Learn How to Use and Style HTML Definition Lists
November 21, 2006
Writes Jennifer Kyrnin
When people think of lists they usually think of either bulletted (unordered) or numbered (ordered) lists. These are great tools for Web designers, but there is another type of list that is often overlooked: the definition list.
A definition list is so-called because it is a list of terms with their associated definitions. It consists of three tags rather than two:
< dl> - This opens and closes the list. This is similar to the < ol> and < ul> tags for numbered and bulletted lists.
< dt> - This is the definition term.
< dd> - This is the definition.
Note: Remove the spaces after < and before >
Tutorial Continued - [ Recommended Read - This lady knows her stuff! ]
Combating BookMark Site Spam - Scuttle BookMarking Script
November 21, 2006
Over the last few weeks a spammer utilizing an automated spambot has been posting bookmarks at the rate of 800 a day, in our bookmarking sub-domain: mybookmarks.afroarticles.com — mostly bookmarks leading to Finance and Debt Management sites. Our bookmark utility utilizes a script by scuttle - a web-based social bookmarking system that allows multiple users to store, share and tag their favorite links online.
Scuttle which is based on an open-source project does not have a built in admin system, therefore to get rid of spam/spammer — you must delete the user and spam tags directly from your mySQL database — which in most cases is accessible using a utility like phpMyAdmin — available via your website control panel.
phpMyAdmin allows you to administrate all of your mySQL databases. To learn more about this tool, please look at the phpMyAdmin help page and/or refer to your web hosting company’s tutorials.
It’s needless to mention that you must BACKUP your database before chopping off anything from you database.
Using phpMyAdmin, locate the offending users ID as follows: Under the TABLE field look for “sc_users” where “sc” is the table prefix you chose when installing Scuttle — Click on the BROWSE icon and delete the offending user. Next browse “sc_bookmarks”, “sc_tags” and “sc_watched” and delete everything referencing the unwanted bookmarks/tags.
Remember to record the “offending” IP addresses. You may have to do a lot of deleting: We had to delete close to 10,000 tags generated by this spammer.
Someone has come up with an SQL query that you can run on the database – Click here for details (Proceed Carefully!) OR just delete them manually as outlined above.
Other measures you should take include:
- Renaming the registration file from the default “register.php” to “somethingelse.php” — just make sure that you make adjustments on all pages where “register.php” is referenced.
- Track the IP address of the offender and block it in your .htaccess file or firewall if you are hosting your website on your own server. In our case we blocked the following IPs: 65.11.90.236 [Host Name adsl-11-90-236.mia.bellsouth.net], [5.11.90.236] [70.86.181.226] [72.153.248.224] [72.249.16.14] [207.58.144.162] | You may block a partial IP address, for example: 65.11. — but be careful because you will be blocking a whole lot of people who’s first two IP octets match 65.11. Note: The IP address - 70.86.181.226 reverses to gator50.hostgator.com - Implying that the automated script might running on a HostGator Server
(installed by a “spammer client”) - the same hosting company we use for this website - We reported this spammer to Hostgator accordingly.
It would be nice if Scuttle released the next version of their script with some admin tools — not everyone is a programmer! — and/or someone should come up with a MOD with admin functions to help make users “toe the line.”
Note: With Scuttle you don’t have to start from scratch: the application allows you to import your browser and del.icio.us bookmarks. To import bookmarks from your del.icio.us account, go to http://del.icio.us/api/posts/all, log in using your del.icio.us username and password, and save the XML file to your computer — then log into your scuttle account, click on “add a bookmark” followed by — “Import Bookmarks from del.icio.us.” For good measure you can also import your bookmarks(favorites) from your browser — Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Netscape.
As social bookmarking roots itself in Web 2.0, spammers, hackers and vandals will attempt to exploit every weakness in it’s defenses. Email is ruined, in my opinion. Is social bookmarking next?.
How To Conduct SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Keyword Research
November 20, 2006
Whether you’re launching a new site or just want to better optimize an existing site, your SEO efforts begin with proper keywords research. If done correctly, keyword research lays the foundation for a site that is fundamentally strong in the search engines. You’ll receive more qualified traffic and in turn convert more visitors into sales. Your choice of keywords should be reflected in your title tags, META tags, page headings, page copy, and anchor text for both internal links and external links.
What are your goals?
Before you start your research, you need to define the goals of your site. If you have a video game site, is your goal to sell games? Or is it to sell strategy guides? Or is it to get them to sign up for your forum? Or do you just want them to read your game reviews? It’s fine to have more than one goal for your site, but you should have those goals clearly defined before jumping into keyword research because it will effect how you approach your research.
Adam McFarland examines Keyword Research in his article: Proper SEO Keyword Research
Internet Explorer 7 Hacks
November 15, 2006
Article - Courtesy Alex Walker - Editor, The SitePoint Design View
Tredosoft have two options available for the IE tester. For those not quite ready to overwrite their old IE6 install, they offer ‘Standalone IE7‘ - a small app that juggles the registery to allow both IE’s to co-exist on the same system.
For those who have already installed IE7, they provide ‘Multiple IE‘ — using a simliar trick to let IE6 live with your new IE7 install. In fact, this app allows you to run similtaneous instances of IE3 IE4.01 IE5 IE5.5 and IE6.
Both applications are provided free.
I’ve successfully run ‘Standalone 7′ for months now while others in the office are running ‘Mulitple IE’ with no great drama.
However, it’s probably fair to say that this method tinkers with the very mind and soul of IE and, as such, the rendered results may not be 100% trustworthy. It’s also worth noting that the technique isn’t supported or even encouraged by Microsoft, so if things go ‘boom’ you’re probably on your own.
In summary, I’ve had good results with Tredosof, but if it makes you at all nervous, steer clear.
Browsershots is currently the most comprehensive free browser testing solution available. Simply submit your URL of your test page and wait as your pages are generated. Apart from providing access to 11 different browsers, the service also allows developers to test different screen resolutions, plugin availablity, JavaScript reliance and color depth.
The service only has three possible drawbacks:
- Testers can’t test live functionality - for example, the operation of forms, etc.
- Test pages must be online to be accessed.
- There is a queue, and waiting times can vary greatly. However at least a small fee can guarantee you a prompt turnaround.
All up, a very good service.
IE Web Renderer
The new kid on the block — IE Web Renderer — works similarly to Browsershots, albeit with fewer bells and whistles. Although it only offers IE6 and IE7 renders at this point in time, it does have one compelling advantage — page renders are returned almost immediately.
On the downside, at this point in time IE Web Render only shows you the ‘viewport’, rather than your full page, like Browsershot does.
Still, this does provide a free, painless and relatively fast testing option. It may well continue to improve as it evolves over time.
Certainly worth a bookmark at the very least.
VMware
Last, but certainly not least, if you haven’t recently checked out what VMware has to offer it could be time well spent. (Mac users can check out Parallels)
For those who are new to the idea, VMware makes it possible to create a ‘virtual PC’ inside your PC. You can then install another licenced operating system and an alternate browser onto this ‘virtual PC’. They will both happily run in a window on your PC at the click of a button.
Running a ‘virtual PC’ will demand resources. If you plan to run more than one concurrently (which the software certainly allows) - a memory and hard disk upgrade might be in order.
If you think that sounds great, it gets better - since EMC acquired VMware a few months ago, the entry level products VMware Player and VMware Server have become 100% free.
Happy testing.
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