Where do you all get those things at the bottom of your profile?

[AmyR7]

I keep seeing those banners I guess you would call them at the bottom of some people's posts. Go to this post here http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,86344.0.html and it has an example of what I'm talking about. On one of the banner things on Astoria's it has like different tv shows I keep seeing listed, Windows XP, the other and like on soybean's has a mozilla thing on his.

Anyways, I was wondering where you get them from? Are they free?
Thanks,
Amy

[kpac]

These?



http://www.userbars.com

Many people make their own.

[AmyR7]

Yes, thank you very much.
One other thing, do I need a cellphone to use one of these? Only reason I'm asking is it mentions something on the page about ringtones, and I know ringtones are for cellphones.

[kpac]

Where does it mention cellphone? That was probably an ad.

[AmyR7]

Much like a cellphone ringtone does in the real world a userbar makes your posts unique.

[kpac]

There you go. You can add two or three or more if you want.

[BC_Programmer]

that is called a "Simile" it's a language device used to compare two items. In this case, the function of a "userbar" in Posts is likened to the personalization of a Cellphone via ringtones.

[AmyR7]

Yes, but I don't even have a cellphone

[evilfantasy]

I make my own but this is a download I have used. AmitySource Userbar Generator

Here is a detailed guide I used to learn how to make one with Gimp. Making an Complete Userbar with Gimp (Note some features in Gimp have changed since this guide was created) www.gimp.org.

You can animate them online with this Userbar Animator or do it yourself with UnFREEz.

[BC_Programmer]

Yes, but I don't even have a cellphone

so if somebody told you that a mp3 player was the same size as a cellphone, you'd say you don't have a cellphone?

its just comparing the two. It would be similar to saying, "much like desktop wallpaper does for your desktop a userbar makes your post unique". If you, for example, didn't have wallpaper set, would you say "I don't have wallpaper"?. It's simply comparing the two; drawing an analogy.

[AmyR7]

The way they worded it, made it sound like you would need a cellphone in order to do it.
My mom thought the same thing and she made A's in English.
Yes, I also know how to set the background of the desktop.

I also know that like on forms we fill out, some of the things we can't fill out, like if it asks you for a cellphone or mobile phone number, if you don't own either, you can't put it down. So, you would just put in your home phone number.


Yes, but don't you need an mp3 player to play an mp3 file? Same as like a DVD, you need a dvd player, and a cd, you need a cd player or drive that will play them.

[JJ 3000]

[BC_Programmer]

Yes. This is like pulling teeth.

I also know that like on forms we fill out, some of the things we can't fill out, like if it asks you for a cellphone or mobile phone number, if you don't own either, you can't put it down. So, you would just put in your home phone number.

Well, If the form has a "Home Phone" box then you would probably leave the cellphone/mobile number empty.

Yes, but don't you need an mp3 player to play an mp3 file? Same as like a DVD, you need a dvd player, and a cd, you need a cd player or drive that will play them.

Do you know How BIG a MP3 player is PHYSICALLY? probably. small, usually square. So If somebody said that they got a cellphone that was about the same size as a typical mp3 player, would  you yell and scream at their inconsideration because you don't have one?

And if somebody says, "that's as ridiculous as a snow in July" you'd say, quite seriously, "I've never seen it snow in July".

You've read poems before? If the poet says, "the snow was like a dusting of talcum on the meadow" you don't think, "wow, I've never seen Talcum powder on a field before!" No, you realize it's a simile comparing the two- it's STILL snow, just like the userbar is still a userbar, even if snow is being compared to talcum powder and the customization ability of a userbar is being compared to the ability to customize ones cell-phone, your not supposed to take it litereally and start whining how you don't have a cellphone.

God forbid somebody try metonymy!

"Like my set of wheels?", "yes, you have four, just as you should."

[iiiCobalt]

Ahah, It would of been easy to google. 


''userbars'', but of course if you didn't know what they we're called, then whatever

www.userbars.com

[fat_basterd21]

I never heard them called user bars. Only Signatures...

[soybean]

They are both; they are userbars used as a signature.   

[AmyR7]

Just want to say that I'm sorry if I caused any problems trying to understand if the userbars were something that you can only create if you have a cellphone.
As you all have noticed, I do have learning disabilities in reading comprehension, vocabulary, all that stuff I've had problems with all my life. Getting better with it over the years, but still have alot of problems with mainly vocabulary it seems. Then of course with my health problems I've got, one of the things I have is short term memory problems, so that makes everything even harder for me.
Anyways, since there are so many things out there even on myspace and facebook and other features that are under mobile phone settings section, since I don't even have that either, I can't do those things. So, since I had never seen these userbars before until now, I just wanted to double check when I saw the thing about the cellphone ringtones thing, if the userbars only work on cellphones, then I wouldn't be able to do it. I also know there is things out there that say download wallpaper for your cellphones too, so that makes things even more confusing since we also have wallpaper on the desktops of our computer too.

[fat_basterd21]

Asking questions does not cause problems. Not asking questions causes problems 

[patio]

And Amy i for one will keep those things in mind whenever i try to assist and keep it as clear as possible...
After all ...we are here to help.

Just a general heads up though...many sites that advertise Free ringtones/wallpapers etc. are a prime spot to get infected.

[evilfantasy]

Beware of friends bearing GIF's....

[AmyR7]

Thank you so much for being here to help on things whenever needed.

So, cellphones get infected too with all these viruses, spyware, etc..? Since I don't have one, I didn't know that. My mom has one. Should she be worried then?
Can I ask just one other question I still keep trying to understand here on all this computer stuff? Everything I keep reading about like CSS especially, here is a link to a site http://htmldog.com/ptg/archives/000056.phpso you can see why I'm trying to figure out if I understand what it even is for. Everything I keep reading says CSS for mobile devices, handheld devices, mobile style sheets. So, all this is making me wonder, is CSS just for people with cellphones, mobile devices, laptops etc..?

Thanks,
Amy

[evilfantasy]

Yes cell phones can get infected.

If you think it is infected...

Download Flash Disinfector by sUBs and save it to your Desktop.
 
* Double-click Flash_Disinfector.exe to run it.
* Your desktop and icons may disappear. This is normal.
* It will do a cleanup of removable storage devices, and write a protected Autorun.inf file to help prevent re-infection.
* Follow any prompts that may appear.
* The utility may ask you to insert your flash drive and/or other removable drives including your mobile phone. Please do so and allow the utility to clean up those drives as well.
* Wait until it has finished scanning and then exit the program.
* There will be no GUI interface or log file produced.
* Reboot your computer when done.[/list]
.
Note: Flash_Disinfector will create a hidden folder named autorun.inf in each partition and every USB drive plugged in when you ran it. Don't delete this folder. It will help protect your drives from future infection.

[kpac]

Everything I keep reading about like CSS especially, here is a link to a site http://htmldog.com/ptg/archives/000056.phpso you can see why I'm trying to figure out if I understand what it even is for. Everything I keep reading says CSS for mobile devices, handheld devices, mobile style sheets. So, all this is making me wonder, is CSS just for people with cellphones, mobile devices, laptops etc..?

No. CSS is for anything that can view the Internet.

[AmyR7]

This is really interesting, I didn't even think cell phones could go on the Internet. I always thought computers could use the internet.
Let me just make sure I'm understanding some of these things too, so I don't ruin anything either by misunderstanding some of these things either.
So, cell phones can also view websites?

Aren't these instructions for the Flash Disinfector by sUBs just for a computer? Since the instructions say to reboot the computer is why is confusing. Didn't think a phone was a computer.

Here is another thing why I'm wondering about CSS stuff, is this is making me think it's just for mobile devices, cell phones, laptops I guess would be considered mobile since it's wireless. But a desktop computer isn't wireless.
Hopefully this below helps explain some of the confusion-
The cutting edge PDA browsers from Microsoft and Opera (the popularity of the latter of which I think I underestimated) are making their way into phones and the way things are going, full-on mobile CSS is a reality. It's already here on some popular devices and as technology improves and becomes cheaper I can't see things going any other way than along a CSS-supported route. (as I commented in the "HTML and CSS for Mobiles" post
<style type="text/css" media="handheld"> @import "handheld.css"; </style>

Isn't all that stuff for mobile phones?





