scriptygoddess

At literally the 11th hour - I forgot to note - Scriptygoddess was “feed of the day” on Feedster today. It’s only a little after 11pm EST - It’s still today…right?

Sorry for the placeholder, my plan is to fill in the answers. (If I get the answer wrong, please correct me! As well, feel free to answer any of them in the comments - if you do, I’ll move your comment into the body of the post - with credit (and then delete the comment to clean up) (Actually there was an answer by Tom (anonymous) in the comments - I’ll leave his there, and try to put it in my own words - maybe then I’ll get it! LOL!)

Question
What’s the difference between static, relative, absolute, fixed positioning. And what scenario would be a good example for use of each?

static
I’m guessing this is the default. It’s “position” is as it is in the html. If it’s the first thing in the html, it’ll show up at the top. If it’s the last thing in the html, it’ll show up at the bottom… (barring any other styling of other elements around it)
Uses? got me. Doesn’t seem like you WOULD use this specifically.
relative
This block still shows up where it is in the html - but you can modify it’s positioning… move it over a little, using top, right, bottom, and left elements.
Those additional elements move it over based on it’s “container” - which could be the page itself - or another layer. If that “parent” positioned over to the right of the page 300 pixels. Then you give this relative positioned layer left: 20px…technically it would bee 300 + 20 over from the left of the page. It’s position is relative to that container.
absolute
This removes the layer from the rest of the flow of the page and pastes it where you specifically want it to go. It’s position is determined with height, width, top, right, bottom, and left elements.
fixed
Would be cool if IE supported it. This fixes an element on the page - much like absolute, but with the addition of it not scrolling. I don’t see my using it much un less IE magically learns what it is

Question
what’s the difference between inline vs block display (and some of the other options for display)? good examples for use? (I know that display: none hides stuff. That’s about it)

block
An example of a well-known “block” element - <p> - there’s space before and after it - once you put that </p> - carriage return - block ends.
inline
Doesn’t generate a carriage return at the end - (<span> tag is typically displayed inline, same for <b> etc..) If you wanted to really mess with the world you could go and specify p { display: inline; } and then suddenly p tags would cease to have a carriage return. (Note: I’m not recommending you do this. I would imagine reading paragraphs that bleed one into another would be just a TAD difficult to read.
uses: got me!

Question
Float?? What’s the best use for this - doesn’t this fight against positioning?

(Incidentally - I just tried to find the answers to those questions in this book, and I DO believe my eyes are starting to bleed… The definitions made NO sense. Don’t get me wrong - Eric Meyer is great… except for those particular definitions)

I’m just kidding. Well… not really ;O)

I’m not a CSS pro - I’d like to be one. I’ve been trying to follow the CSS-progression from the sidelines, sometimes getting my hands a little dirty, but unfortunately, it’s not enough. Up until very recently, the company I worked for was required to support Netscape 4.x. Now that that support has been dropped, CSS based layouts are just around the corner. In fact one major department is already heading in that direction. (Do you hear that noise? That’s me shaking in my boots!!!)

I’m doing “The Right Thing”™ and recommending the same move - but the fact of the matter is that I’m not up to the task. I have a LONG ways to go before I can do such an undertaking.

Probably one of my biggest problems to overcome is “Where do I begin?!” - I understand HOW to do a lot of CSS stuff (font styling, positioning - although I’m a little lost on the relative, absolute, and static differences) - but if I’m starting out with a design in photoshop - What is my next step? How do I break it down into CSS code? What’s the best/right way to group and nest layers?

In a Table-Design world - this used to start with me printing out my design and drawing a grid right on top of the printout. Grouping off certain areas for one table - or another. In the beginning - it took me several printouts to get the right grid. Now? I can see a layout and do the grids in my head.

I am SO FAR from doing that with CSS it’s scary. Really it is. This is my job. I’m supposed to know this stuff. So in an effort to save my job learn more about CSS - I’ll be posting links that either have some interesting CSS discussion (like why this is important) and explain some more advanced layout techniques, and hacks. (disclaimer: I may add to this post over the next couple of days - but feel free to post some links, words of advice… encouragement in the comments)

The Price of CSS
Web ReDesign (perhaps something I should get?)
Tables vs. CSS
Quirksmode CSS Hacks
Centricle - will the browser display the rule?
Stopdesign - a design process revealed
*This article looked at first like it would be perfect - but jumped from photoshop/illustrator comp directly to CSS - and it’s the step in between that I’m having the most trouble with.

I have trouble with CSS (cascading style sheets) all of the time. I would love to be an expert, but I haven’t gotten there yet. When in doubt, find the experts and hang onto every word they say.

