New years and new bloggers
Greetings WebSite Tonighters,
Let me first start off by saying thank you for reading and taking part in our little blog. It's a great way to get out information on the happenings of the WebSite Tonight software, as well as to let you know some of the things that we are excited about here in house.
My name is Benjamin and I will be taking part in future blog updates that will appear here, as well as responding to the comments that our users may have about WebSite Tonight. As a little bit of background, I have been with GoDaddy for nearly three years and have been working with WebSite Tonight since before its previous incarnation ever came about. I cut my teeth with the program when it was still in its previous 2.7 format as one of the friendly call center representatives, and was there for the massive switch when we went to the 3.0 version of the software. I spent some time doing Quality Assurance for the call center (yes, when the voice says "This call may be monitored for Quality Assurance," we mean it) and have spent the last year and a half in our Advanced Technical support group. Now I am with our Advanced Product Support group, specializing in Website Tonight and working with the developers.
In our current public version, 4.2, we encourage people to take advantage of the forums, easy to manage guestbook, and other plug-ins which, can make your site more dynamic and useful (such as RSS feeds and information submission forms). If you're still using the older version (2.7) of WebSite Tonight, there has never been a better time to upgrade than now because we are offering 3 months of free service on top of your existing plan, simply for switching to version 4.2 and seeing what we have to offer. In fact, we have even created a way for you to pull the content from your previous version to save you time and ease the transition. For a full description of how to do this, you can check out Importing Content from Previous Projects or Backup Files and Importing Photo Albums from Previous Projects or Backup Files.
Any Web site is only as good as the amount of attention and care put into it. I have said this about WebSite Tonight since I started in the call center to give our customers a fair estimation of the commitment involved, and I still stand by this statement today. I would go a step further to state that this is true about nearly everything in life, but that may be beyond the scope of our humble little blog. We aim to give our users the tools necessary to make creating your online identity as easy and practical as possible, so that the time invested really is a labor of love instead of just a lot of labor. Having watched the evolution of this software, it is truly exciting to see how great some of the end results can be, as well as the amount of variety that we see between our user's live sites. I look forward to giving helpful hints and suggestions in this upcoming year to help make your WebSite Tonight experience as positive as possible. Having said this, we wish you all a happy, safe and productive new year and will look forward to working with you in 2008.
Sincerely,
Benjamin
WST Team
Let me first start off by saying thank you for reading and taking part in our little blog. It's a great way to get out information on the happenings of the WebSite Tonight software, as well as to let you know some of the things that we are excited about here in house.
My name is Benjamin and I will be taking part in future blog updates that will appear here, as well as responding to the comments that our users may have about WebSite Tonight. As a little bit of background, I have been with GoDaddy for nearly three years and have been working with WebSite Tonight since before its previous incarnation ever came about. I cut my teeth with the program when it was still in its previous 2.7 format as one of the friendly call center representatives, and was there for the massive switch when we went to the 3.0 version of the software. I spent some time doing Quality Assurance for the call center (yes, when the voice says "This call may be monitored for Quality Assurance," we mean it) and have spent the last year and a half in our Advanced Technical support group. Now I am with our Advanced Product Support group, specializing in Website Tonight and working with the developers.
In our current public version, 4.2, we encourage people to take advantage of the forums, easy to manage guestbook, and other plug-ins which, can make your site more dynamic and useful (such as RSS feeds and information submission forms). If you're still using the older version (2.7) of WebSite Tonight, there has never been a better time to upgrade than now because we are offering 3 months of free service on top of your existing plan, simply for switching to version 4.2 and seeing what we have to offer. In fact, we have even created a way for you to pull the content from your previous version to save you time and ease the transition. For a full description of how to do this, you can check out Importing Content from Previous Projects or Backup Files and Importing Photo Albums from Previous Projects or Backup Files.
Any Web site is only as good as the amount of attention and care put into it. I have said this about WebSite Tonight since I started in the call center to give our customers a fair estimation of the commitment involved, and I still stand by this statement today. I would go a step further to state that this is true about nearly everything in life, but that may be beyond the scope of our humble little blog. We aim to give our users the tools necessary to make creating your online identity as easy and practical as possible, so that the time invested really is a labor of love instead of just a lot of labor. Having watched the evolution of this software, it is truly exciting to see how great some of the end results can be, as well as the amount of variety that we see between our user's live sites. I look forward to giving helpful hints and suggestions in this upcoming year to help make your WebSite Tonight experience as positive as possible. Having said this, we wish you all a happy, safe and productive new year and will look forward to working with you in 2008.
Sincerely,
Benjamin
WST Team
I like most folks had a few problems using WST but with anything it is a work in progress and so are we (webmasters). I can willingly work with the GoDaddy folks because there are few comanies in any business that has the support team that they have. I had to call at 2am on a Sunday and the support tech was great! Keep up the good work!
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Greetings, Tony.
Thank you for the kind words about the support staff's availability and the recognition that what's here today is being improved on an ongoing basis.
Regards
John
WST Team
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I have been working with the 4.0 version for days and I don't seem to be getting any where. I want to put a calender on my site that I can write in.
I have used 2.7 for several years and was able to most of what I needed to do.
I don't know much about web site building. that is why I use WST.
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Greetings Lola,
Firstly an apology. I wrote an earlier reply and set it to the incorrect status so. I thought I'd already done this
Regards
John
WST Team
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John, that would be GREAT. But first how do I get a google or yahoo calendar? I did finally do a calendar with the table function but it took me forever and it not perfect. So any help would be great.
Thanks, Lola
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Greetings Lola,
I'm going to use Google as an example. Firstly you'll need an account with them, if you have Gmail, or use Adsense or any of their services you already have one. If not then you can create one by going here www.google.com/calendar Then click on creating a new account.
Now I am going to leap into a future in which you have created a Google Calendar and now wish to share it within your Website tonight account.
Within Google Calendar
Under the My calendar section click on Share this Calendar and select the option you are most comfortable with. Then click on calendar details. This is the screen that contains the code that we'll paste into Website Tonight to display a calendar. You are looking for Embed This Calendar and then you want to click on Customize. Here you can adjust the size , color and decide which day of the week it starts on. I would suggest 400 x 300 for the size if you are using it within a large content block within WST.
Once you are happy with the look double click on the html code above the calender, right click and copy. ( leave the page open)
Within WST
Now we have the calendar safely tucked away in your clipboard let's place this into WST. On the page that you wish to place the Calendar click on a container that's large enough to take the calendar. ( you'll need a blank layout ideally on it's own page but if you can live with scrollbars any block will take it) Click on the block, wait for it to open. On the left hand menu select Tables & Objects then Insert object, then Script. Delete the text that is there then right click, select Paste . Click OK then OK. That's you done, you can preview the page and if it's good to go publish. One note is that it's often best to put a line of text either above or below the script placeholder ( You'll know what that is when you see it) to make it easier to open up the content block should you need to re edit.
I know this seems like a lot of steps but once set up it's a great benefit to the people that visit your site and far easier for yourself to update rather than manually creating a table.
Regards
John
WST team.
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Is there a way to add colored borders to the content boxes thus enabling a separation of information on the page? I am using the snowboarder template. I tried adding the border in html but the program wouldn't allow it.
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Greetings,
While there's not an obvious way to do that there is a workaround that may be useful to you. Create a table with a single cell which we'll then assign a color to.
Create 1 row, 1 column , set width to 100%. Now go into the HTML and add in the border color, either by color name or hex code for the RGB value I've shown both below.
<table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" bordercolor="RED" border="1" style="width: 100%;">
<br>
<table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" bordercolor="ff0000" border="1" style="width: 100%;">
Please let me know how that goes.
Regards
John
WST team
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Hello,
I would like to see the ability to delete multiple uploaded files at a time. Right now, when I am cleaning up my uploads, I can only select one file or image at a time to delete, this takes forever as I wait for the site to delete each file. Multiple file editing on the deletion feature would allow me to do this housekeeping faster and would encourage me to use less space on the server hosting my site on a regular basis. If that offers an advantage to GoDaddy, then please consider it. If you would like to provide more streamlined service to the customers, saving them time when updating their sites etc, PLEASE consider it.
thanks for the ear.
Lisa Ross
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Greetings Lisa,
Thank you for your feedback and very reasonable request
Regards
John
WST team
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Thanks for the response John, hope you are still reading this string, one more request. When we use the create link tool, and we get the choices of what exactly we want to create, on the upload selection, could you possibly put an ability to click and upload a file in that window, similar to what you have when you view and select any images you want to use on the site, there is a tool to upload directly from the image tool.
