SITE TWEAKS

We are coming up to the "official launch" at the ERO Chelmsford on 02/04/11. The site has already been shown at an open day at Rayleigh Library on 25/03/11 and another open day will be held at Rochford Library (date to be announced).

Here is a list of things we are working on this week prior to the "big launch".

By the way the site is completely open now for general use so do have a good look and leave any comments on a message board or even have a go at writing a test article. You may notice some webmaster activity on the site from time to time but this should not interfere with your browing or leaving of comments etc.

A. Real Bugs

1. REPORTED ... Rochford District link on the Home Page is broken

PROGRESS HERE ... a new page is on the site called Rochford District with a new map showing the Parishes. The link now points to this page. It must continue to do so or the page and the link must be be removed. No dead links or bizarre links are writ large in the bible of webmaster commandments.

2. DONE ... A link in Terms of Use should be created for a full web address which simply references a page on this site

B. Improvements etc

1. DONE, (ideal is 540x120) ... Please work out the ideal size of the Category image panels as the recommended 568x100 doesn't work at all (the images flow all over the text).

2. DONE ... The layout of the panel on rhs of main page could be tightened up to bring it more in line with the other main page panels - this will give the site a more coherent feel

3. DONE (all existing and new panels now have an automatically applied "better" panel) ... The grey panels on some articles should be changed from a bland grey to a personalised panel

4. REQUESTED ... Scrolling images need attention - some images are distorted. Also more images should be added, perhaps a mixture of new and old, coloured and B&W, the limit is around 6. All images MUST be 568x200

PROGRESS HERE ... we can upload new banner images but only the first image is run by the Flash player. Other previously loaded images remain on the site somewhere and continue to run. The second of these is the most pressing to replace. A problem for Community Sites to look into. Webmaster alerted.

5. REQUESTED ... Welcome movie needs a better image and a better sound track, preferably using an Essex voice and making it less technical

6. DONE ... Top tool bar needs making consistent wherever you are on the site, also the bar should contain a Home link at all times

7. REQUESTED ... Training articles etc need tidying up. If time runs out by the end of the week the incomplete articles should be properly marked as work-in-progress or links to them should be redirected to an information page. No scrappy articles and no broken or irrelevant links

8. REQUESTED ... There is lack of consistency between the wording for Parishes and Topics throughout the site. Should this not be tightened up ?

9. DONE ... The header panel on the site shoud reflect the fact that RDCA is a Community Archive and not a pure history organisation

10. DONE ... A seed article with a map on the Rochford District. This will allow text to be taken from About Us and leave About Us to concentrate on the the Archive and its aims and activities. See also Real Bugs N°1