Current Site Development (17/03/2011)

I have been working on the site to get some JavaScript at the minute I have JavaScript that is loaded from a different file and shows the date that the site was last updated; this shows the user what it is exactly when the site would have had something changed on the site, maybe a new tutorial. Below is an image of how it is shown.

I am thinking of making all of the tutorial types e.g. Photoshop, Web Development, etc. All variables within a JavaScript file for future purpose, e.g. so that if in future I wanted to remove 3DS Max tutorials and replace them with Unreal Script or Maya tutorials then all I would have to do is change the JavaScript file variable values.

Recent exercises in lesson have helped me want to use a different method, I am thinking that i will use Ajax to store the page layout such as the Header, Sidebar and footer all in an Ajax file and the page content can be loaded as separate files this would also save many resources.

Additional Features:

I am thinking of adding a mega menu to the site, most site use sub menus but a mega menu will allow me to create an organised list of tutorials under a certain category. Below are a couple of images of what i am trying to achieve.

I have got the information to do this from a magazine I bought not that long ago, I have already wrote about. Below is an image of the magazine that provides information on the mega menu feature using CSS.

New Ideas and Advanced functions

I have been working on the website a lot and it has come a long way, but i feel i need more functions and something to make used of some JavaScript. I have designed some new features i am thinking of adding to the website.

Colour theme changing:

I am going to create a script that will change the theme for the whole site, the theme will only change in one way, which is by colour but that isn’t a problem. I see it as a benefit for users as some users do not see certain colours well as others. So giving the user an option of 4 colours to work with seems like an idea.

Below is an image that shows the normal theme and on the image at the top right there is a change colour theme function at the top right.

Lets say a user wanted to use an orange colour theme they will just be able to click a colour and the website will change to that colour theme. Below is an image of what the site will transform too for the user.

Tutorial logo (image) function:

As you may have noticed on the images before there was also another function added which showed the types of tutorials logos or images if you will, under the website name on the left. This can be used to switch users to those kinds of tutorials using the images. I also plan to make it as a method of helping the user know what kind of tutorial it is they are looking at e.g. the current tutorial page open will change the icon to a big size.

Below is an image that shows this.

And if the user was to navigate to another type of tutorial the logo or symbol for that type will enlarge and the others will be small. Below is an image of the next icon enlarged.