Bouton Jones: FAQ

 
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Why Do I Enjoy Web Site Development?

I enjoy web site design because it allows me to use both aspects of my mind: the analytical, logical aspect and the creative, aesthetic aspect.

 

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How Do I Develop My Sites?

Before using Dreamwever MX, I developed almost all of my HTML/XHTML in a text editor called NoteTab Pro (http://www.notetab.com/.) It's a very powerful, and highly customizable text editor.

Since 2007, I've been doing more than half my development in Dreamweaver but I still use NoteTab Pro for some of my development. (I've even written a few of the "Clipbook Libraries" -- most about HTML -- available off the NoteTab Pro web site at http://www.notetab.com/libraries.php.)

Developing in a text editor rather than a WYSIWYG program allows for more control over the final result. And often the WYSIWYG editors will make unusual choices which detract from the site's appearance. Usually it looks much better in one browser than in others. I aim for cross browser compatability.

Other applications I use include:

 

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What is My Aesthetic Philosophy of Web Design?

I tend to divide most web sites into two categories with different goals and strategies:

  1. Entertainment

    Typically, entertainment sites ...
    • Market products such as a movie or a television series
    • Engage the visitor's imagination and curiosity
    • Seduce the visitor into investigating the site and investing time
    • Feature splashy graphics and animation -- which might take a while to load


    Entertainment sites include ...
    • Movie sites such as blairwitch.com and requiemforadream.com
    • Official fan sites


  2. Informative

    Usually, informative sites ...
    • Dispense information, which the visitor has requested
    • Feature intuitive navigation
    • Feature form that follows function
    • Feature easy to read text and "clean" layout
    • Don't distract the visitor with intrusive graphics and animation
    • Load quickly


    Information sites include:
    • eCommerce sites such as eBay and Amazon
    • News sites
    • Government sites
    • Educational sites
    • Search Engines like Google
    • Portals like Yahoo and MSN
    • Corporate intranets


My background is in intranet development so it follows that most of my work has been on informative sites. Most of my work examples emthasis fuction over form, usability over beauty. That is not to say that I am incapable of creating beautiful graphics and design pyrotechnics, just that my career has not focused on those aspects.

 

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What ColdFusion Projects Have I Worked On?

My previous ColdFusion projects have included (but are not limited to) ...

I'm in the process of coding some ColdFusion applications for my online portfolio. It will take a while.

In the meantine I have a few smaller sample applications on display on this website. Please see the Public Portfolio.

 

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What Experiences Have I Had With Databases?

 

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Do I Use Tables or CSS for Layout?

Ideally tables should only be used for tabular data --- showing relationships among content.  (E.G. a table with a column for names and another column for corresponding telephone numbers.  Relationship like that are best represented in tables.)

But in practice, I have used tables for layout   (IE. dividing a web page into seperate visual areas: logo on top, navigation menu along the side, etc.,)  I admit that I find it is easier to layout a web page using tables than purely with CSS.

I know how to layout a web page entirely with CSS instead of tables as demonstrated on my Snoop Deputy Dawg Pet Grooming site and on my eValentine page.

That said, I will follow what ever layout guidelines are the policy where I work.

(BTW, I have an example of a fixed navigation bar using CSS in my Supernatural Horror in Literature site.)

 

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What is the Extent of my JavaScript Skills?

Please see Silly JavaScript Tricks

 

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Do I Know XHTML?

I have been handcoding my HTML for nearly ten years. Recently I have been writing in XHTML.

While the great minds at the W3C consider XHTML as a new language, as a developer I see it as an extension of HTML. It's true that requirements are stricter but the transition from HTML to XHTML is very short.

Most of the web pages on this site are written in XHTML. At the bottom of most of them are buttons that validate the pages as valid XHTML through the W3C.

 

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What Do I Know About Accessibility?

While working as a consultant to the Kentucky Department of Education, I co-authored the QA Accessibility Guidelines later adopted by Kentucky's Commonwealth Office of Technology.   It was a practical guide explaining to QA Testers how a review web sites and web applications for Section 508 compliance.

 

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Where am I From?

I was an "army brat" as a small child so I've lived in Kansas, Germany, Virginia, and Texas. Currently I live in Texas in the Austin / San Antonio area.

 

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Would I be Interested in Relocating?

In the long term, I wish to stay close to my family in the San Antonio / Austin, TX area. However, for short term projects I would like to see other parts of the USA and Canada. In particular, I wouldn't mind assignments in ...

 

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What Do I Do In My Free Time?

My hobbies include ...

 

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