Bulding a Website for my Church

[gamerx365]

Yeah, I've volunteered myself to build a website for my church, and I was wondering

1) How do I use tables to do a layout like this:

2) How do I make the image expand when the window is maximized (like on computerhope)

I'm sure I'll have more questions about this project so I figured I'd just start a whole topic about it.

[soybean]

Well, you can find info on the Internet by doing a search on html tables and visiting such sites as http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_tables.asp and http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/struct/tables.html#h-11.2.4.4 .  But, I think your best choice would be to get a book.  An inexpensive choice would be a used edition of Teach Yourself HTML 4 in 24 Hours.

How do I make the image expand when the window is maximized (like on computerhope)

I think you really mean how do you make the page expand, not an image.  You normally don't want images/graphics to expand; they should stay at a fixed size. 

In my opinion, creating the page to display at a fixed width would be the better choice.  Using a width of 800 pixels is good because most people use a monitor resolution of at least 800 x 600 pixels.  Fixed width is accomplished by using the width "attribute" in your HTML "tags" and using absolute width, i.e. a number of pixels rather than a percentage. 

[Rob Pomeroy]

Fixed width design?  Ack.

Tables?  Yuck yuck yuck.

Learn flowing CSS.

 

[michaewlewis]

In my opinion, creating the page to display at a fixed width would be the better choice.  Using a width of 800 pixels is good because most people use a monitor resolution of at least 800 x 600 pixels.  Fixed width is accomplished by using the width "attribute" in your HTML "tags" and using absolute width, i.e. a number of pixels rather than a percentage. 

800x600 is an old resolution. Almost 50% of internet users have a screen resolution of 1024x768. - http://w3counter.com/globalstats.php

I see no problem with using tables. They are very easy to learn and don't require much coding or web design knowledge. It's a very good starting point if you're new to web design. Another option is to find a web design program that can build the code for you. Dreamweaver and Front Page are popular ones.

[soybean]

800x600 is an old resolution. Almost 50% of internet users have a screen resolution of 1024x768. - http://w3counter.com/globalstats.php

I can agree with that.  However, I think, in some cases, an 800x600 looks nice, even on larger resolution monitors.  In such cases, I like seeing the page centered, as here: http://hosanna-lutheran.org/   

I see no problem with using tables. They are very easy to learn and don't require much coding or web design knowledge. It's a very good starting point if you're new to web design.

And, that's the reason for my suggestion to use tables.  The learning curve is going to be easier. 

[Chrisxs5]

We use Churchwebworks.com for our church

As soon as I finish it, our new site will be hosted in house using Joomla. Completely free and handles all the questions you just asked.

[soybean]

We use Churchwebworks.com for our church

As soon as I finish it, our new site will be hosted in house using Joomla. Completely free and handles all the questions you just asked.

Why use Churchwebworks if you're using Joomla?  As I understand it, Joomla is a full-featured web design tool. 

[Chrisxs5]

The church bought a year worth of webworks and asked me to setup for them. I told them it was stupid to waste the money when I could set them up with a site which we have more control over and it's free. So when the contract ends the Joomla site will be taken live. I do not think churchwebworks is a bad service, I just think it's a waste when I know Joomla.

[soybean]

OK, thanks for that explanation.  It makes more sense now.   

By the way, do you foresee other end users in the church updating certain pages?  As stated at http://www.joomla.org/content/view/12/26/ , "Once Joomla! is installed and running, it is simple for even non-technical users to add or edit content, update images, and to manage the critical data that makes your company or organization go. Anybody with basic word processing skills can easily learn to manage a Joomla! site."

[gamerx365]

got another question. how do i make the icon? you know the one that shows up in the address bar, or when you save to your favorites?

[S_R_S5]

<table width="300" border="1">
<tr>
<td>this is a vertical table
<td>this is a vertical table
</tr>
<tr>
<td>this is going down
</tr>
</table>

and

the picture is

<img src="pic location here" width="100%" hight="5%">

[soybean]

got another question. how do i make the icon? you know the one that shows up in the address bar, or when you save to your favorites?

OK, you want a "favicon", like this, http://www.computerhope.com/favicon.ico , right?   Here's a very helpful website for that: http://www.html-kit.com/favicon/.  You can upload a larger image (should be square) and they will generate the favicon for you, and let you download it.

They also give brief instructions on adding it to your website.  If that's not clear, post back and I'll help clarify the procedure.

