Web Design

Web Templates Explained

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Introduction of web templates, what is a web template?

Web templates are readymade designs. User can make modification to it or use it as a base to jump-start their web site building. A correctly optimized web template can bring lots of convenience to web designer and web developer. A quality web template allow one to jump start the design process and quickly move on to content building, allowing one to save time in the process of web site building.

Purpose of web templates in contents building

One important purpose of web site templates is that it is used for generating massive number of web pages by means of a schematic layout. Template based web designing is best when one requires building a site that has lots of pages and navigation link. It is ideal to use a web template if the site needs to be update from time to time.

Advantage of web templates in web designing

There are numerous advantages of using web templates. A quality designed web template allows user to modify and publish web site with ease. Web templates can also benefit web designer as it provide inspiration and a base to jump start to content building without wasting time in the design phase. Besides that, one can also take advantages of using few different web templates and by using the design elements provided inside the web templates to create a fresh new unique design. Web templates can provide numerous advantages if used properly.

Quality & Inferior web templates

There are many web sites offering web templates on the internet today. It is important that one must understand how to differentiate between quality and inferior quality web templates. A quality web template has the following feature,

1.Search engine optimized.

2.User friendly. (Easy to edit)

3.Should be professionally designed and include of all the required source files, such as required font files, psd files and etc.

4.Should additional contents need to be added to the optimized HTML file, the structure of the design should not be affected.

5.If the web template is from a premium web templates provider site, a quality support should provided by the company.

An inferior web templates will tends to have the following problem,

1.Badly written HTML code, beginner will have problems using such template, as it requires reoptimization of the HTML code. An example of badly written HTML code will be, if additional contents are required to be added to the HTML file, the structure of the design break when there are more contents than the original sample contents provided in the template.

2.Required files not included with the templates, some free templates provide only the HTML file of the template but no editable source (eg, .psd files, .fla files etc) files are included. This cause serious problem to user who uses the template, as user is unable to modify the design further. Some provided only the design file either in psd format or other format, this create problems for user who does not know how to convert the psd format into HTML format.

3.And other problems that caused the template hard to use.

Different type of web templates

There are many different types of website templates out there, below is a few most popular templates on the internet today along with description.

1.Web Templates or WebSite Templates (This is the most common type of templates, quality web templates consist of a editable source file, usually .psd files, required font files and etc. A quality web template also come with an optimized HTML file, usually coded in traditional table type coding or XHTML tableless coding)

2.XHTML Templates (XHTML templates share the same similarity with web templates, only thing is that a quality XHTML template should come with an optimized HTML file that validated with W3C standard. A XHTML template should also be tableless as possible and the design layout and other design features should controllable by a css file.)

3.Wordpress Templates (WordPress templates are templates that designed for the WordPress blogging script, a quality designed wordpress template should be easy to edit and easy to publish with WordPress.)

4.Drupal Templates (Templates that designed for use with Drupal content management system, quality Drupal templates should be easy to edit and publish.)

There are free and premium web templates site on the internet today. An example of free templates site will be Webtemplateportal.com. There are also numerous of free web templates site out there. If one is seeking for more professional service and support, one can opt in for premium Web Templates Company. An example will be DeonixDesign where the company offers thousands of professional premium web templates. DeonixDesign work as after user subscribed their service, they will have unlimited access to all the available templates. Doing a google search will also list numerous different type of web templates provider web site.

DMXReady Website Building Software Web Design Made Easier

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Yes, building a website yourself can be a rewarding, exciting adventure. But did you know that you can save hours of time with website building software from DMXReady?

Since 2003, DMXReady has made web design easier for web professionals and do-it-yourselfers like you with a wide selection of website building tools. It might take 40 hours or more (if you’re a professional coder) to create similarwebsite design tools like password-protected members’ areas or setting up document libraries. DMXReady applications save the time and money it would cost to do this, and simply plug into your existing website using one line of code.

Unlike many other plug-in applications, DMXReady made its website design tools fully customizable. You can change everything from the look and feel of the application to match your own website, to actually modifying the website building software at the code level to change or extend its functionality.

Today, DMXReady offers its second generation of website building tools starting with its flagship software, DMXReady CMS v2. This complete Content Management System (CMS) is the ultimate in website building software because it makes everything even easier, automatically installing other plug-in v2 applications – no coding required! Like all of DMXReady’s applications before it, DMXReady CMS v2 is fully customizable. In fact, with new skinning methods and more user options, modifying your website is even easier than ever.

Best of all, you can hire the DMXReady Professional Services team – the very same people who built these website design tools in the first place – to help you if you get stuck.

Find out more about DMXReady CMS v2 and DMXReady’s complete line of website building software at www.dmxready.com. You can also try a live demo of every application before you buy.

DMXReady website building tools makes designing websites easier!

Html5 – Not Designed For Business Applications

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HTML5 – Not Designed for Business Applications

HTML5 is the next version of HTML to come along since version 4.0 in 1997.

HTML is an acronym for Hyper Text Markup Language and HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of web pages. The Internet would not exist as we know it today without HTML.

