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Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 26 Feb 2005, 21:13

Paul is one of the unsung heros of Portobello Online. While I take all the credit it's Paul, Lee and Jane who do the clever stuff behind the scenes.

While Lee keeps the forum running smoothly, Paul takes care of the rest of the website. His hand-built content management system has been a labour of love and remains, to my eternal frustration, a work in progress (though he promises it is almost complete.) Most of his work is unseen and therefore unrecognised but I hope that you have noticed some changes to the home page in recent days.

For a start, we dedided it would be nice to have a randomly changing header image. Try hitting your refresh button a few times and you will see what I mean. The images come courtesy of Jane and you can expect more of her design input as Paul completes the technical side.

I think that sometimes people focus on the forum and forget about the website. I'm delighted that the forum has become so successful but for me it's just one element of a much larger picture. My aim has always been to produce the best community website in the country and we're getting there slowly. It's local people like Paul, Lee and Jane who make it happen and enable me to realise what otherwise would just be a pipe dream.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 03 Mar 2005, 23:02

We have now added a colour pdf version of the latest issue of the Reporter. It seems to work pretty well and is certainly a lot less work than the online version we were trying to produce. At full screen width on a 15 inch screen at 1024 x 768 I can just about read the print without having to magnify, therfore avoiding the horizontal scrolling I hate so much.

I was a little concerned about the file size and would welcome your feedback on how long it takes you to download and your connection speed. Come to think of it, we should really run a poll to find out what connection speeds our members have. I tend to assume that everyone is broadband but that is obviously not the case and of course the term 'broadband' has been stretched to cover a wide range of speeds.

Our local business directory is ready to roll and next up is a Links page. This is intended primarily to link to other local, not-for-profit websites and we would welcome your suggestions. Local schools, churches and sports clubs will be included as well as useful links to things like the Planning Portal for example.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 Mar 2005, 16:17

We have now managed to reduce the file size of the Reporter pdf considerably, without loss of quality, so download times should be a lot quicker.

We hope to add previous issues in this format and install a search facility that will enable you to find items of interest from the archive.

Many thanks to Skeely for his assistance with this.

Ed · Post by Ed » 07 Mar 2005, 09:34

Random image feature at the homepage, nice touch. Maybe get some seasonal pictures into the rotation. To be honest, that means SNOW all year round.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Mar 2005, 19:20

Wangi, do you have any more shots we could use? Email anything you have to Jane and she should be able to take care of the rest.

Post by **wangi** » 07 Mar 2005, 19:53

Bob Jefferson wrote:Wangi, do you have any more shots we could use? Email anything you have to Jane and she should be able to take care of the rest.

I'll have a look through and see if anything's suitable (can think of a few). Really like some the 13 ones currently up:

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

#13

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 08 Mar 2005, 08:23

It's looking very good and the various pictures on the Homepage are lovely.

Every link I followed though, led me to Bob!!!

All the headings have Bob at the end, like my favourite "Bowling Centre Bob". There's also "Police - Bob", "Councillor - Bob" and so on.

Should we be afraid?

Are you taking over the town Bob?

Ed · Post by Ed » 08 Mar 2005, 09:16

How about a competition, official or fun for people to submit their own photos for the rotation? Maybe provide the dimensions of whats needed, the viewable area etc. etc.

Post by **wangi** » 08 Mar 2005, 10:42

Ed wrote:How about a competition, official or fun for people to submit their own photos for the rotation? Maybe provide the dimensions of whats needed, the viewable area etc. etc.

Great Idea Ed... I came up with the following alts last night:

#14

#15

#16

#17

#18

#19

#20

#21

#22

With "FUNPA RK" being my favourite

!
I just used an area of 590x100, but this still requires work to be done on the image (blending to white on the left and bottom sides). I'll check what suits Jane & Bob and start off a wee comp...

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 08 Mar 2005, 11:20

Great photos - good idea for the rotating whatnots. I'll have to look out my special long thin camera...

Incidently, using Firefox1.0, the Home page doesn't load in the correct layout when I hit it the first time through the sunshine logo - if I then go to another page and return, or even just hit the back and then forward buttons its fine?

Its fine in IE

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Mar 2005, 18:07

ecm wrote:It's looking very good and the various pictures on the Homepage are lovely.

Every link I followed though, led me to Bob!!!

All the headings have Bob at the end, like my favourite "Bowling Centre Bob". There's also "Police - Bob", "Councillor - Bob" and so on.

Should we be afraid?

Are you taking over the town Bob?

Yes, that is a bit embarassing and wasn't my idea. I'll have a word with Paul. I think it was perhaps meant to be an author credit.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 09 Mar 2005, 23:08

Stunning pictures Wangi

I especially love the rooftops with Fife and the terrace with the light coloured houses standing out in the sunset

My daughter says the "FUNPA RK" looks like a row of teeth needing braces..it's a teenage thing

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 11 Mar 2005, 13:19

I love those rotating picture things Wangi. Gives the site a touch of class. Well done.