[gamerx365]

yep. thanx, i got it and it works great

[gamerx365]

We got the site up today. If you want to check it out to see how I'm doing on it, the url is http://wordoffaithonline.com
Now I was wondering, if I make a theme, like make all new buttons and pictures and everything and save it in a folder on our server, and then make a link to choose that theme, can i save it so that everytime that user returns to the site will automatically see the theme?

[Chrisxs5]

OK, thanks for that explanation.  It makes more sense now.   

By the way, do you foresee other end users in the church updating certain pages?  As stated at http://www.joomla.org/content/view/12/26/ , "Once Joomla! is installed and running, it is simple for even non-technical users to add or edit content, update images, and to manage the critical data that makes your company or organization go. Anybody with basic word processing skills can easily learn to manage a Joomla! site."

Sorry for such a late reply: But yes, the site is basically done. It was designed with:

Joomla1.5
Google Maps Plugin
Frappr Picture Plugin
ICAL Plugin (Calendar)

All additions were free as well. If the site was live I would let you take a look at it, but we still have 6 months on the other site and our Pastor does not want the money to go to waste. I have also used Joomla to design 2 personal sites and company intranet at the office.

[Chrisxs5]

We got the site up today. If you want to check it out to see how I'm doing on it, the url is http://wordoffaithonline.com
Now I was wondering, if I make a theme, like make all new buttons and pictures and everything and save it in a folder on our server, and then make a link to choose that theme, can i save it so that everytime that user returns to the site will automatically see the theme?

I like the graphics on the site. Didnt know if wanted some constructive criticism on the site or not; so if you do let me know, if not then it does look good.

[michaewlewis]

You could use a cookie.

[soybean]

If you want to ask a sophisticated calendar to your site, see http://www.mychurchevents.com/

The church I belong to uses it; you can see it at http://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/calendar.aspx?ci=G1O9L6I3G1L6G1G1  or see this sample: http://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/calendar.aspx?ci=2259678&list_by=calendar_month  It's not free; the annual cost is $59.95.

[gamerx365]

i dont think were interested in paying large amounts of money for anything but I'll send the pastor a link and see what he thinks. It's kind of a small church so we dont need anything big anyway.

[gamerx365]

You could use a cookie.

got a link or any direction on how to do this?

[soybean]

Now I was wondering, if I make a theme, like make all new buttons and pictures and everything and save it in a folder on our server, and then make a link to choose that theme, can i save it so that everytime that user returns to the site will automatically see the theme?

You could use a cookie.

I guess a cookie would be the key to an individual user getting a certain theme when visiting the site.  But, I'm wondering whether you understand you would need to develop a separate set of pages for each "theme" you want to make available.  That sounds like an awful lot of extra work to me.  If I were you, I'd focus on continuing to develop content in the site you now have.

[gamerx365]

I've started on a theme called glossy blue already and yes i realize I'd have to upkeep all the new info, so I wouldn't make more than 4 themes. It wont take me long to get all the content up as soon as the pastor sends me the rest of the stuff he wants on there. This theme thing is keeping me occupied until then. Check this out:
http://wordoffaithonline.com/glossyblue

[soybean]

Black text is difficult to read on that background.  So, I don't like it.  I also don't like seeing the ads at top of the page.  I'm sure they're there because you're using a free hosting service.  I'd want to change that but I know this depends on whether the church is willing to pay for web hosting.  Here's a good one: http://www.totalchoicehosting.com/.  Their Starter plan would be fine for your site; it costs $4/mo., and no setup fee.  I'd think a church would be willing to spend that much to have a website.

[gamerx365]

alright well i sent the pastor a link to this thread so hoping that he checks back on it he might see that link. I dont know though i might send it to him just to make sure he sees it. Thanks for it by the way. I could change the text color but the buttons won't match then...

[stevejohnson1958]

Before you go spending $60/year for a web calendar...

Why not just pay the following vendor $34 and you can add a flash calendar to your site...three different sizes...you design the calendar...and there's no additional fees.

CoffeeCup Web Calendar

[soybean]

Regarding a calendar, two free options are available: Google Calendar and Yahoo! Calendar.  I believe either can be integrated into your website.  I see Google has a Team Edition.  That would allow other authorized church members to make updates to the calender.

[gamerx365]

yeah thanx for the google and yahoo links. I signed up and posted the google calendar on the calendar page. it looks pretty good but the only problem is not all the text shows up on the calendar so you have to click it to see the event. But anyway yeah thanx for that.