When it comes to building a Web site, there are a lot of things that need to be considered before actually publishing it. Some of these factors that need to be looked into include CSS coding, HTML, XHTML, etc. At times, it can be very frustrating when things don't go as planned, and this does happen a lot of the time when it comes to building a Web site. A very important thing that should be done if you are experiencing problems, would be to validate your HTML. Validation is the process in which a document is compared to a set of document rules, and then a report of rule violations is created. Typically, a document author will submit a draft document to a validation service, use the report to identify errors, correct those errors, and resubmit the document for validation. I would recommend testing it in multiple browsers, as well as keeping the code simple.
There are many reasons as to why you should validate HTML. The best way to determine why (or whether) to validate your HTML is to ask what could possibly happen if you do not validate. The way invalid HTML is rendered across a wide variety of browsers is unpredictable. In some environments, such as corporate or campus intranets, there may be no wide variety of browsers.
According to the Bucaro TecHelp Design Web site, there is a guide of 11 troubleshooting items that you should keep handy for when you need it. They include:
1. Missing images on the page
Before starting a Web site, you need to do some planning so that your site will meet both your needs and the needs of your visitors. First, you need to decide who your target market is. Will your site be geared toward kids, adults, business executives or some other group? It's essential that you know this so you can design a site that will not only meet the specific needs of that group, but will look right for them.
Another thing that must be considered is how your visitors access the Internet. Whether they're using high-speed or dial-up connections. This will help you keep in mind how graphic intensive your site can be. I personally think you should consider designing a site that is easy to navigate for those that have minimal computer experience, because if your site is complex and hard to navigate, that may make the visitor frustrated and X out of your page.
2. Image loads very slowly
3. Image looks distorted
4. Broken links
5. Text is missing on the page
6. Visitors can't see your fancy fonts
7. Too much horizontal scrolling required
8. The table is wider than specified
9. Web page displays old links and images
10. Background doesn't show
11. Can't access your home page