Hi
My new site - www.getatrowel.co.uk - has just been built by my genius friend andrewpendrick.co.uk.
thoughts please?
Silktide has scored us well, but its not always that reliable, although 80% gave it 10/10 - please vote here if you dont mind - http://www.silktide.com/index.php?node=18448&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.getatrowel.co.uk
any comments greatly appreciated.
thanks
troweling
I think it's a lovely looking site.
I notice that it's got a transitional DOCTYPE - I'm guessing it's because of the Paypal stuff which won't validate otherwise as is.
Is it not possible to tweak the paypal bits?
troweling
Yes that was the main reason Andrew built it transitional. Paypal is a nightmare to "tweak" - full shopping cart is the next step - but my business has grown faster than I expected and didnt havent had the time for that development. Its the next step.
What does everyone think of Lighbox JS (http://www.huddletogether.com/projects/lightbox2/) - we are hoping to integrate this for the enlarged product images?
troweling
Does the "select your shipping" have to be on the site product bit, can it not be a thing you add to the basket just before you purchase? I don't really like it there, I just like the price and "buy now".
Another thing, maybe change "buy now" to "add to cart"? Buy Now implies that it's the only thing you can buy, you won't be able to get back to the site, not add stuff to the basket etc.
The links in the left column seem to lack definition; the headers seem too hard to read against the dark background.
You shouldn't need a link to the homepage ON the homepage; however, as you do, it should be highlighted like it does when you're on the other pages; I thought that "home" would take me to a different page
I'd also make Tools for the amateur and professional archaeologist a bit bigger, make it stand out more.
Very nice site though, well made, just needs a bit of tweaking
troweling
thanks for your thoughts pineapple!
The drop-down shipping is annoying, but Paypal is such an ass to work with we are going to wait until we integrate a proper shopping cart.
The header could be bigger maybe, but I love the left hand navigation, perhaps I am biased
Maybe right about "home" - it should be "on" when on homepage I think?
troweling
The header could be bigger maybe, but I love the left hand navigation, perhaps I am biased![]()
You are Just make the titles a bit brighter
Maybe right about "home" - it should be "on" when on homepage I think?
Definitely.
troweling
yes will give it some thought.
How do you feel about Lightbox JS?
Also, the RSS feeds- the only page that doesnt fully validate. any thoughts?
troweling
Lightbox is nice - only issue with it is some CSS which doesn't validate (yet).
troweling
Could someone tell me a couple good alternatives to Lightbox JS please (i.e. ones that validate fully) ? I did try a google search but didn't really know what to search for :?
I know someone posted a link to a lightweight, standards-compliant javascript one on here recently which I liked but stupidly didn't bookmark :roll:, having a hard time finding the post so would be great if someone could point me to it
TIA, Tom
troweling
Was it this one? http://tjkdesign.com/articles/gallery/photo_gallery.asp
troweling
Well, we have finally implemented Lightbox on our test site and it validates 100%!!!!
Who said it didnt validate?
It looks amazing, loads quickly and is fully compliant. Will put the link up tomorrow when it is live.
troweling
There's a bit of CSS in there that doesn't validate yet (or was on Lokesh's original script) - where on your site have you used it?
troweling
Was it this one? http://tjkdesign.com/articles/gallery/photo_gallery.asp
Yes it is, thank you very much

troweling
Quote:Was it this one? http://tjkdesign.com/articles/gallery/photo_gallery.asp
Yes it is, thank you very much
I must say that doesnt look half as nice as Lightbox.
We are using it on the product images - will reveal all tomorrow (:
troweling
OK
So it is live.
Check:
http://getatrowel.co.uk/shop_mtown.html
http://getatrowel.co.uk/shop_whs.html
http://getatrowel.co.uk
Opinions more than welcome!
(would you also mind awfully, if you like the site, voting for it here - http://webdesignbook.net/?p=746 thanks!)
troweling
Nice implementationo f kightbox, there's only one teeny thing I'm torn on.
The 1px border on the header image . . .
border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;
I don't know if it should be there or not :? I don't know whether it looks better with or without :?
I've voted for it though
troweling
It's nice!
I'd put up with the CSS errors because it's so pretty - my problem with it is that it's hard to close the boxes with a keyboard - you just cycle through the images.
Chris hacked the original lightbox so that you could close the box with a keyboard - so you could probably do the same with this (waaay beyond my skills!)
troweling
There is a version of a Photogallery named "Hoverbox" (Google is your friend) which you might want to have a look at. The difference is that the picture reacts to the onhover state and then an onclick event will react as well, so that when the user hovers, an increased size of the same picture is displayed and then the onclick will produce the new picture similar to the Lightbox code you have here.
troweling
hmm Hoverbox is pretty, but I am not sure it is as useful. Nothing happens onclick that I can see, and I think the hover enlarge may annoy the customer a bit.
Will keep an eye on customer feedback for now.
Just go approved at www.webdesignbook.net (: