Thread: redesigned site

Greetings to all,
I have redesigned my web-site and need to know what you think. My first site, although very effective, was very amateurish and somewhat cartoonish. I am very good about constructive critisism, so please be as honest and straightforward as possible. I am really looking for first impressions because it is the very essence of my business. Thank you guys in advance...

www.suzannemichaelcatering.com

Your style and design are awesome! It looks very elegant. There are some problems. Fix these and it will be a premier site!

1. Main page> Excellent. I like the off center look.
2. About us> Center. Make sure content fits in 800 pix wide. Lighten
menu links. I almost missed them.
3. Menu Ideas> Alot of sideways scroll. Need to center. Fit content to 800 pix wide
4. Each menu> make 800 pix wide and center.
5. Gallery> large sideways scroll. Make sure to fit 800 pix wide and center.

6. Venue> Great!! love it.

I suggest that you set your resolution on your computer screen to 800 X 600 to see what I am seeing. That will help you a great deal in not only seeing what I discuss above- but also fixing it.

Very nice layout. You did a wonderful job.

Andy

Andy, thanks a ton for taking the time to go over my site. I changed the settings to 800x600 but it was very distorted and huge. I have no idea how to make sure contents fit to a specific width and how to center. Can you help me with that? Thanks again for the very valuable input.

Sure- Click on the link below and then click on the video "Help centering Web pages". This will get you started.

http://netisopen.com/computer/VT/videotutorials.html


Then it is just a matter of triming down the size of your pics and moving them to fit inside the 800 width mark.

And always- remember to click on page properties just before you publish and set your width to 800. Then save and publish.

Give it a try and then post back if you need more help.

Andy

Suzanne-

Awesome! Corrections look fantastic. Very nice job!!


Andy

I endorse everything that andy128 has said. your site is worthy of being included in the Topsites Showcase:
http://bluevodaforms.com/showcase/

1 small point: why dont you include an Email Contact form and have your visitors email you direct....its posible that you may lose some emails with your current setup......You can create one youself by viewing andy128´s tutorials(see keith below)
or you can download a ready made one(see below also)

good luck with your revamped site...............

Very well done, elegant and inviting.

I know that 786 is a Miami-Dade number, consider adding "Ph" or "Tel" before the number so it doesn't look like a reference. Noticed you used 786.* rather than 786-* (very European).

Good luck.

p.s. need tea?

Very nice and splendid.
Esp the home page is very nice.
I believe that you still can improve in other pages.

great site! - i love the rich backgrounds! and the transitions - they go perfect with the site. the one suggestion i would make is maybe bold your menu buttons on the page bottoms to make them easier to read/find.

thank you all for some outstanding feedback. I have already made several changes and I am also in the process of creating an email feedback form page as well. Once again, thank you for the input.

OUTSTANDING SITE!!! I refuse to believe this was your first attempt!!! wow!!

One thing, change your page titles.

About us means nothing to the SE's and Page titles are what they pick up on first.

Nor will it be interested in suzanne Michael Catering

Change them to say... catering - event organizer - Buffets

or something along those lines, SE's will pick you up much better as you are telling them what the site is about.

Really impressed tho!!!

Very elegant and professional looking.I'm very impressed!
Karen

I have added a contact page. I think it is working but not sure. I tried to send information as a test, and I received an email but it was in an unknown format. Could it be that this happens because I am sending it from my own computer. If so, can someone kindly send a message and specify it is a test? This way I can rule out any possible problem. As always, thank you guys for your outstasnding support and help.
PS I love this place

Not working yet, opens my email program....
you need to change the "action" to a php script

How do I change the action to php script?

like the site, very well done. Agree with the above but I would prefer to stay with the same Background and whatever theme through-out,looks more organized.

Hi Im Asking Help To Start Making A Website For Me.thank You!

Wrong Forum, but if you haven't yet done so, you should download Blue Voda Website Builder for FREE so you too, can build the website of your dreams yourself!

