Web Design
& TroubleShooting
After reviewing a few different web sites on web page creation and troubleshooting I have discovered a few tips that i will be using as i continue to program. First and foremost is is making sure that when creating a page, i am diligent and thorough in the code i write. By taking care when writing the code, you are ensuring less errors, and an easier time troubleshooting problems that will inevitably arise. Like I've always been told, its better to do it right the first time.
I was elated to learn about validators. After running into errors one of the first things that one should use should be an HTML and CSS validator. You can save a lot of time and eye strain by first using a validator to make sure that the cause of your errors is not a simple piece of HTML or CSS code.
Obviously it is very difficult to make sure that your web page displays exactly the same on every browser. Easily the most popular browsers are Internet Explorer and Firefox, and even these two do not display all pages the same. The important difference between the two is that Firefox is standards compliant, and if you design for Firefox first, you are ensuring the most compatibility across browsers. After you having it displaying correctly in Firefox you can tweak your code for other browsers.
A handy gem i found for seeing how your web page displays in multiple browsers is Browsershots.org. After putting in your web page address, Browsershots will display your page in any browser you can think of, many I've never heard of. This particular page can take a while to load a shot of every browser in existence, but by deselecting all but the most popular you can get a great idea of how your page is being displayed.
As far as troubleshooting is concerned, if you have exhausted all of the above efforts, and are unable to find your problem, a second set of eyes might be just what you need.
This page was created using a handful of good design elements layed out in "The Non-Designer's Web Book". Although there are large pictures on the page it loads quickly, and the large pictures serve to break up the text. Color was chosen for easy readability, but also to match with the graphics to enhance cohesiveness. Text was placed in a narrow column making it easier to read.