Help, what have I done? - Post ID 140375

User 117361 Photo


Ambassador
6,076 posts

Robert

Your original post and relevant replies have been moved over here from Web Resources

Help, I've done something to my website but I don't know what I've done. The writing in the side columns has increased I have looked at the HTML code but can't figure it out. Can anyone tell where I have gone wrong?

robcharles.com/showpage.html

by Robert Charles


@Robert: Your site side columns look fine to me, but I'm not sure since I don't know what you want them to look like. I do see that your main text in your middle content has some issues with punctuation that's showing up as questionmark symbols in a black circle. I'm looking at it in Firefox most current version. Looks right as far as that part in IE8 but... it's really messed up for text size otherwise in IE8.

Your code is really really really bad, I can't explain how bad it is, it's amazing it's working because you're using such old style code and you have multiple codes trying to style the same blocks of text which I'm sure has a lot to do with why it's not showing up correctly size wise.

I would suggest using the HTML Validation tools in the HTML Editor if that's what you're using, or if you're using a different text editor you can go check your site validation here:

http://validator.w3.org/check

Putting your site into that validator I come up with 442 errors and 91 warnings. I would start there and work through those errors and warnings to fix it up before dealing with how it looks. Just my suggestions. Good luck with it and if you have questions on how to fix it don't hesitate to ask. When you do, be sure to let us know what program(s) you're using for editing and scripts etc. Jo Ann (aka Wolverana)

http://accessoriesoftheworld.com
by Jo Ann


Jo Ann wrote:


@Robert: Your site side columns look fine to me, but I'm not sure since I don't know what you want them to look like. I do see that your main text in your middle content has some issues with punctuation that's showing up as questionmark symbols in a black circle. I'm looking at it in Firefox most current version. Looks right as far as that part in IE8 but... it's really messed up for text size otherwise in IE8.

Your code is really really really bad, I can't explain how bad it is, it's amazing it's working because you're using such old style code and you have multiple codes trying to style the same blocks of text which I'm sure has a lot to do with why it's not showing up correctly size wise.

I would suggest using the HTML Validation tools in the HTML Editor if that's what you're using, or if you're using a different text editor you can go check your site validation here:

http://validator.w3.org/check

Putting your site into that validator I come up with 442 errors and 91 warnings. I would start there and work through those errors and warnings to fix it up before dealing with how it looks. Just my suggestions. Good luck with it and if you have questions on how to fix it don't hesitate to ask. When you do, be sure to let us know what program(s) you're using for editing and scripts etc.


Jo Ann,
Can you tell me what I need to do here then I should be able to work it out, hopefully. On the validator it says: Line 45, Column 29: document type does not allow element "h1" here; missing one of "object", "applet", "map", "iframe", "button", "ins", "del" start-tag
<font color="#FF0000"><h1>The Rob Charles Radio Show Page</h1></font>?
The mentioned element is not allowed to appear in the context in which you've placed it; the other mentioned elements are the only ones that are both allowed there and can contain the element mentioned. This might mean that you need a containing element, or possibly that you've forgotten to close a previous element.

One possible cause for this message is that you have attempted to put a block-level element (such as "<p>" or "<table>") inside an inline element (such as "<a>", "<span>", or "<font>").
If I remove the > from <h1> the Rob Charle sRadio Show dissapears. What doe sit men?
User 2085481 Photo


Registered User
32 posts

on my html editor the side bar's look ok yet when it's published all the writing & links are blocked over one another. Why is this?
User 117361 Photo


Ambassador
6,076 posts

Well on my screen everything seems to be ok, but I have to say that Jo Ann was right about the code and that the validator finds some 478 errors in there.

If you look at your css code, you have a few minus margin values for the left. Might need to play around with those to see if it makes any difference. What have you been using to code with?


User 364143 Photo


Guest
5,410 posts

It looks like crap on my screen. Lines all running into one another.
CoffeeCup... Yeah, they are the best!
User 2085481 Photo


Registered User
32 posts

Janys Hyde wrote:
Well on my screen everything seems to be ok, but I have to say that Jo Ann was right about the code and that the validator finds some 478 errors in there.

If you look at your css code, you have a few minus margin values for the left. Might need to play around with those to see if it makes any difference. What have you been using to code with?




I used a theme off coffee shop and just changed the wording & added some content.
User 38401 Photo


Senior Advisor
10,951 posts

Hiya Robert,

How old is that theme you used from CoffeeCup? I think it's time you updated your themes for sure. CoffeeCup updates their themes when things within a program change and to keep up with the code times for the most part too so they are wayyyyy different than what you have used here. Those updates are always free to those that purchased them, same as the software has the free for life updates.

Please don't take offense though, this isn't something easy to say to someone lol not by a long shot, but you really need to update badly. One of the main things and issues your site is having is that you have duplicate types of code trying to style the same lines of text. Some are old style <font> tags and some are a little newer inline CSS <style> type tags and they are all fighting for custody of the same line of text lol.

If you want to really know what I suggest, I suggest you find another theme (or find the updated one for this one on your downloads page if you purchased it from CC. Or, if you're using a theme that is inside your editor then *OMG* lol., you need to update your program immensely to get the newer versions of the theme.

Now for the bad news. You'll pretty much need to restart the site, but it's not as bad as it sounds really because once you have your theme picked out or updated or however you decide to go, you can then just copy your content (text and images etc.) into the new theme (without any of the code tags from the old one!) and that's it. Might take a little time, but in the end I think you'll find it a whole lot nicer to deal with.

If you're shaky about changing to the newer language setups or don't know CSS you can get lots of tutorials for both at http://www.w3schools.com/ which has a lot of information, code ethics, style help and prety much most of what you'll need to get started, and there are a ton of tutorials for HTML and CSS on the web with a little search on Google you'll find lots of them.

Much as I hate to say start over, I really think you should, and I think in the end you'll be a lot happier with the results if you do.

Just my opinion of course, nothing personal, I really am sorry to say all this, not meant to make you feel bad or upset you, just being straight with you on it. Good luck whichever way you decide to go.
User 122279 Photo


Senior Advisor
14,649 posts
Online Now

The page lacks a charset declaration. Robert, add this line at the top, right after the <head> tag:

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/>

That will at least take care of all the diamonds with a ? in them.

And in order to remove the now 515 errors and 119 warnings, feel free to ask your questions here. We'll help you through this! :)

And it's not certain that you have to correct 515 different things. Very often if you correct the first one, or any one of them, some more will correct themselves. Most of us have been there once, I certainly have!
Ha en riktig god dag!
Inger, Norway

My work in progress:
Components for Site Designer and the HTML Editor: https://mock-up.coffeecup.com



Have something to add? We’d love to hear it!
You must have an account to participate. Please Sign In Here, then join the conversation.