I have found one CSS article that I refer to often: Mezzoblue’s CSS Crib Sheet. Don’t forget to read the comments for further insight!

Discovered recently that I could no longer view my .htaccess files. This is a mystery as I’ve had no problems viewing such files in the past, so I went looking for a solution. Found the following: To view hidden files, set remote mask to -a. In WS_FTP. This is done by going to the Startup tab in the Connect dialog box.

Info found at:
http://www.efficienthosting.co.uk/support/wsftp.html

I’ve been looking around for “users currently online” type scripts. So, tonight, I hacked together two great scripts. The first comes from Spoono - this script uses php and mySQL to keep track of how many users are on your site. Then tonight I saw Lynda’s script - which uses php, a flat file and makes use of MT’s cookies to actually display WHO is on your site (they would have had to leave a comment on the site to show up in this list)

So I combined the two…
(more…)

(Post updated and time stamp adjusted)
I wanted to adjust this post and move it to the current time, because this script is just too cool but specifically relevant to my original post…

Lynda has a script that will not only display how many users are online, but using the MT cookie information, display WHO is online.

—————-Original Post—————-
Another one that’s been around for awhile - but I wanted to bookmark it because I plan on adding it to one of my sites the next time I’m bored.
Show the number of users online

[via Jenni - as well as many people, I'm sure - but when I went looking for it this morning, I knew Jenni used it and had a cheat sheat of all the scripts she uses, so I knew it'd be easy to track down on her site]
(that was the longest credit line ever)

updates (I’ll add to this list as I find more)
I just noticed that Melissa uses nerdsonsite

Just saving this link for later.. it had a few solutions (actually one solution was using javascript) to do as the title described.

Experts-exchange (redirecto to https) [Viewing solutions requires free registration]

Now that I’m over my shock - I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped with this site….

First, those who have guest authored a post on this blog… You help keep the content going and I greatly appreciate your help - here’s a list of everyone who has been published at least once here (If I left anyone out, PLEASE let me know!!!)
Deltus - scratchingtheitch.com
Doc - seadoc.net
Donna - deliriouscool.org
emily - emilystarr.com
Jake Ortman - utterlyboring.com
James - them.ws
James Robinson - The Robinson House
Jason - trommetter.com/tech/
Jayant Kumar Gandhi - wirez.f2o.org/coffee-house/
Jenni - bloggiebroad.com
Kevin - Wizbangblog.com
Kevin Donahue - blog.kevindonahue.com
kitykity - kitykity.com
Lisa - lisa-jill.com
Lloyd Dalton - daltonlp.com
Mark Woodward - cowpi.com/journal/
Michelle - usr-bin-mom.com
Mike Brittain - http://www.embimedia.com
Natalie - lunardreams.net
Patricia - lunanina.com/musings/
Promoguy - promoguy.net
Rapunzell - rapunzellstower.com
Rayne - wifetalks.com
Rayne - wifetalks.com
Rich Blinne - blinne.org
Shawn Allison - shawnallison.com
Sphinx - pixelsphinx.com
Stuart Robertson - designmeme.com
Taran - knowprose.com/mtentries/
Theresa - dandelionwine.org
Zon Nero - www.localecho.com

I’d also like to thank Christine for the wonderful hosting she provides through Blogomania. If you’re looking for a host provider - look no further!! She’s the hostess with the mostess.
I’d also like to thank Raena - who, although the redesign actually happened after the bloggies, I am just loving this design that would have otherwise had very scary code if it was not for the amazing job she did with the CSS.

As well, Movabletype and it’s creators. This is a great blogging application. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us in ver. 3.0!!

As well, although this is mentioned in my sidebar - my icons were designed by Chris. So a thank you is in order to him as well.
A thank you should also be directed to everyone who comments here and helps out with questions others ask. For this, there are just too many to keep track of. I guess I can ask you to stand up and be counted in the comments
And last but not least, the ones who sponsored the categories that Scriptygoddess won in:
Rogers Cadenhead , of Radio UserLand Kick Start who sponsored “Best programming of a weblog site” and Adam of HeathNet Consulting who sponsored “Best Web Development Weblog”.

Phew! I think that covers everyone. If I left anyone out - please let me know, and I will modify this post.
Update: I DID forget someone. Sorry about that… so adding one more:
Matt - photomatt.nett

I don’t normally use this site for this type of thing - but I’m making an exception… A friend of mine helps run a grief website and the previous webmaster will not be able to help them out anymore. Basically what is needed is someone who can add/update pages and links, add chat rooms as neccessary (there’s documentation from the previous webmaster on how to do everything). They’re not a demanding group - they just need someone to help them out.

If you’re interested in helping them out - please contact Debbi. (remove the “=NOSPAM=” from the email address)