BTW... there is a Six Apart style contest going on. (LJ, TP, MT)

[wolfrose]

Parker has some designs entered. Please do vote even though the popularity has nothing to do with winning the contest. Some folks have gone in and just put low votes on anything that isn't their design. (kinda like the people at rosity who have their non posering friends go vote for their graphic to get into the hot 20) It doesn't seem to bother Parker as he won't vote at all, but it irks me. (most likely because of it reeking of the rosity hot 20 thing)

To see all the styles click here. You can vote for each one by clicking on "more info".

A few things have aggravated me while he's been working on these. For example, their html code isn't as clean as it could be and inconsistent. When Parker pointed out something that was inconsistent the person responsible for the online display responded with the code is W3C compliant and he felt there was no reason to add in the "extra tag". Never mind the fact that this was the only instance in the whole thing that they did not have the "extra tag". Incidentally the "extra tag" is used to clear a float so the div doesn't collapse. Again, it is the only page that doesn't have the "extra tag".

The most annoying thing however is mid contest these people decide to change the files they used at the beginning of the contest. They did this to accommodate the LJ whiners about not having LJ user pix. At the beginning they stated that when the contest was over they would work with the winners to code in the elements specific to each platform (LJ, Typepad, MovableType) as each one has different elements that are not needed by the other (like LJ user pix). That in itself wouldn't be so bad since Parker has downloaded the new file (which is the one that needs the "extra tag" to clear the float for the LJ user pic) and made adjustments to his designs. What makes it infuriating is that they haven't changed the code they are displaying the styles online to the new code. So some of the styles that have been updated and/or designed with the new files do not show as designed on the website.

I'm really of the opinion that once a contest had started they should not have changed the files they wanted you to work with. However now that they have they should FIX what they've broken properly and use the new code to display the styles.

I also think they should have been more clear about what they were looking for. They don't just want "skins" over the same old blog looking format, they are looking for people to do CSS Zen Garden type stuff. Which is another reason they should listen to designers when they tell them that moving a tag would open up the design possibilities and that an "extra tag" to clear a float is needed to not break designs... especially when the "extra tag" is already used on all the other pages.

I'm not entering. I was considering it till they changed the files mid contest. I'm already too pissed off about that and then CSS is something that pisses me off when I have to wrap my brain around it for more than just basic stuff. I can't take that kind of stress right now. I'm dealing with getting ready to go back down to Texas in about three weeks for my daughter's graduation and to bring the rest of our belongings from down there up here. Stressed doesn't really even begin to cover all that...

Comments

[wide_worlds_joy]

Well, I voted on the styles that I liked of his gallery, didn't even look at others.

I wonder, could he modify one of those to work with LJ's S2 stuff? I'm considering changing the layout, and the "Top Secret" one was priceless. Just thinking out loud here.

[gwenwolfrose.livejournal.com]

I'm really hoping that one wins at least the catagory it is in. I suggested that one. *grin* If it wins at least the catagory it will be available as a style on LJ after the coders modify it for use on LJ.

As to coding it early, he doesn't know anything about the S2 stuff to make it work.

[gwenwolfrose.livejournal.com]

Ok, I figured it out myself.

If you switch to "bloggish" that is what they are using for this contest. Now that Parker has seen Top Secret in use on LJ he is going to tweek the style sheet we have up a bit so it works perfect. ;-)

Ok, after setting you style to "bloggish" go to customize. Change Base Theme to none. Layout type to Two Column Left. Then enter this URL http://froglace.com/six-apart/topsecret/topsecret.css in the next box.

You now have Top Secret as your style. :-)

[wide_worlds_joy]

Kick butt... this ROCKS....

Thank Parker for me a LOT. It's really nice looking.

[stparker.livejournal.com]

You are welcome!

When I get time I'll tweek it a little to fix a few things that are not yet coded for LJ. Drop me a note on what you see that need fixing.

[wide_worlds_joy]

Well, first thing is there needs to be a link someplace on the Friend's Page and the Recent entries page to "update journal". That's all I found so far.

[gwenwolfrose.livejournal.com]

I noticed that too. I'm not sure how to fix that since it's part of the HTML and not the CSS. I'll have to see if it can be hacked in to the html code via the advanced customization somehow. There also isn't a button to screen and unscreen comments. My only fix right now for those things is to go into the cutomize page and turn of the custom comment sheet so it shows the LJ basic one instead.

I hope they plan on fixing these issues when they implement the new styles.

[stparker.livejournal.com]

They (Six Apart) say that the "LJ Bloggish is still being fleshed out" so it looks like they just have not got that far yet.

I noticed a sizing issue with you Friends Only graphic.

If you want, use this one:


http://froglace.com/six-apart/topsecret/friends_only.gif

[wide_worlds_joy]

Thank you very much. I changed them. It really looks good and you did an excellent job with this theme.

I am going to have to change the font size so I can see it.

[stparker.livejournal.com]

ref: font size
let me know how much/what size(px) or % more. right now the fonts are about 10px as LJ is not putting any P tags in.

[wide_worlds_joy]

Well, the font size I usually view everythign at is about 12 pt. I find that it's just right to read everything. Unfortunately, I think that Firefox is doing somehting because it's coming up at somewhere around 8 pt. The Firefox settings list it as 16 pt, but I dont' know.

One would think that a font size is the same font size across the board. Don't worry about it.

[stparker.livejournal.com]

To be fair, it was some css that was not put on their "revised" master style sheet.

[stparker.livejournal.com]

It looks like they have gotten this taken care of now.

[stephanielynch.livejournal.com]

I love it. Now I want to redo my LJ. LOL! But no way am I going to do all of that. My brain no longer processes it. hee! But, ... if a dragonfly should buzz your way.... snort.

So tell me again when you are heading here?