Another thing I thought to add to this-
Since I also thought that the way to get on the Internet is your ISP sends you the modem, router, and the installation cd. So, that is another reason I didn't realize a cell phone could use the internet. Since a cell phone doesn't have a cd drive.

[evilfantasy]

Multiple vendors have an antivirus for cell phones. Some are for specific types of cell phone.

Remember that many types of cell phone either have built in and/or some sort of SD card for music and ring tones so they can be infected just like a flash drive or media player by infected MP3's or other media downloaded through cyber space.

Cell Phone Antivirus Protection
Is It Necessary?
http://www.pctoday.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2F2005%2Ft0308%2F33t08%2F33t08.asp

[soybean]

This is really interesting, I didn't even think cell phones could go on the Internet. I always thought computers could use the internet.

So, cell phones can also view websites?

Amy, many cell phone users do not have Internet access from their cell phones.  Internet access by cell phone usually requires paying extra monthly fees.  So, of course, not everyone does it.

Here is another thing why I'm wondering about CSS stuff, is this is making me think it's just for mobile devices ...

No, it's not just for mobile devices. As kpac said, "CSS is for anything that can view the Internet."  In other words, any device (whether mobile or a desktop computer) that can view web pages could involve use of CSS by the developer of the web pages. 

I think you might also like to know that special versions of web pages are often or usually developed for small mobile devices.  Web pages developed for computers can be difficult to view on the tiny screen of a cell phone.  So, websites who what want their web content accessible to cell phone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) users may actually develop two sets of web pages, one for computers and one for small mobile devices. 

[AmyR7]

One other thing I thought of to ask, do we need a special device to view a site that uses CSS? It seems everytime I go to a page that has CSS, then the only thing I can view is a bunch of codes. Nothing else. No pictures, text, etc...

[BC_Programmer]

yes. you need a browser.

[AmyR7]

I do have a browser, but like for example, if I go like to here is the site http://www.astresurfacing.com/style.css
All I see on the page is a bunch of codes.

[soybean]

Yes, that's because you're looking at a CSS file, named styles.css, not a web page.

[AmyR7]

Ok, how do I tell whether I'm viewing a file or a website then? Someone gave me the link to the site. So, I thought that was a way to view sites?

[BC_Programmer]

remove the "style.css" from the URL and that's the site.

you could do the same thing here,

http://www.computerhope.com/basic.css

rather then

http://www.computerhope.com

CSS is useless on it's own- you have to implement HTML to use it- browsers know how to use CSS, but there really isn't a way to show just the CSS file; the CSS file more or less tells the browser how it is to display a HTML file.

[AmyR7]

It also seems that the CSS is also is mainly just the settings then that we do for mainly all the programs we use. Like fonts, colors for the text, background, links, size, etc.. of it. Like in our browsers for example, if we go up to tools and then options, content tab then it has those things we choose. Same as I had mentioned we do same in like our emails, MS Word, Powerpoint, Excel, frontpage, all that stuff too. So many places, it's all over it seems. But then of course about the only things that seems a bit confusing is when you hit view source on any page too, it has it all in there too. So, like it's on both files or pages.

[evilfantasy]

It also seems that the CSS is also is mainly just the settings then that we do for mainly all the programs we use. Like fonts, colors for the text, background, links, size, etc.. of it.

Yes! CSS is a type of computer code. Every website you visit is actually a bunch of computer code. Java, HTML, CSS and so on. Some are easier to work with (learn) then others. Take all of the code and "translate" it and you get a webpage, website, image, links and so on.

At least that's how it is in my head.

[kpac]

Yes! CSS is a type of computer code. Every website you visit is actually a bunch of computer code. Java, HTML, CSS and so on. Some are easier to work with (learn) then others. Take all of the code and "translate" it and you get a webpage, website, image, links and so on.

Exactly!

[soybean]

It also seems that the CSS is also is mainly just the settings then that we do for mainly all the programs we use. Like fonts, colors for the text, background, links, size, etc.. of it.

No, it's not for "all the programs we use."  CSS was developed as a labor-saving tool for web developers in developing web pages.  Here's a good introduction to CSS: http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_intro.asp

Just because you can set fonts, font colors, backgrounds, etc., in many programs such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and many others, that does not mean they use CSS.  The option to change fonts, etc. in all these programs is simply part of the features of that particular program.

But then of course about the only things that seems a bit confusing is when you hit view source on any page too, it has it all in there too. So, like it's on both files or pages.

HTML files can contain styles coding within each web page file, i.e. each HTML file, or the HTML files can refer to external style sheets, which is what you see at http://www.astresurfacing.com/style.css; that's an external style sheet, meaning it's separate from the HTML files which can refer to the style.css file to obtain "styles" containing font settings, etc.  As the tutorial I mentioned says, styles can come from: 
# External style sheet
# Internal style sheet (in the head section)
# Inline style (inside an HTML element)

[BC_Programmer]

Just because you can set fonts, font colors, backgrounds, etc., in many programs such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and many others, that does not mean they use CSS.  The option to change fonts, etc. in all these programs is simply part of the features of that particular program.

Yes. Need I ramble on about the LOGFONT structure? 

[AmyR7]

Yes, I already went to that site and so many other sites trying to still understand if anything at all I'm doing wrong. Seems to be just repeating things I thought I already understood about how sites are made. The only thing I guess that I don't understand is how it saves time if you have to type out all the codes that it seems the editors already do for us. Also, like I mentioned for people like me who have a bunch of physical problems/handicaps where it's hard to type for long and stuff, is another reason. Especially typing all those brackets and certain symbols, it's difficult for me to hold down more than 1 button at a time in order to do them.
One other question, if a program doesn't do CSS, I don't understand why does this come up? You can use Microsoft Word to attach, remove, and manage cascading style sheets (CSS) for Web pages. Cascading style sheets provide a convenient way to format several Web pages or a whole Web site. To change the format of the pages, you can make changes to the style sheet without having to edit each Web page.

[evilfantasy]

The only thing I guess that I don't understand is how it saves time if you have to type out all the codes that it seems the editors already do for us.

This is true, but all of that code, even for creating the editors has to be compiled from scratch. It probably took a long time to create the template for this website but once it's been created then modifying it is usually pretty simple.

[kpac]

One other question, if a program doesn't do CSS, I don't understand why does this come up?

Notepad does.

The only thing I guess that I don't understand is how it saves time if you have to type out all the codes that it seems the editors already do for us.

It saves time if you create pages the "proper" way, like we described for you before.

[AmyR7]

I still think we are talking about a different Notepad than what we have. Ours don't seem to do html or css or any other files other than .txt extension. When I do the all files in the box there when saving, it doesn't have an option to save it other than .txt
All the other programs I've mentioned do seem to have the features to do it.
I'm sorry if you think I'm doing it wrong. I still don't see what I am not doing correct. I keep going all over in circles trying to figure out what if anything I'm doing wrong. I wish I were dead because I just don't see what I am doing wrong, and other people who have looked at my sites seem to be seeing everything just fine. I have guestbooks on my sites, and people seem to keep saying they enjoy my sites and even say stuff about I have good structure too. So, that is why I don't understand what I could be doing that is improper.
I've taken so many computer classes over the years, and my dad was a computer programmer. I've even had a computer programmer look at my sites and he didn't find anything wrong.

[kpac]

I still think we are talking about a different Notepad than what we have. Ours don't seem to do html or css or any other files other than .txt extension. When I do the all files in the box there when saving, it doesn't have an option to save it other than .txt

Notepad can save any kind of file. When creating a Webpage in Notepad, you go to File and Save As, and type, for example, "webpage.html". When you click Save, you have created a Webpage.

I'm sorry if you think I'm doing it wrong. I still don't see what I am not doing correct. I keep going all over in circles trying to figure out what if anything I'm doing wrong. I wish I were dead because I just don't see what I am doing wrong, and other people who have looked at my sites seem to be seeing everything just fine. I have guestbooks on my sites, and people seem to keep saying they enjoy my sites and even say stuff about I have good structure too. So, that is why I don't understand what I could be doing that is improper.

I didn't say you were doing it wrong. You use a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor, like Microsoft Word. As we have already told you, Microsoft Word (and any other WYSIWYG editors) insert code that isn't needed in the page, thus increasing loading times and bandwidth. There is nothing wrong with this method, it's just not efficient.

When you use Notepad to type out all the codes yourself, you know exactly what you are putting into it. But, when you have difficulties like you have as you say, then a WYSIWYG editor is the right choice.