Because you do not have this ability to upload when you need to create a link to one, the user needs to stop, close that window and then go to the mangage tool icon on the top menu bar and then upload which takes you away from any block editing you have done and in my view creates an unecessary step. If that "upload a file" option was in the link window, it would save me loads of time editing my site. Right now while I am writing this I am uploading, then I have to go back and edit my block to link to my upload. Sure wish it was a one step window.
thanks again,
Lisa Ross
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Greetings Lisa,
No need to worry about us reading it there's not much else to do at 0012
Regards
John
WST team
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I've been so busy building my new site that I haven't stopped to investigate your product blog until now. I love it! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your work on this product, how much WebSite Tonight has helped me. Besides finishing my main site and maintaining it, I have 4 more sites to build, and I am undaunted solely because of your product. I'm a total novice, having previously struggled in vain to build an amateurish-looking site using Publisher of all things because my old host's website builder was worse than using Publisher! I'll probably return to your blog later on with a question or two about things I've run into while building my main site with WebSite Tonight, but for right now, I just want to say THANKS! (P.S. I liked Benjamin's introduction, personalizing your team of developers for me since my son's name is Benjamin. And I like John's replies to other folks' comments--friendly, helpful, professional. Good job on blog.)
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Greetings,
Thank you very much for the kind words and for taking the time to notice that Ben's a real person ( we checked he really does leave condensation on a mirror held under his nose) Sorry, that part about being professional must have gotten to me. We look forward to questions, suggestions and input on alternate ways to remove your "things you've run into list" from the present. .
Regards
John
WST team,
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I love the wacky humor, too! (sorry about the "professional" word--forgot it has morphed into something stale and unappetizing these days--can substitute "non-insulting and non-sarcastic" instead)
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John/WST team,
I am equally impressed with the support from the WST team. Thank you.
I am trying to add an image to the background image area and even with sizing options, the image is isolated and not transparent. Am I overlooking something to add a graphic to the background? In Preview mode, it shows that the image is not transparent and does not blend with the background. I using the Business & Legal Template, Consulting 3. A solution would be gratefully appreciated.
Ann
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I have tried to build a website for a while. I tried Yahoo, Network Solutions & a couple of others including software programs. I am a true novice & could not even get off the ground. The support from the other companies was awful.
I have called GoDaddy about 6-8 times getting started. They were there in a reasonable time with my answers & places to look for more information. In one case where the person I was talking to didn't know the answer, he told me so & had me wait while he solved my problem. It is most important to "know what you don't know."
My site is still under construction, but the end is in site. I just wanted to say "Thank You" & I happily recommend your company to anyone who asks.
Keep up the GREAT job & please don't get so big that you forget about us little guys.
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Greetings Harvey,
Firstly thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience with Website Tonight and the support staff that have been helping you along the way.
Onto the shameless self promotion. I never think along the lines of "little guys" You're all individuals regardless of how many services you have with us the experience should be the same.That being said it's good to be reminded that what we have here is worth preserving , and growing, no matter how big we get.
Regards
John
WST team
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Hey guys,
I wanted to know if there is any way to get a script to work on my home page. I called and was told that there is no way to guarantee it will work. That is fine, I understand that. I am sure the script is good, and I guess am more concerened that I am using it properly. The script would creatge a drop in box that would contain a web-form for people to sign up for a newsletter. Because of the layout of my page I dont want the opt-in to be "on" the page as it would take away from the content.
Any suggestions?
The script can be found here...and I have seen it working on other sites.
http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex17/amazondrop.htm
Thanks
Aron
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Aron,
We looked at the script and actually tried it in a test WST project and it seems to work fine so long as the script is copied over verbatim (please keep in mind that each template may behave differently). It appears with this specific script that any alteration that would push it outside of the normal confines of the page don't work. If you want to just move it around on the page, you can do this with the parameters set on lines 34 and 35 of the 'style' portion of the script, by changing the pixel values for the "dropboxleft" and "dropboxtop" variables. Due to the normal layout of the CSS on the Website Tonight itself, you may want to look into possibly assigning negative values (e.g. var dropboxtop=-100 ) if you want to have the box show in the header region. This should be supported in most browsers. As it's not a part of the program, it's technically 'not supported' which is the disclaimer that I need to get out of the way, but I would start with moving those values around and previewing and doing what looks good to you. Don't forget to put this inside of a Script box in the Website Tonight editor and look at the finished version in as many browsers as possible to make sure that all of you visitors are getting the same experience!
Sincerely,
Benjamin S.
Website Tonight
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Benjamin (or whichever tech staff answwers this),
First, as a side note when i received an email notice of your reply to this blog all of the references were to QSC, not WST. However, on the blog it clearly says WST...hmm odd...Id be happy to forward the email.
Second, I will say for the record that I am a former "sales and support" godaddy rep so I am aware of the "we don't support 3rd party scripting" policy, so really Im just asking some guys who no more than me and I wont be mad if you mess my site up.
I aqm using WST, the template is "go team". I am putting the 1st part of the script on the 'page properties' tab in the text field for Java script. Then I go to the content box on my home page and enter the 2nd part of the script (using html of course).
