MILAVIA Forum

Community => Website Promotion => MILAVIA.NET => Topic started by: Webmaster on January 07, 2008, 03:27:52 PM

Title: MILAVIA Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Webmaster on January 07, 2008, 03:27:52 PM
Hello Guys,

Since it's 2008 already, I have started a make-over / redesign of the home page (index page - http://www.milavia.net/index.htm). I don't have the time to redo all 6000+ pages, so it will be fairly limited redesign, just aimed at the index page(s). It's a stop-gap between the current version and a entirely new version. In aircraft programme's terms it's a non-structural Mid-Life Update!

Just wanted to say that because of this work, there will be less updates and posts from me on the forum.

Feel free to make any suggestions on features or things you would like to see changed or added on the index page!
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Raptor on January 07, 2008, 03:49:53 PM
We could use a colour change. Maybe gunship gray or something...

Oh i've always wanted to ask this. What is the MILAVIA plane? It looks a bit like the tiffy, but it could be a Gripen or a Viggen just as easily. Or it may be a badly drawn Tornado. I can't tell...
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Webmaster on January 07, 2008, 04:06:44 PM
Sorry, no colour change with this update. Maybe in the future, but, it's like suggesting Coca-Cola to change to Pepsi blue  ;).

It was made unrecognizable on purpose. It's just a fighter. Actually, it's a Typhoon, but changed/simplified it a bit to make it more suitable for use as a logo.

Not a Tornado, that would have looked like this: http://www.milavia.net/tornado/3/
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Raptor on January 08, 2008, 08:28:30 AM
Nono, it's a little different. We're asking Pepsi to change to coca-cola red. ;D

Hehe so i'm right. Partly. So... What other logo variants are there?
Another thing i wanted to say. The header for this section. The one in Italics/Bold/Caps that says MILAVIA FORUM, just on top of the user info but underneath the nav. bars. Can be a bit difficult to see because of the shading. I'd suggest either removing the shadow, darkening the colour, or leave it as it is because no one notices anyway. No offense, i just find it a little too light... ;)
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Webmaster on January 09, 2008, 05:41:04 PM
Hmm, Q: is black really 'black' on your screen? I guess your brightness is set too high. It's light, but not that light... I changed it a bit in the new design, but not the colour. the navigation IMHO is quite natural/easy, so you basically know where you are all the time, the heading is thus not that important.

But I'm happy you gave some feedback, seems no-one else cares?

Here's a sneak preview of the work in progress:

(note: it's a resized screenshot)
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Elias on February 12, 2008, 04:40:16 AM
Looking good! Great job man!  :) :) :)
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Gripen on February 12, 2008, 06:23:05 AM
I mightve missed it, but are you making any more changes to the actual forum?


Thats like the only thing i go on, unless Im checking to see if you updated the RAAF page in Air Forces  ;D
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Raptor on February 13, 2008, 03:47:56 PM
Lol that new page looks alot cooler than the current one.  ;D
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Globetrotter on February 18, 2008, 03:19:00 AM
I like it! Very nice :D

something that maybe could be changed (but don't know for what :-\) is the left to right shading in the background (from light blue to lighter light blue). Don't know if I said it right ::) but hope you understand....
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Raptor on February 18, 2008, 02:57:24 PM
Hm actually i don't see anything that needs to be improved right now... Unless you want to design a custom internet explorer/firefox skin for Milavia.  ;D
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Webmaster on February 19, 2008, 02:10:47 AM
Gripen, for forum, see the other board. For your RAAF suggestion, you can add it to the wishlist.

Globe, I know what you mean, I'll look into it, but because I don't want to make the 'starting color' any darker, it will still be really close to white though (with 16bit-color instead of true/32bit colors it will definately turn out white).

Raptor, that would be a nice feature I know, but it's of little use I think. It's only useful if I would include short-cut links, toolbar, and favorites, but since this messes with the user's own preferences, links and favorites, it will be uninstalled soon after it was installed.

Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Webmaster on February 19, 2008, 02:30:45 AM
The make-over/update has been a bit delayed because of a few reasons:

1. I am currently busy with starting my master thesis project.

2. It turns out it needs a bit more 'structural' work than I envisaged, to achieve the new/additional functionality.

3. In line with the forum changes and news integration, some other parts need to be 'overhauled' as well.

4. Working on the new homepage, I found that it's neccessary to add several new support/misc. pages for a better user experience and improved professional look.

5. The flash menu needs to be adjusted or replaced as well. Flash objects are a pain to edit and I don't have the program (should be somewhere, don't worry). But I'd rather replace it.

I estimate it will take 4 more weeks. I'll look whether I can cut it in pieces, and leave some 'things' for later, to get it done earlier.

By the way, I need "beta" testers:
- someone using Win95/98/2000 and IE6
- someone using a Mac or iMac
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Raptor on February 21, 2008, 07:24:52 AM
About the browser... I was joking...  ::)

I'd volunteer to beta but all the computers in my home run either vista or XP...
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Webmaster on April 08, 2008, 03:45:06 AM
Needless to say, it has been delayed again. I'm now hoping to roll it out on May 1st.
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Globetrotter on April 08, 2008, 04:04:41 AM
It will be a double-good day, as it is also FAA's baptism of fire
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Webmaster on June 07, 2008, 04:38:31 AM
Another deadline missed.

IE8 beta is out which revealed some troubles with the design, also tested it on IE6 and lots of things needs to fixed.

Probably won't make July 1st either, but I'll try.
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Raptor on July 14, 2008, 04:10:46 AM
July first has come and gone...
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Webmaster on July 15, 2008, 04:57:43 AM
Yeah, progress is slow, what can I say...
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Webmaster on July 17, 2008, 04:01:34 AM
I'm going to drop my initial plan for a 'dynamic' resizeable width (750-1000px), because I'm fed up with all the problems it causes because of different browsers. I built it for IE7 and FF2, fixed it for IE6, fixed it some more for IE8 and now FF3 is not displaying it all correctly. I don't even dare to test it on older Opera browser. It's getting way to complicated with dynamic frame, then fixed elements inside, sharing with some more dynamic ones. Argh, I'm done trying.

So I'm going to make it all 'fixed' again, but for 1024x768 resolution, nicely centered for all bigger resolutions. The 6% of visitors that are still using 800x600 resolutions, well too bad, stop lagging behind everyone. And same for IE5 users, can't keep supporting all these different older browsers.
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Webmaster on July 21, 2008, 04:46:40 AM
Still lots of work to do, but I think some 8 hours of work and you guys have play around with the trial version.
Title: Re: Home / index page make-over in progress
Post by: Raptor on August 13, 2008, 06:34:25 PM
Okay. Thanks for the work Webby.  ;) It's pretty impressive...