(We all did our own, and are still amazed at how easy it was and how much fun we are still having being our own "webmasters'!)

Hi sm,

Your site is looking good ...just one little thing that I would change or include.... either a back button on your actual pages .. or a navigation bar on every page ...as some pages all I had was the back browser button above the website page....and on others had to close the page down to go elsewhere.....I'm a click and go person lol...if its not easy to navigate I would have clicked off and gone elsewhere ....:o)

Well done though ...nice job

Originally Posted by smcatering

How do I change the action to php script?

Double click on the dotted part of your form and the properties should open.
then set the "ACTION" to the name of your php script.

if you still have problems, email me your php script.

have fun

Ok, I think this is going to a bit complicated. I don't think I have a php script, and if I do I have no clue where it's located. Per the tutorial, what I have on there right now is mailto:smcatering@bellsouth.net
Apparently, this is not working. It's time to call the calvary...

PS Thanks for the SE tip. I am going to change that ASAP!

Mike

Hey whoa there.......I am the calvary

keep your form as is and I will send you the php script.....
in the meantime read up on using bluevoda FTP program.
look for the video................its easy.

oops........ you have removed the form from your website.....
either put it back as it was(you will still get mail) or else
send me your contact.bvp page as an attachment.......

It's back up and I emailed my request page in .bvp as you requested. I am still having a problem. Even with all the fields filled out, it redirects to the error page saying that I need to enter a name in the name field. I'm sure it's a matter of checking the script and making some minor adjustment, but I am not a code writer, therefore I would not know what to change/fix.
Thanks for all the help.

According to your form you have a file called process123.php
could you send me that as well please or post it here...x out your email address first........


you can now take the form off your site until its fixed....or change it to Mailto:

Here it is. The email address has been x out.

<?php
$name = $HTTP_POST_VARS['name'];
$email = $HTTP_POST_VARS['email'];
$phone = $HTTP_POST_VARS['phone'];
$event = $HTTP_POST_VARS['event'];
$gcount = $HTTP_POST_VARS['gcount'];
$info = $HTTP_POST_VARS['info'];

if (strlen($name) == 0)
{
echo "It appears that you have forgotten to fill in your name in the Name field. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and enter your name. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($name) >=30)
{
echo "The length limit for the Name field cannot exceed 30 characters / spaces. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($email) == 0)
{
echo "The E-mail field is a required entry. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and enter a contact E-mail address. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($email) >= 45)
{
echo "The length limit for the E-Mail field cannot exceed 45 characters / spaces. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (! ereg('[A-Za-z0-9_-]+\@[A-Za-z0-9_-]+\.[A-Za-z0-9_-]+', $email))
{
echo "I believe that there is an error in the way you entered your E-mail address. Please check your entry and re-submit. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($phone) == 0)
{
echo "It appears that you have forgot to fill in a phone number. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and enter a phone number where we can contact you at your convenience!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($phone) >=15)
{
echo "The length limit for the phone field cannot exceed 15 characters / spaces. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($event) == 0)
{
echo "It appears that you have forgot to specify what type of event you are having. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and enter your event type. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($event) >=30)
{
echo "The length limit for the Event type field cannot exceed 30 characters / spaces. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}

if (strlen($gcount) == 0)
{
echo "It appears that you have forgot to fill in the number of guests that will be attending your event. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and enter the number of guests. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($name) >=10)
{
echo "The length limit for the guest count field cannot exceed 10 characters / spaces. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($info) >= 300)
{
echo "The description area is limited to 300 characters / spaces. It appears that you have exceeded that limit. Please use the back button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (substr_count($info , '@') > "2")
{
echo "For security reasons this text (description) area limits the number of @ symbols that can appear within it. It would appear that you have exceeded that number. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and correct this. Thank you for your patience!";
exit;
}
//SEND MAIL
$mailto = "xxxxxxxx";
$mailsubj = "Information requested from website";
$mailhead = "From: $email\n";
reset ($HTTP_POST_VARS);
$mailbody = "request information form:\n";
while (list ($key, $val) = each ($HTTP_POST_VARS))
{
$mailbody .= "$key : $val\n";
}
mail($mailto,$mailsubj,$mailbody,$mailhead);
echo "Once again, thank you for considering Suzanne Michael Catering! We will get back to you very soon with a proposal, or we may contact you for more information if needed.";
?>

Originally Posted by smcatering

Here it is. The email address has been x out.


