transfering the templateRe: [Helpers] FST links - Round 1

Thu May 5 13:47:18 PDT 2005

At 12:16 PM 5/5/2005, you wrote:

>>>I was talking about reducing the extra color from those gif images
>>>to reduce the file size of each images.
>>
>>   Ah.. don't really want to change the navlink colours... want them
>>to match the text window background. I was thinking to decrease the
>>pixel size of those images.
>>
>>   I am actually OK with the current weight, I think because people
>>can start reading the page before all the images come in. What do
>>you think?
>
>Those images are GIF images. Shrinking the image by the pixel size by
>does not affect the file size. With GIF images, you take some color out to 
>reduce the file size.

   I meant, making the nav images smaller,  100x16 or 105 instead of 
118x26. I dunno how it would look... or how much it would mess up the tables.

   I know, the option to convert them to CSS remains... but I really like 
the calligrapher font, and it is not standard.

>Now, when I said take color out, take the color information that is not 
>really used or used only in small portion (only one pixel or a few) to the 
>point that will not affect the look of the images too much.
>
>I don't know how much I can reduce the file size over all, so it's
>hard to say....

   Well, go for it.

    The paintshop pro compression algorithm is not very effective, I 
think... the reason why I made the table images as jpg originally was 
because the jpg was a smaller filesize than gif... and I knew it should not 
be like that, but it is how it was working.

   I think I'm going to have to spend some $$ on dreamweaver and photoshop 
upgrades...

  Please convert experience.jpg .. The larger experiences box
http://www.fire-serpent.org/fscnew/tabexpl.html
http://www.fire-serpent.org/fscnew/tabexpl1.html
was missing from the form I gave you, but can be added to each page as 
experiences are found. I already converted the extension on the other 
images in it. Have not uploaded the changed version yet.

>I personally think these pages are too heavy even after reducing
>menu images file size. There are still many people using modem
>and 56K have to wait almost 20 something second with best
>connection which I doubt...

   I agree they are heavy. True, spiritual folks tend to not upgrade their 
computers.

Two mitigating factors are:
1. They can begin to read the page content before the images are loaded, 
and the page doesn't jump around while loading, because the sizes are all 
specified. I find a heavy page only annoys me when I have to wait for it 
before I can read... but that is just me.

2. They only have to wait longer, once... then the images are cached and 
the next page should load instantly.

   I have been wondering if it would be cool to create some kind of "front 
door", maybe a little flash or something for people to look at while the 
page images are being cached, behind the scenes. Of course, if they have to 
wait 10 minutes for the flash to load, there is no gain!

>But then again, you have CD with all the site included right?

   Oy, I don't even want to think about converting the new site to CD right 
now! It is a hell of a job... took me months, last time.

   Curiously... feedback from at least one member tells me that people who 
have the CD, do the course online and only use the Cd for the vids.

   In unrelated news... turns out one new member is only 13 years old, used 
her Mom's paypal to pay for it without asking... Mom wants a refund. She'll 
get it, once I get the CD back... Stealing to get access to info of 
enlightenment is totally "not clear on the concept."

>Since you have preview page where people can experience the
>loading time, maybe you can put some information about CD somewhere close 
>to the front where people don't have to click
>to jump around too much. I think this is the best way to solve the problem.

   There is an FST CD link in the navtable, but it could also be mentioned 
on the index page. I just don't want people assuming they can get the 
course for the cost of the CD, without becoming a member.

>That remind of me to take the hover out from the menu....
>So here it is... Preview page with green and white menu images only. No 
>purple.
>http://www.fire-serpent.org/fscnew/1mainform_012.html

   :) I already did that, this morning... deleted "onmousedown" and reduced 
the preload and made it an include. Sorry I did not let you know, but I had 
just finished when I checked the mail.

   My preference is for the includes to be in the same folder as the files 
they belong to, prefix incl so they fall together in the directory. I have 
done other sites, like K-gateway and domin8rex with includes in a separate 
folder... but ... I tend to get confused with the relative links when I do 
them that way, and so a number of the K-gateway includes don't work.

  I also deleted a lot of spaces, and made sure all attributes were 
quoted.  I'm just proofing the form to begin the search and replace to 
change the preview... some of which will have to be done by hand because 
the design morphed as pages were created. The header and foot used to have 
green boxes.

   Thank you, Sachiko! :)   