Updates

[Duke of Marlbrough]

I sent TF the files I have completed thus far. I believe the only thing I am missing is the global ranking. I didn't want to sit on the entire set just for that one page.

Give him some time to get them up.

If you find something that does not link right, just let me know. I haven't had any time to test it.

[If anyone could give me an idea on the easiest way to get data from an excel file into frontpage (while keeping the same colum and rows) it would speed up the ranking page. Otherwise, I'll have to try and work in the time to update the 70 people manually. ]

 

[Duke of Marlbrough]

BTW, don't be too surprised when you see that the results may have changed a little from the initial report I gave in the results thread. Matrix sent me some (very) late entries (Aug 1st) that changed almost everyone's spot.

 

[KingWilly]

It's great to see that the new pages are finally up and running.

At last, Duke finally gets some recognition for his work on the CivII GOTM.

 

[Duke of Marlbrough]

This Page is not my updated one.

 

[anarchywrksbest]

You are right there Duke! That is definitely not the GOTM19 i have been playing? And the links are dead anyway.....

 

[starlifter]

I just noticed that, too. I like the update to the rules & info page that Duke did.

That Spanish game was not posted a day or two ago... that's weird. Where did it come from? That is, who exactly changes those web pages.... I'm sure TF can, but I've assumed the GOTM Admin can, too (like using FTP to upload the new page in 5 or 10 seconds).

My assumption is that the GOTM section is maintained and edited on disk, using a good program like Dreamweaver 4. When the changes are made and fully tested on disk, then the new page is uploaded and replaces the prior one. Given the utter simplicity of these pages (compared to how complex pages can be in today's "modern" site design), it should be quite easy. But that's all assumption... I don't actually know what goes on behind the scenes. But frankly, site errors should not exist for more than a few minutes, because the uploader should always check the work, and if a mistake is spotted, either remove, revert, or repair the error. At the very minimum in this case, the link to the erroneous GOTM19 page should be deleted. People will eventually figure out to go to the Forum for the DL.

The GOTM DL page was correct, BTW, a few days ago.

I suggest: simply changing the referral link to the GOTM19 thread, located here:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28556

 

[starlifter]

by Duke of Marbrough:

[If anyone could give me an idea on the easiest way to get data from an excel file into frontpage (while keeping the same colum and rows) it would speed up the ranking page. Otherwise, I'll have to try and work in the time to update the 70 people manually. ]

Honestly, I would not use Frontpage at all. I can and do use Dreamweaver 4 to ensure compatiblity and easy testing of browsers other than Micro$oft.


OK, I just tested a procedure. Here is what I di that worked great:

1. Use Excel and export the page you ant... do it in TAB-Delimited format.

2. Open Dreamweaver. Import using a tab-delimited format..

3. Edit, add background, title code, whatever.


It worked great... I tested it with your GOTM17 excel spreadsheet, using the Global Rankings as an example:



Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3 (result):

 

[Duke of Marlbrough]

Frontpage is a TF requirement, so showing how on Dreamweaver doesn't do much.

I had already tried the similar thing on Frontpage, but since it is not the program I normally use, I'm not all that familiar with it.

I had started to update the GOTM 19 download page, but when it wasn't on Matrix's list, I stopped. I think I included my partial update in the files to TF. So, I just finished my update of it and re-sent it to TF. So, that one should be fixed.

 

[GaryNemo]

I appreciate everything TF, DM and you all are doing. But since I hate all of the bugs in MS code, I feel compelled to mention:

As a professional in the website database business, among others like me, none of us use FrontPage. Nor do my clients to the extent I am aware. Some people do use DreamWeaver. My guess is -- since they need to sell product in order to make money, it's nearly error-free and very useable.

 

[starlifter]

Hi Duke, thanks for all the work you do for us. It surely must be a pain, particularly to go thru the first iteration.

OK, I have now downloaded and have a completely functioning duplicate of this part of the CFC site, and can easily test anything.

Dreamweaver works just great, even on the Cascading Style Sheets. I seen nothing at all in the HTML that prevents use of other HTML editing programs. I have examine the source code by hand, and tested the result on local disk.

Dreamweaver is a "neutral" product, and it actually runs any browser natively (thru an external call) to check the formatting. I test pages with Netscape 4.76, 6.23, & MS IE 5.01, typically... but could test Opera and others if I were to reinstall them. Unlike Front Page, programs such as Dreamweaver are geared for professionals interested in creating error-free (or as close to that goal as possible) websites capable of properly supporting manufacturers other than MS.

Anyway, I guess you got it fixed, though it's not posted yet. I take it you cannot use FTP to change the GOTM webpages directly. I'm inferring you must edit them on your local machine, then upload the new page to TF, who then in turn uploads it to the CFC site.

As a result of trying to understand this, I have now thoroughly examined the underlying CFC site, its structure, and its source files. I now understand how TF is doing it. Dreamweaver will actually do a superior job to Frontpage on this site., particularly in terms of site maintenance (e.g., tracking files and doing what you were trying to do). In fairness to other developers, there are other programs besides Dreamweaver that will do a great job on this site, and the GOTM, too. Most of them exceed Frontpage and Netscape for site maintenance.

 

[Thunderfall]

Frontpage is a TF requirement, so showing how on Dreamweaver doesn't do much.

No, duke. You can use any editor you want. It doesn't make any difference.

 

[Duke of Marlbrough]

Oh, cool. I was under the impression that it had to be FrontPage.

I'll go through the various programs I have and see which one I want to use then.

When I had to rebuild my system, I only put on FrontPage since thats the one I thought I had to use.

 

[GaryNemo]

WS_FTP is a terrific program, it's only $40, and often recommended by hosting companies. It is purely ftp, you're on your own with html, verifying links and such. Find it on google, download it from the mfgtr or stroud or whereever. There is a demo mode, but I just paid and went thru the install once.

I choose it years ago because when you download files from the webserver, it stamps the same date on your own system. Thus, I can easily track changes I made, vs changes others made, by sorting the local & remote directories in reverse date order, and viewing them side by side.

Also, on my old version, I use DOS utilities to make my own mirror ftp program on another hard drive -- thus all of my passwords and access rights are backed up and ready to go.

I simply don't trust computers.

 

[starlifter]

In regards to my earlier post, I now have Opera installed too (which is better than I expected, btw!).

I agree with GaryNemo.... I have used WS_FTP for years, and it is the primary tool I use and have others use to maintain websites. Others can be made to work, but that's the best of the lot.

 

[Duke of Marlbrough]

I only need an html editor.

I have to e-mail the pages to TF and he uploads them.

 

[starlifter]

I only need an html editor.

I recommend Dreamweaver, esp. for maintaining multiple pages, css, and images.

Here is what the site and preview functions look like:

When I make a site, I check it against various browsers, though since you are working from a template, that is not as much a factor (there are a few pages on TF's main site that mess up in Netscape, though).

You need to simply place the images and css in the proper relative directories, and the pages you create can be easily FTP'd to the site (by TF). When in doubt where about the location of a grapic or css, just examine the underlying source HTML, but all pages currently used in the GOTM fit this structure.



PS, there is a new Dreamweaver out, and it evidently has a demo version for free. I'm not sure about the restrictions for it. I use a full version of Dreamweaver 4 (4.01, actually).