Post by **wangi** » 11 Mar 2005, 13:26

Porty wrote:I love those rotating picture things Wangi. Gives the site a touch of class. Well done.

Well, I can only take credit for getting it onto the forum pages - Paul & Jane set it all off on the main pages.

The range of images should increase this weekend, and then we can see about getting more images from other folk.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 11 Mar 2005, 17:50

Has the inclusion of the pictures made the forum page too wide now or is it just me?

I'm having to constantly scroll horizontally to see stuff.

Lizzie · Post by **Lizzie** » 11 Mar 2005, 18:15

ecm wrote:Has the inclusion of the pictures made the forum page too wide now or is it just me?

I'm having to constantly scroll horizontally to see stuff.

Me too ecm - its really annoying isn't it

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 11 Mar 2005, 18:23

Lizzie wrote:
ecm wrote:Has the inclusion of the pictures made the forum page too wide now or is it just me?

I'm having to constantly scroll horizontally to see stuff.

Me too ecm - its really annoying isn't it

It's only about 3 characters worth of space but enough to bug me! I'm on 90% view now which has made everything nice and dainty.

Post by **wangi** » 11 Mar 2005, 18:26

I guess you guys screens are 800 pixels wide? Had a quick try on it just now with little luck - will play around with it tomorrow.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 11 Mar 2005, 18:34

The page stretches to accomodate photos, which is why we suggest maximum widths. In this case it's the header images posted earlier that are responsible. If you view other threads there shouldn't be a problem.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 11 Mar 2005, 18:35

wangi wrote:I guess you guys screens are 800 pixels wide? Had a quick try on it just now with little luck - will play around with it tomorrow.

Thanks Wangi,

Yes, I'm 800 wide. Just tried changing the resolution to 1024/768 but everything looks so wee.

I'll get used to it though, it's just because I'm so used to the same layout and look.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 11 Mar 2005, 18:40

Bob Jefferson wrote:The page stretches to accomodate photos, which is why we suggest maximum widths. In this case it's the header images posted earlier that are responsible. If you view other threads there shouldn't be a problem.

I realise that, Bob but all threads are affected.

Not as badly as this one because, as you say, of the photos.
It's not by much - only the last couple of characters on each line. I can reduce the view or change the resolution, so it's OK.

Post by **wangi** » 12 Mar 2005, 14:22

Okay, for all those with 800x600 display resolution the forums should now be scroll-free (except where images in the thread and munging it up).

I even tested it!

Lizzie · Post by **Lizzie** » 12 Mar 2005, 18:09

Thanks for that Wangi, scroll-free it is now

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 12 Mar 2005, 18:34

Yes, ta muchly, Wangi.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 22 Mar 2005, 00:44

Because I routinely use Safari as my browser I hadn't encountered any problems with the new layout of the home page - until today that is, when I was using IE 5.2 (I use it for financial sites etc.) and entered the POL homepage. I had to scroll far to the right (I've got a display setting of 1440 x 900) below the header picture and to the right of the orange 'framing' lines to find the main text .
The links below the header picture are also displayed in a long vertical column rather than horizonally. Is it just me again?

xxxx · Post by **xxxx** » 22 Mar 2005, 13:28

Is it just me again?

No its me
Unfortunately I can't test what I can't see, I'll get hold of a mac next week and sort it out, until then its safari only, apologies

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 22 Mar 2005, 14:32

No probs. I prefer Safari anyway.....

xxxx · Post by **xxxx** » 22 Mar 2005, 16:33

could you have another check on explorer, skeely seems to have solved the problem, bless his heart

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 22 Mar 2005, 17:10

Looking good

Thanks guys

Post by **wangi** » 09 Jul 2005, 20:43

Other new headers added recently:
#23

#24

#25

Post by **wangi** » 09 Jul 2005, 20:48

And just to add...
If anyone else has Portobello images that they think would suit the page banners then fire them to me (email in profile).
... But remember the weird size! If it looks like it might fit that size then lets try it.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 09 Jul 2005, 22:19

wangi
new headers are briliant (all are). i have got one of the wallpapers on my computer at work and have been sending it round my colleagues.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 09 Jul 2005, 22:47

I particularly like #25. Where did you get it? Is it from the muriel (spot the Corrie ref) at Towerbank playpark?

Post by **wangi** » 09 Jul 2005, 23:07

Yup, it is indeed from the Towerbank playground on the Prom. Got a few photos on Friday and stiched them together.

Post by **wangi** » 16 Mar 2006, 18:31

The random header photos are back

#26

#27

#28

#29

#30