But HTML is not a programming language at all. This concept is confusing to some people. Web pages rely on a scripting language such as JavaScript in order to respond to user input. Think of it as HTML being a car and JavaScript being the engine.

JavaScript was introduced in 1995 by Netscape and coincidentally, that’s when the web started to really “take off”. This is an important fact to consider before we dig deeper into HTML5.

The open source nature of HTML and JavaScript has contributed to the growth of the Internet as a whole. Source code and design ideas are often borrowed from around the web and even from competitor’s web sites. This is facilitated by the fact that HTML and JavaScript are impossible to hide or protect.

HTML5 is no different!

There has been a lot of talk about HTML5 over the past couple of years and developers think that HTML5 is “cool” and “fun” to work with. But the logic ends there.

As usual with most new technologies, there has been confusion and misinformation over when HTML5 should be used and for what purpose. We aim to enlighten you about what HTML5 can and can’t do in this article.

New Features Same Old Concept

HTML5 includes new features such as the “Canvas” element, along with audio, video and Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) content, some of which replace the “object” tags of HTML4. There have also been some modifications and standardization of tags such as (a, cite, menu) but the basic concept of HTML remains the same in HTML5.

Who’s Promoting HTML5?

HTML5 was originally proposed by Opera Software (makers of the Opera web browser) and designed by the World Wide Web Consortium, also known as W3C.

An important point is that the W3C has been criticized as being dominated by larger organizations and thus writing standards that represent their interests.

The large organizations (Apple, Microsoft, Adobe, Google and Facebook) have promoted HTML5 as the most up to date technology for web development. In fact the late Steve Jobs termed HTML5 as the win-win solution for consuming any kind of web content on all types of web platforms. But it is important to note that Apple, Microsoft, Google and Facebook each have an incentive for promoting HTML5; each own and operate very profitable “app” stores such as the Windows Marketplace, Google App Store, iTunes App Store, Facebook Canvas Apps, etc. Protection of intellectual property and trade secrets is of little or no concern to those companies and in fact it is almost a conflict of interest.

Fact #1: HTML5 is based on JavaScript, which is impossible to protect. Yes, that’s a fact!

As we discussed a moment ago, JavaScript is the core “language” of HTML5, whose source code is impossible to protect. The most evident reason is that anyone can view HTML5 and JavaScript source by just a simple click. JavaScript was never intended to be anything more than an engine for client-server communication and re-useable web content, including menus, buttons, tabs and the like.

Developers may argue that they can mangle JavaScript source code by obfuscation and pseudo-encryption (such as “minification”, where the code is compressed and “minified”). But this is a dangerously false sense of security. Any skilled developer can reverse engineer a “minified” or “obfuscated” JavaScript application. By design, JavaScript cannot be encrypted and it cannot be hidden. JavaScript files must be downloaded in order to run in a web browser.

To make matters worse, JavaScript also cannot be locked down to a specific web domain.

The code is accessible to be hacked by any competitor. No matter how many steps are taken to hide the JavaScript, the web browser eventually downloads the JavaScript file to run it within the client’s web browser.

For comparison, hacking a Flash or Silverlight application just by viewing the source is not very easy but anyone with a little knowledge of HTML5 can do it in minutes.

The hacks of famous HTML5 games like AngryBirds, Texas Holdem and many others are excellent examples of the insecure techniques employed by HTML5 developers. All security measures are useless once the code has been obtained and reverse engineered. No matter what any HTML5 or JavaScript developer may claim, these facts are true and irrefutable!

Fact #2: The concept of HTML5 Canvas is nothing new.

As we discussed already, HTML5 is based on the same concepts of HTML4. The most useful and talked about feature of HTML5 is the new “Canvas” object. Canvas makes it easy for JavaScript developers to “paint” within a web browser, simplifying the design of applications that utilize graphics. But you may be surprised to know that this functionality has been available in a simulated manner with very little attention since the release of HTML4.

Fact #3: There is a widespread misconception about HTML5

HTML5 has been labeled as a “cross platform programming language” which is a serious misconception. It is true that HTML5 is capable of running on all types of platforms such as Windows, Linux, Android and other mobile operating systems but let’s not forget that HTML5 is nothing more than web page markup, which is controlled by JavaScript. Classifying HTML5 and JavaScript as a true programming language would be incorrect. It is a browser integrated language that cannot utilize all the features of the underlying operating system.

When Should You Use HTML5?

The answer is quite simple. Use HTML5 when you do not care about your source code, intellectual property, or trade secrets. If you do not care that a competitor may steal your source code after it has been uploaded to your web site then use HTML5. As you can see, HTML5 is perfect for buttons, menus and website specific content, for which it was designed.

The Bottom Line – Better Options Available

The bottom line is that HTML5 and JavaScript are great for a lot of things, but you can’t effectively protect anything that you develop with them. This clearly doesn’t add up if you are using these technologies for developing business applications, which they were not designed for.

