will be my very own web site, railroadrich.com. I will have some trip reports, photos, my "railroad guides" (don't know if I'll be able to put my maps on the site though.....), and other materials (plus other aspects of my life which are "non-railroad" related!!) -- I may even have some photos of my yet-way unfinished model railroad......
Don't go to the web site quite yet, since there is nothing there yet!
I will welcome any suggestions from any of you who already have your own web sites, about ANYTHING related to web sites, since this is all new to me! (what should be included, how it should be set up, etc., etc.)
I'll keep y'all informed of the progress of the web site.
Posted by ehbowen (Member # 4317) on :
I started my site six months ago knowing almost nothing about HTML or web design. There are some good books out there you might consider--I used Teach Yourself HTML and CSS in 24 Hours by Sams Publishing--but the best help that I received was from the HTML Center Forums. Nice people, and very helpful. Stop on by and tell them I sent you--you might get an extra sheep. (What ponies and bagpipes are to this forum, sheep are to that one.)
All the best to you, and looking forward to your version 1.0!
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
Sounds great Rich! I enjoyed your travelogues on TrainWeb. Good luck with your site.
Anton
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
Looking forward to it, Mr RRRRich!!!; and I will stop by yours soon too, Eric. . .
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Well, after several weeks or trying to understand "web-ease" from my hosting provider and my software company, the site is finally up and running (kind of......) There isn't much there yet, except my most recent trip report and some photos, but you can get an idea of the things that might show up in the future (depending on how much space my hosting provider will provide me)
I know the formatting may be a little weird for different sized monitors, but let me know of any "quirks" you come across, and I'll try and fix them. Also, some of the text colors need to be revised, I know. Also, for some reason, when you pull up the site, the title of the site comes out as "index" for some reason -- I don't know why that happensd.
But check it out -- railroadrich.com
Posted by ehbowen (Member # 4317) on :
quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: Well, after several weeks or trying to understand "web-ease" from my hosting provider and my software company, the site is finally up and running (kind of......) There isn't much there yet, except my most recent trip report and some photos, but you can get an idea of the things that might show up in the future (depending on how much space my hosting provider will provide me)
I use IX Web Hosting and I have been quite satisfied with them. Their fees are reasonable, service has been satisfactory, and they give me more space than I could ever use even if there were a half dozen of me doing nothing but transcribe timetables full time.
quote:I know the formatting may be a little weird for different sized monitors, but let me know of any "quirks" you come across, and I'll try and fix them. Also, some of the text colors need to be revised, I know. Also, for some reason, when you pull up the site, the title of the site comes out as "index" for some reason -- I don't know why that happensd.
"Index" is probably the default title and file name for the home page on your hosting provider's server. I wouldn't start changing the file name until you know what you're doing, but to change the title you need to go into the source for your page in a text editor. Make sure it's a raw text editor, like Notepad, that won't add any formatting--not a word processor. At the top of your source page there are two tags: <title> and </title>. Whatever you put between those two tags appears in the title bar of the user's browser. Try to use a title which is relevant to your site, and use a unique title for each page--this counts heavily in a search engine ranking.
I know it's your page, but neon orange backgrounds just don't do too much for me. Have you considered using Amtrak blue and grey [silver]?
quote:But check it out -- railroadrich.com
I did and it looks like a fine start. I'll come back again in the future.
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
Rich - Looks great for starters. You are right about the colors - can't read the pink on orange but the text does become legible when the cursor is on it. If you keep the orange(?) make the text white or dark blue. This will be a great place for us to see your trip reports, photos, etc. And what is Parrothead stuff?
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
Rich, Vicki said what I was going to write. The pink on orange is difficult and would probably turn people off. I think yo have made a good beginning and look forward to the finished product. I have enjoyed your reports on Train Web and look forward to more. And what is Parrothead? "Curiousier and couriousier," said Alice!!
Posted by musicfan (Member # 4673) on :
I'm sure Rich will answer, but a parrothead would most certainly enjoy a cheesburger in paradise.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Thanks all for your suggestions!!!! Last evening I made a few of the color changes you guys suggested!! However, the first page did not come up right on my wife's laptop computer, but looks fine on my computer, and on my computer here at the office. The other pages came up fine on my wife's laptop, so I don't know what the deal is there..... So some of you (with laptops?) may get a jumbled up first page, but if your computers are like my wife's, the other pages should come up fine. At the office here, I have large oversized monitors, so the text on the site tends to "overflow" some of the areas designed to contain it (text boxes, etc.) -- anyone else having that problem?
And to find out what a "parrothead" is, check out the site again and click on the Parrothead link!!!! I'll have some more graphics on the site in the next few days hopefully.
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
Much better colors Rich. The text does not overflow on my desktop, all looks good. Interesting Parrothead stuff. Nice to see people enjoying life and also contributing to those in need. I look forward to trip reports!
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Thanks, Vicki!!! I'll probably add some more features over the weekend......... (including a new section on model railroading, maybe with a couple photos of my WAAAAAY BEHIND SCHEDULE layout!!)
P.S. Glad it's "sunny and dry" in S Cal -- it's pretty smoky and dry here!!!!!!!!!!!!! (lots of wildfires in the area!!!)
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
Fire here too Rich, right in Griffith Park in the middle of town. However, it is now under control and the zoo and observatory were not damaged, nor were any homes. We are as dry as you can be, only 2.5 inches of rain this year, normal is about 14 inches.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Weekend update - I have added some graphics to my "Parrothead" page, plus a photo and text to the home page, plus I have started a "Model Railroad" page with 1 photo so far.......
Check it out -- railroadrich.com
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
Getting better Rich. The "Home" globe does not work on the model railroad page. And on the Parrothead page it takes you to the model railroad page. There are also two links on the model railroad page that are very difficult to read. I realize they are not yet set up to function but you need new colors on that part. Keep up the good work, I will keep tuned in. Our fires are out for now - poor little Catalina Island had quite a scare.
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
Rich, where can I find a link to your site?
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Vicki - yes I know the links have somehow gotten screwed up -- I will repair them soon. The two links on the model RR page shouldn't even be there -- they were part of the page template I used, and I will be removing them.