[AmyR7]

What is the correct definition for bandwidth? Everytime I look it up, it gives so many things, I'm not sure which one you are referring to?
Also, I know some computers have tv tuners, ours don't.

[soybean]

What is the correct definition for bandwidth? Everytime I look it up, it gives so many things, I'm not sure which one you are referring to?
Also, I know some computers have tv tuners, ours don't.

Quite a change of subject here.  I think you should start a new topic/thread.

[AmyR7]

Just a quick message to everyone, thank you very much for all the help with explaining things and helping clear things up.
Some of the things I read and stuff, makes me even wonder if everyone can do CSS at all. I know you said things that use the Internet use CSS. Here is something else I read that may help understand why I'm wondering this-
This specification defines in general a subset of CSS 2.1 [CSS21] that is to be considered a baseline for interoperability between implementations of CSS on constrained devices (e.g. mobile phones). Its intent is not to produce a profile of CSS incompatible with the complete specification, but rather to ensure that implementations that due to platform limitations cannot support the entire specification implement a common subset that is interoperable not only amongst constrained implementations but also with complete ones. Additionally, this specification aligns itself as much as possible with the OMA Wireless CSS 1.1 [WCSS11] specification. At the same time, OMA is doing alignment work in OMA  Wireless CSS 1.2 [WCSS12]. It is aimed at aligning the mandatory compliance items between CSS Mobile Profile 2.0 and OMA Wireless CSS 1.2 [WCSS12].

It mentions wireless and mobile devices. We have our Internet setup Wired. The other thing that I'm trying to understand, so many people I have asked, haven't even heard of CSS. My nephew who setup the internet for us when we switched from our Earthlink dialup to Bellsouth DSL hasn't even heard of it. He has even created pages for people. Created a myspace site for a client of his. I even asked this friend of mine who I met through her 'N Sync site she has.

[soybean]

The other thing that I'm trying to understand, so many people I have asked, haven't even heard of CSS. My nephew who setup the internet for us when we switched from our Earthlink dialup to Bellsouth DSL hasn't even heard of it. He has even created pages for people. Created a myspace site for a client of his. I even asked this friend of mine who I met through her 'N Sync site she has.

Amy, web pages can be developed without using CSS.  This is clearly indicated by your own experience and the experience of the people you mentioned who have not heard of it. Using CSS is optional.  As I said in Reply #35, "CSS was developed as a labor-saving tool for web developers in developing web pages."  So, the more advance web developers will usually use CSS because it can make making various changes to a large website much easier.  CSS is a somewhat advanced technique.  So, many casual web developers, people have had limited training in web design or who are self-taught, may not know anything about CSS.  Again, CSS is an optional technique for web developers. 

By the way, can you get in the habit of putting quotation marks about text that you're quoting from another source.  For example, all the following content from your preceding post is apparently quoted material:

"This specification defines in general a subset of CSS 2.1 [CSS21] that is to be considered a baseline for interoperability between implementations of CSS on constrained devices (e.g. mobile phones). Its intent is not to produce a profile of CSS incompatible with the complete specification, but rather to ensure that implementations that due to platform limitations cannot support the entire specification implement a common subset that is interoperable not only amongst constrained implementations but also with complete ones. Additionally, this specification aligns itself as much as possible with the OMA Wireless CSS 1.1 [WCSS11] specification. At the same time, OMA is doing alignment work in OMA  Wireless CSS 1.2 [WCSS12]. It is aimed at aligning the mandatory compliance items between CSS Mobile Profile 2.0 and OMA Wireless CSS 1.2 [WCSS12]."

It would help avoid any confusion about what's being quoted and what you're saying yourself.

[kpac]

And again,

Quite a change of subject here.  I think you should start a new topic/thread.

[AmyR7]

Sorry, I'll start another topic/thread if I have anymore questions.
Thank you everyone again for helping clear things up.
The good news is that it looks like I already know how to do CSS. Everything I keep reading, sounds like stuff I already learned to do. With everything in life though of course at times go back over things to double check we haven't misunderstood anything.
I'll also try and remember about the quotes around things too. Sorry if I forget at times, everything for me is hard to remember ever since getting sick, memory problems is one of my handicaps.