thought I would share how I've created my sites. If someone can learn through all of my trial and error, because that's what it's been, then great!

First of all, I have registered my own domain names ($) and use a 'paid for' hosting company. I currently use Prohosting. I find the prices quite reasonable and their technical support has been truly awesome--both via email and phone. In other words, I'm not using the freebie webhosting companies like homestead, geocities, aol, etc. I just choose to have total control over my environment, and more importantly want good performance and absolutely no ads.

Many technical people snub their nose at Microsoft's Front Page. Sure it puts a few extra files on your site. So what? I like it a lot. Front Page is the tool I use to maintain all of my sites. I also own Dreamweaver and a few other tools, but really prefer Front Page.

I use CuteFTP as my ftp program to upload and download programs.

I use Adobe's Photo Shop to resize, optimize, and occassionally clean up photos. That has taken me a while to get proficient with.

On my old website, which is gone, I created it from scratch. Now I normally search high and low for a template that I like. Most of my templates can be found on Pixel Mill. I seem to go with designs from The Theme Gallery. I've also used a theme or two from RTB Wizards. Sometimes I modify the theme, sometimes not. I have been personally attacked for using themes. I guess you have to be the judge. It is my personal philosophy, especially being in the software business, that to reinvent the wheel is pretty stupid. There are so many sites and so many styles and themes out there, the risk of having a "look-a-like" site is very small.

Most of these themes are very table intensive. You really have to know what you are doing with tables in html. If you don't, you will be in a world of hurt. Of course, I learned the hard way. Unfortunately, the table design is part of what makes the pages slow to load on slow dial-up connections. (I was told that a table has to be fully resolved before it can be displayed by the browser.) Oh well. I just hope that the majority of people are able to get them to load in a reasonable enough time to be useful. I made a decision not to code or write to the lowest common denominator.

I also purchased a group of Front Page applets from FrontLook which are little programs which run special effects like the slide show I use on both Cavy Spirit and Cavy Cages. They work great and are easy to maintain.

The software I use for the Your Thoughts page on Cavy Spirit and the Testimonials on Cavy Cages was a script from CGI Path called GBookit. It is a guestbook application that I've been creative with so that it doesn't seem like the average old guestbook. The only technical problem I've had using these scripts is the inability to incorporate the FrontPage navigation. Oh well.

I thought the use of the Polls might help make my site more interactive and fun. I use the poll script B3Poll from Bandley. It's kind of hard to think up a poll that would be appropriate for the Cavy Spirit site. Any suggestions? I had to move them off of the main page to their own page for the sake of loading speed.

The Newsletter script I am using is Mojo Mail. It seems to work fine, and as I recall it was free. Some of the scripts I use were free, some required a small fee. Most of them I've found on Hot Scripts -- either the php or the perl/cgi scripts.

The new Search capability I am using is a free service for basic functionality at AtomZ. I've just recently updated all my sites to use this search engine, and it seems to be working fine so far.

The Graphics. I get a lot of comments about the graphics on my site, especially the piggie graphics. Aren't they great? They were done by Christopher Grotke at MuseArts and are being used with permission by them. They are not mine to give away. Please visit MuseArts Cartoons or their main site at MuseArts.

The forums are a hosted solution by EZboard. I pay to have the ads removed. I have two active, independant forums, this one and the Cavy Rescue forum.

On Cavy Cages, I am also using Image Event to store/host some photos. The functionality is good, and I also pay there to have ads removed. But, I wish I could find an image gallery script that I could install that I would happy with. I've tried. I've experimented quite a bit. I will likely change it in the future, but for now, that application makes it easier for me to maintain. One huge problem I've found in trying to come up with an image gallery script is this. You must go look at the software and their demos to see how it works and how it looks. All too many of these scripts are targeted towards pornography. One little hit to their site just to look at software, you didn't know you were going to adult site and all of sudden you are getting x-rated junk mail. Good grief. What a pain! Oh well.

I think that's it! That's not to say I haven't wasted money on scripts that I couldn't install or ended up not being compatible or functional. Lots of trial and error and learning a lot about perl, cgi, and php, not to mention html.

Hey Teresa! Thanks for sharing with us about your websites. Tell me, how do you update your websites? Do you use a SiteBuilder?

Christopher

[CavySpirit]

Hi Christopher,

I use FrontPage to create, edit and update. Glad you like them.

