PsmegDev - Discussing the WebAll the things that interest me, and then some!

With the increasing regularity that books based on CSS web design are being released, it’s a major task in itself to find a book that is written in plain English and actually covers real world applications, details clean code and is enjoyable to read. So, to that end we are taking a look at Andy Budd’s CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions by Friends of Ed.

Friends of Ed have always created books aimed at real world uses written for the designer as opposed to the techno-geek. CSS Mastery doesn’t break with that tradition; which is a good thing.

CSS Mastery takes a guided look at the most common aspects of CSS based web design and ensures that the knowledge imparted is geared towards accessibility and semantic mark-up. Andy Budd certainly knows his stuff and guides you through the topics in a logical and clearly explained fashion. Examples are plentiful as are tips, browser issues and common workarounds. That is one area that this book becomes invaluable as a reference tool that deserves a place on any designers/developers desk.

If you are new to working with CSS, then CSS Mastery will get you off to a flying start and help clear up some of the multitude of browser issues and problems you’ll no doubt run into.

If you are further down the path to CSS mastery you can still benefit from the knowledge and workarounds that fill the book.

There is one area that I think this particular book may frustrate and that is where it demonstrates a particular topic/method, explains what and why you should do it and then shows you the code to achieve the desired result. All good so far. However, when you try to implement the topic being covered only to discover that the effect doesn’t work in your main browser, obvious frustration ensues.

Why doesn’t it work you ask? Well, you would have to read the entire topic from start to finish, and once you reach the end you are then and only then informed that it doesn’t work in certain browsers (in this case IE6).

Personally, I would have preferred that little gem to have been imparted BEFORE I started trying to implement the topic covered. However, that said; it really isn’t a major issue in the book, more a case of the topics being covered being useful enough for me to want to start implementing them immediately and not finishing the whole chapter.

Speaking of the topics covered, you’ll find many useful areas of design being given plenty of coverage. For example, the book covers the following areas:

• Setting the foundations: Useful information covering the best methods of managing and controlling your style sheets.
• Visual Formatting Model Recap: Covers the 3 basics of CSS design: Box model, floating and positioning.
• Image replacement and background images: Various methods of image control including rounded corners & navigation images.
• Styling Links: An excellent chapter on many different methods for link styling.
• Styling Lists & creating nav bars: Covers visually styling navigation elements and image maps.
• Styling Forms and Data Tables: A comprehensive look at making tables look and work well and visually control forms.
• Layout: One of the coolest chapters in the book covering many common layouts.
• Hacks & Filters: Love them or hate them, hacks and filters are a CSS developers life lines when browser problems occur.
• Bugs & Bug fixes: This chapter covers the many known bugs and how to solve them in the minefield of browsers and platforms.

Finally, the book moves on to cover 2 complete case studies and are an excellent way to see how and why a designer uses various methods covered throughout the book to achieve real world results.

Thankfully, the case studies are well designed and interesting layouts, that makes reading through them and seeing how and why various methods are used invaluable.

Conclusion

Andy Budd has written a well structured book that will be used as a source of reference for many years. The topics are concise, well thought out and have practical uses in every day development.

His use of examples elevates it above many other books on CSS that are being released almost daily and the 2 case studies should be enough to help inspire and prove that CSS design doesn’t need to look ‘boxy’

A well presented book that I would recommend to beginners and seasoned designers alike.

I’ve been using Avactis as my shopping solution of choice over the last few weeks because it offers an extensive tag based integrtation system and has proved very easy and user friendly from a buyers and developers point of view.The techies over at Avactis have released the latest upgrade with a host of much need additions. Listed below are all the new features, etc.

Avactis Shopping Cart 1.8.0 has been released.
November 16, 2007

Avactis Cart ver1.8.0 online demo:
http://www.avactis.com/demo.php

In this version we have implemented one of the most wanted features of Avactis Cart – support for Customer Accounts. Now customers can shop your online store in two ways: via Quick Checkout, with no registration needed, or via their personal customer account. Having a Customer Account lets your shoppers place repeat orders without entering the same personal information twice. Customer Accounts also enable your customers to view their order history online.

Version 1.8.0 includes a number of bug-fixes, improvements and added features. See below for a detailed list.

Current customers can download the fresh version 1.8.0 using this link: http://www.avactis.com/support.php
Select User Type “I’m a current customer and I want fresh version”, and enter all the required data. The download link will be sent to your e-mail address.
Read the rest of this entry »

I know some of my visitors are involved in web development, and if like me you are either too busy to create an eCommerce solution from scratch (even if using extensions like eCart 4) or haven’t found an off the shelf solution that integrates with your designs or requires far too much to time to skin then take a look at the new version of Avactis (1.6.1).

I tried it out a few revisions back, and while it was an excellent script with incredibly easy site integration, it lacked one essential feature - Product options. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve read plenty of things mentioning Google Analytics, but until this weekend I haven’t realy looked into it. Boy, am I ashamed that I haven’t delved into this almost invaluable online tool before!

If you run a website, you really should be using this incredibly detailed reporting service. The level of detail and information available is staggering; from simple geographic reports of site visitors to the more complex and useful eCommerce sales tracking tools.

As you may be aware, I’m in the process of getting Simply Sexy UK off the ground with my partner LJ, and as such we really want to ensure that we have as much information about the online process as possible. With Google Analytics, we can easily monitor the whole process and see where visitors enter and exit from, the duration they stay on the site, on each page and if they jump-off at any point. Read the rest of this entry »

I just had a nose through the latest Adobe Insider eNewsletter and it brought my attention to a range of Podcasts covering various aspects of the new suite and some of its applications new features over at Creative Suite TV.

Brought to you primarily by Terry White, the Podcasts cover some pretty cool topics like: InDesigns CS3’s new Find/Change (or Search and Replace to most of us) feature that not only allows the normal F/C functions, but now you can really go to town with a plethora of new methods. You can change objects, colours (even ones not defined in your swatches palette) and the really powerful GREP option that allows you to seach for complex formations of information and replace them with your own combinations (just think Excel style formulas and you get the picture).

Scott Kelby makes an appearence to show you the Develop panel in Lightroom.  Other Podcasts feature the use of Photoshop CS3’s Stack Mode and a whole load more to whet your appetitie for the new features in the (fantastically overpriced in the EU) Creative Suite 3 from Adobe.