Design Issues

View the RGB Color Chart (in JavaScript) here.

If you are targeting only Microsoft Internet Explorer, you can use VBScript. Otherwise, use only JavaScript. It is more widely accepted by 'Any Browser'.

If given a choice, most users will Not use Framed Web Pages. (This is based on my own tests of over 100,000 usages.) Users prefer Non-Framed Web Pages by over 1000 to 1.

If you are asking Users to fill out a Form, try to Validate the Data with JavaScript. If you cannot, don't Refresh the Form when they hit the Back Button. This causes the User to have to completely fill out the Form all over, again.

If you use a Background Image, choose a Small Image (it will 'Tile') for quicker loading. Also, choose something light that will not conflict with your Text or your other Pictures.

Save your pictures in only 256 colors (or 16 where possible). Not only will this allow you to reach the greatest number of users, but your pictures will load significantly faster, since they are so much smaller. If you need to show higher resolutions, create a Link to the greater picture.

If you create a Web Page with either a Very Large Picture or a lot of Pictures, or if you are saving your picture in greater than 256 colors, consider either Warning the User in Advance, or create 'Thumbnails' of your Pictures. (A 'Thumbnail' is a very small version of your picture. If the User clicks on the Thumbnailed-Picture, they are then shown the Full, Large Picture.)

You should only 'need' to use Cookies if you are running a 'Shopping Cart'. If you do use Cookies, try to use only one.

Set your Table Widths by Percentage, rather than Pixels. Different Users use different Screen Resolutions and different Font Sizes for their Browsers. Some Users run their Browsers Maximized and some Users run their Browsers in a Window. Using the Table Width Percentage allows the Browser to 'Fit' your Table to their Screen Settings.

(More to Come...)

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