Teresa

Thanks Teresa!
I've never dealt with FrontPage before, but it seems like great editing software to me by the looks of your websites! I think it's wonderful that you and Robert put so much time in caring for cavies and it is evident that alot of work is put onto your sites as well. Way to Go!!
I use Homestead's SiteBuilder to update, edit my site. Homestead websites used to be free, but now Homestead is charging and I pay about $30 a month for one website! I checked over to Prohosting.com last night after reading your post, and found the price there to be incredibly cheap! Is making websites off of Prohosting easy to do? How much are additional websites to be added? I love Homestead but don't like spending all that money when I know there are serves out there, such as Prohosting, that are alot cheaper and just as great.
About my cavies: We went to a pet store today which was selling large cages (4 cages connected together(stacked)), and each story has its own tunnel to go up and down. The piggies seem to be doing fine outside on the back screened-in porch. It was a cool day today and they are getting along with their environment just fine. Two boys were accidentally put together and got into a big fight, so of course bedding went everywhere after the new cage was set up!!! I will try and get a picture of the 4-in-1 cage soon and will email it to you.
Have a great Labor Day weekend

Christopher

Hi Theresa, glad you share your ideas in making this site, my brother is a minor in computer engeeniring and he says that your site is very well finished. As you know am currently making a website that will have infos. on cavies but the web I'll be making is from a freebie company "matmice", I chose this free web maker beacause this is only for kids (in fact they don't allow 20 and above yr. olds) and is actually made by kids of 13 and 19 yrs. which means they don't have any commercial intentions (they only put a single ad of their site in the bottom). What are the other disadvantages of free webs aside from advertisements?

[CavySpirit]

No idea, since I don't use them.

Well, it's just three days ago when I discover I can actually get a domain and for free! it will be hosted by my brothers "group" as I say on my first entry my brother is minor in computer engineering but unfortunately he ship to public ad and his old friends continue and studied web hosting and designing which I feel is a good timing! am not yet deciding what domain name cen be appropriate in my site, any suggestions?

[SuperCavyLover]

Angelicum,
Here's a few neat cavy website names:

[/b]Cavy Place.com[i]
[/b]The Cavy Place.com[i]
[/b]Cavies Unlimited.com[i]
[/b]Guinea Pigs Home.com[i]
[/b]Lots of Cavy Info.com[i]

Good luck in deciding the perfect names!
I also like CavySpirit.com, but we know who
has that one LOL!!!

how about PIGSRUS

Thanks to all that answers, however am choosing names between CavyPlanet.com, CavyPlace.com, and CavyRus.com. and sam also searching for a Poll hosting and I already went to what Teresa used in her poll but it's very difficult to reach since am in the Philippines beacause they don't accept money order (am not capable of credit cards) any suggestions?
also, I will have a NEWSLETTER after I finished my site and I will want a service for that well-finshed newsletter that will be capable of putting small pictures and others do you know anything?

[SuperCavyLover]

For newsletters, I use VerticalResponse.com. But, it requires credit card payments to send the campaigns out. Hope you find something..........

Hi Teresa, Just read this page all over again just to know the stuffs. Am starting now and its fun however am not sure of the domain but not a problem. By the way you say you use pixel mill and the other one in haing templates, where do you exactly get the cavyrescue template so far it has the best template, I'll go to it's template maker and find a bit close or any cozy looking ones. I'd like it colorful what can you recommend.

[CavySpirit]

www.rtbwizards.com

For the moment am making my Roboronton site which will hopesully be finished by july, then I'll follow up working on my CavyPlanet.
Just few questions about that Guinea Pig Cartoons, I'm with a great contact at the moment with Christopher Grotke and Lise lePage of musearts, I just wonder if you pay for the cartoons on your site.
I'll be availing their service to make me a custom piggie image to put on my site, Lise also told me about his filipino Uncle so we're really getting well.
My cavysite will also be holding projects and activities for benefits of abondoned and maltreated cavies, the Projects will include an annual Cavy Magazine, cavy Soundtracks, Flash Animations and Flash cartoon interactive tutorial of building cubes and coroplast and grooming etc.
I just wanted to say that cavyspirit will benefit a bit of all the proceeds of the sales and so with other rescues, I'll also want you to share with me any other cavy rescues and shelters that has the same advocacy as yours. If in any cases, I hope to have your assistance in my "Rescues and Shelters" portion of the site. The products that will be for sale on-line will be the annual magazine and also looking forward for a doll image of the future cavy cartoons that I will get.
I also have been looking for sponsors after the site is finished and active.
thanks