<?php
$name = $HTTP_POST_VARS['name'];
$email = $HTTP_POST_VARS['email'];
$phone = $HTTP_POST_VARS['phone'];
$event = $HTTP_POST_VARS['event'];
$gcount = $HTTP_POST_VARS['gcount'];
$info = $HTTP_POST_VARS['info'];
if (strlen($name) == 0)
{
echo "It appears that you have forgotten to fill in your name in the Name field. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and enter your name. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($name) >=30)
{
echo "The length limit for the Name field cannot exceed 30 characters / spaces. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($email) == 0)
{
echo "The E-mail field is a required entry. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and enter a contact E-mail address. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($email) >= 45)
{
echo "The length limit for the E-Mail field cannot exceed 45 characters / spaces. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (! ereg('[A-Za-z0-9_-]+\@[A-Za-z0-9_-]+\.[A-Za-z0-9_-]+', $email))
{
echo "I believe that there is an error in the way you entered your E-mail address. Please check your entry and re-submit. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($phone) == 0)
{
echo "It appears that you have forgot to fill in a phone number. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and enter a phone number where we can contact you at your convenience!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($phone) >=15)
{
echo "The length limit for the phone field cannot exceed 15 characters / spaces. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($event) == 0)
{
echo "It appears that you have forgot to specify what type of event you are having. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and enter your event type. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($event) >=30)
{
echo "The length limit for the Event type field cannot exceed 30 characters / spaces. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($gcount) == 0)
{
echo "It appears that you have forgot to fill in the number of guests that will be attending your event. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and enter the number of guests. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($gcount) >=10)
{
echo "The length limit for the guest count field cannot exceed 10 characters / spaces. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (strlen($info) >= 300)
{
echo "The description area is limited to 300 characters / spaces. It appears that you have exceeded that limit. Please use the back button to return to the form and shorten this entry. Thank you!";
exit;
}
if (substr_count($info , '@') > "2")
{
echo "For security reasons this text (description) area limits the number of @ symbols that can appear within it. It would appear that you have exceeded that number. Please use the Back Button to return to the form and correct this. Thank you for your patience!";
exit;
}
//SEND MAIL
$mailto = "xxxxxxxx";
$mailsubj = "Information requested from website";
$mailhead = "From: $email\n";
reset ($HTTP_POST_VARS);
$mailbody = "request information form:\n";
while (list ($key, $val) = each ($HTTP_POST_VARS))
{
$mailbody .= "$key : $val\n";
}
mail($mailto,$mailsubj,$mailbody,$mailhead);
echo "Once again, thank you for considering Suzanne Michael Catering! We will get back to you very soon with a proposal, or we may contact you for more information if needed.";
?>

First change the Name field on your form to name (small n)
second
try the amended code(above)....you had 2 $name fields where the 2nd one was for the $gcount field...you also had space bewtween 2 of the lines.

Hey David,
To say that you ARE the calvary is a gross understatement. I tried all kinds of different ways with the purpose of getting error messages to make sure it all works, and everything seems to have checked out. Give it a shot just to make sure and let me know if you find anything out of the norm.

Thanks a million!!!!

Mike

Tested every field and left the message that all are ok now......

Now goto: http://bluevodaforms.com/bvwebsites.html
and see your FREE page included in THE SHOWCASE OF WEBSITES

If you like what you see, goto:
http://bluevodaforms.com/showcase/
click on JOIN and fill out the simple form to be included in
the SHOWCASE INDEX.................

have fun