If you are developing a web application then consider using Flash or Silverlight, both of which run in all popular web browsers for desktop operating system, including Windows, Mac and Linux.

If you are developing a mobile application, there are far better options for iPhone, iPad and Android development that afford better protection of trade secrets, better security, performance and usability for the end user and also allow you to take advantage of the native features of the underlying operating systems. For iOS (iPad and iPhone), use the Object C programming language. For Android, use the Java programming language.

For Windows development, consider C++, C#, Delphi or other proven languages.

Although slightly more difficult to develop with, Objective C, C++, C#, Java and other low level languages are always the best option no matter if you are developing desktop, web, or mobile applications.

Permission to Redistribute

Copyright (c) 2012 by Modulus Financial Engineering, Inc. http://www.modulusfe.com All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to redistribute the article providing this copyright notice remains in place.

About the Author

Richard Gardner is Founder/CEO of Modulus Financial Engineering, Inc. In addition to his leadership role of the firms team members, Richard is an influential member of the financial technology industry at large, a globally-respected professional trader and software engineer, a guest speaker at industry conferences and among the inventors on over 70 technology patents.

Web design Sydney choosing between HTML and CMS web design

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Whether you are a small company trying to start your business or, a large company trying to expand your business; if you are entering the online market, it is important to have a website that gives complete information about your company, and your products and services. Your website must be easy to understand and navigate in order to generate sales and business revenues for you.

Of the various aspects that need to be considered when designing and developing a website, the most important one is to choose between HTML web design Sydney and CMS web design Sydney. HTML and CMS are two web design concepts. The choice of the web design concept depends on the scope of the website and the particular needs and requirements of the website owner.

For simple websites that only require a few pages of information for the web users, one can use HTML web design. HTML web design option is recommended for websites that do not require daily updates and blog pages or advanced functionalities. Creating basic HTML web pages doesn’t cost much and allows the business owner to obtain its online objectives without spending much.

However, for a more complicated site, it is advisable to use CMS or content management system in creating web design Sydney. Websites that are powered by CMS are highly versatile and dynamic in nature. They allow website owners to easily alter the website content or add images and graphics on their own. Altering CMS web design Sydney is quite easy and doesn’t require any professional training in web designing and processing.

CMS website design Sydney is easy to maintain in the long run and is perfect for businesses where clients have lot of requirements and the market competition is extremely tough. CMS website design Sydney allows business owners to update their websites regularly and to stay ahead of their competitors in the market.

In order to take the appropriate decision and to get the best web design Sydney, it is recommended to hire professional web designers. Professional web design consultants would analyse your business and your online business goals and targets and based on that would offer you the best web design solutions and services. With the help of the professional web design company in Sydney, you would be able to get the best web design for attracting web users to your site and influencing them to buy your products or services.

For the best HTML web design services and CMS web design services Sydney, please log on to designup.com.au

Design Up has famous write on the topic Web Design Sydney

Web Design Elements Visitors Expect to See on a Business Website

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Web Design Elements Visitors Expect to See on a Business Website

Every business owner has a common interest with other business owners, to keep visitors on their website. There are several steps that can be taken to make a guest linger on the website. The longer a visitor is on a website, the better chance that business has of obtaining new clients and widening the websites exposure. The key to having a successful website is to offer the user a hassle free visit. If a person has to search for or cannot find what they are wanting, they will leave the website. Issues like this can potentially cost a business new clients and loss of revenue. There are web design elements that should be implemented on every business website. Listed below are a few of the elements that should be used on every online business.

Web Design Element 1: Smooth Navigation

Smooth navigation is one of the most important elements of any website. A visitor should be able to navigate a website without effort. The flow of the website should remain consistent throughout and allow the viewer to navigate freely.

To avoid confusion and wasting your visitors time, make sure your site has no broken links. You should always make sure that hyperlinks are embedded and that they stand out in the text. Frequently check your website for broken links. Below are a few pointers to ensure efficient navigation.

1.To ensure a smooth transition from page to page, use textual descriptions for the links.

2.Offer alt text for all of your website images.

3.Utilize alternative text description methods for Javascript links or Flash.

4.Stay on track and within the sites theme when organizing the navigation.

Web Design Element 2: Include a search box

Another important web design element for any website is a search box. This is basically an archive for your site that includes information. A search box is imperative whether you have a blog or a website. By offering a search box, you allow the visitor the chance to review information within the website without having to search endless pages. Remember, if you make it easy for a person to use your site, they will stay, make it difficult and they will leave.

Web Design Element 3: Avoid Complicated Registration Forms

When creating a registration form, try to keep it simple. No one wants to waste his/her time by filling out an endless list of information just to register to a site. Limit the registration information to a minimum and avoid unnecessary questions and entries. In the long run, this will be a helpful tool for your site. Avoid having several different categories within the registration. Many people will feel intruded upon and leave a site that is to inquisitive or intrusive.

Almost every good web design company recommends that you keep elements of your web design simple. By keeping things simple and user friendly will also increase your chances of having repeat visitors. When you keep your business updated and in good working order, you increase your chances for success.