Javascript menu - does not work on title page, but does work on other pages

Crystal Phoenix · March 21st, 2008, 12:50 PM

www.bookfest.ca
I designed this site & it worked with no problems, until I tried to mess with the pages "fading" in & out. Now, on the title page, the drop down menu from the "presenters" button on the menu does not work. It does work on all the other pages in the site. I have examined the code line by line, and it seems identical to me. Any help would be appreciated.
Also, when I validate the html, it gives me error messages about missing ALT tags - I don't know how to fix this.

Aso · March 21st, 2008, 03:48 PM

I can see the problem you're having, but can't find the issue. That's some seriously messy WYSIWYG code in there!

alt tags are required for accessible markup, used to describe images for those that have them disabled, or are unable to see them. For example;

Code:

<img src="cow.jpg" alt="A Cow" width="..." height="..." />

Crystal Phoenix · March 21st, 2008, 04:05 PM

Hmmm - thanks.
I corrected the "alts" - there were some graphics I didn't think needed alt tags but have now put them on - it now reads clear on the html validator.
Don't know how to go about cleaning up the WYSIWYG - I have (up 'til now) used mainly design view in Dreamweaver, using "code" to fix errors I couldn't find otherwise, but I'm unsure what I can "clean up" and what I shouldn't - might be why my page "messed up" in the first place. Any suggestions?

Aso · March 21st, 2008, 04:28 PM

Errm .. don't use design view!

Sorry, but the best way to have control over your code, is write your code.

Plus table layouts are considered an old fashioned technique. It might be worth checking out CSS layouts, as these make far neater code, better control and lighter, semantic markup

Head over to the CSS forum, or read up at W3Schools and Sitepoint.

Sorry, but I really can't find the root of this menu issue!

Aso · March 24th, 2008, 04:40 PM

Ok, I had a think, and this is the best I can come up with.

Put all your Javascript in an external .js file, then link to it in your HTML in the <head> like so:

Code:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.bookfest.ca/path/to/script.js"></script>

That way, every page is using the exact same javascript, and it'll be easier to deduce the problem (if it still exists).

Plus, you'll get neater lighter markup and it'll be easier to mod your Javascript in the future!