When I click 'OK' I can see the 2nd part of the script showing in the text box, telling me that something is not right. Then when I preview or publish there is no drop in and the text for the drop in is at the very bottom of my content box. I am open to you going into my account and testing it out.
I know its possible that this wont work with my template, but Id like to make this for certain...i like the template and it works with the theme of my business.
thanks guys
oh, im not a disgruntled ex-employee either...i liked it there!
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Greetings,
That was a glitch in the matrix which we sent a couple of agents out after.
Second: through the blog to try out the more interesting items that would fall outwith normal support and were we can find a useful item pass it on to everyone else. It's ok we won't mess your site up , we will however let you mess up yours
Lastly. I got the same results as you. But when you say 2nd part in HTML , as you going into the content block, then selecting object and script or just pasting it in ? I'll have a look again at this later in the week but for now being able to say it 100% doesn't work though I may be inclined to go look for a script that does similar:. I'll let you know.
Regards
John
QSC Team (
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OK, So I didnt kow about the insert object---script feature. I tried that and it helped a little. At least there is now some sort of a "box"...it does not drop in though...I found another code at
http://www.huntingground.freeserve.co.uk/main/mainfram.htm?../style/scroll_down.htm
but it still doent work right.
it appears that it has to do with the "frames", or content blocks. when i insert the 2nd part of the script into the content block, then preview or publish, the box shows up in that content area, but it does not "drop in". and it is positioned at the top of that content box, not at the top of the page.
kinda a side note...i guess i cant really get into the html of the entire page huh? when i try to "view source" none of my content shows...i assume its hidden to protect WST from being copied. (hopefully it doesnt affect me with the search engines...keyword density, etc.)
so, im open to other ideas...the point is that i need an opt in box...but i dont want it to interfere with the current content...i want the reader to either opt-in, or close the box and be able to keep reading. if i put the opt-in directly on the page it doesnt have the same effect.
having these drop-ins is a well known technique for building a subscriber list...thats what im going for...
any other ideas...or ideas how to make this idea work????
thanks for the help so far....
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Aron,
Off the bat no I don't know what's happening but. I'll look at it if there's some free time this week.
Regards
John
WST blog.
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Question? Is there a forum anywhere for users of WST? I think it is a great product, but as a point-n-click web designer, there are a lot of things I just don't understand.
For example, I had used Homestead previously, and the home page was always named index.html. With godaddy the home page can be named anything. Is there a reason for using index, versus home, or something else.
Another question is in relation to mixed case addresses. I thought case did not matter on a website address, but it appears to on mine. www.surfingschool.com/Registration.html works fine, but www.surfingschool.com/registration.html does not.
Thanks, Kevin
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Greetings Kevin,
Thanks for the
Forums are indeed on my "to do " list as they are very useful at having indepth discussions that others can locate readily. I love blogs but I would really love a forum and will post this when I get one up and running.
The index , home naming is one of those items where in the context of WST it really won't make a difference what you call the main page. We're going to redirect www.surfingschool.com. Given that we manage that relationship when traditionally you had to specify one of a set of names that a server would run through when a visitor hit the main page , it realized, "ah an index page better display that " I'm trying to think of a practical problem that results with normal WST usage on that and nothing comes to mind. I'll update the answer if there's some subtlety that's been missed.
With regards to the latter the linux hosting plans are case sensitive. While you are correct that the website address itself is case insensitive , e.g everything to the right of .com can be case sensitive based on the file server the website you are calling up is using.
On an aside note. I now miss the ocean after looking at your site.
Regards
John
WST team
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John, thanks for the reply. I'm just surprised no one has started one already, given the popularity of GoDaddy in general.
In relation to the mixed case issue. The previous website someone designed had a page of www.mmsurfingschool.com/Jobs.html. mmsurfingschool is forwarded to surfingschool. Now since I created the jobs.html page with the lower case, when someone does a google search and it finds Jobs.html, i get a unknown page when they click on the link.
Is there any way to change the not found message page that Godaddy shows when a website page is not resolved, so that I can refer them to the correct page?
Thanks, Kevin
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Kevin,
Ah the obvious case I missed from sites that had existing results with a different case. The good news is that you define the 404 , or missing page behavior for the hosting account. Log into MYA , go to your WST accounts and click on open underneath hosting settings. Click on settings, then 404 settings. Here you can decide if you want a missing page to either go to your home page or go to page you define within the site. It's not smart enough of the bat to know which page was being searched for and redirect appropriately.
It can take 30 mins for this to kick in.
Regards
John
WST Team
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Excellent, exactly what i was looking for!
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