In 2004 we were *trying* to manage a fairly large, by local standards, web-portal using Dreamweaver - and we were struggling.

By July-August 2004, with no prior CMS/php/MySQL experience, I was asking questions like “Can EE work for me” and trying to figure out
how I could structure EE to work as a CMS with many external content contributors. I realized that what I wanted to build was effectively a “virtual news-room” with the ability for controled content submission and editing - all pumping into a CMS.

After 5 months, and heaps of help from the likes of LisaJill, Nevin@pMh, Chris, Rick, Julie@pMh, Paul, other pM staff, and many EE forum users, we took a leap and launched our new site ‘ as is ‘:

CoastView.com.au

It’s a constant and continual work in progress but we are over-the-moon with what EE allows us to do, users seem happy ( we have had over 100 new members in the first week ), and we can’t wait to add more EE functionality - like switching to the Gallery module and whatever comes next from pM.

One of our goals for this year is to improve the site design (this was our first attempt at CSS) to make it look “slick-but-simple”.

Any comments, critiques, bugs, errors, scorn, or praise is all appreciated!

Peace and thanks from the shores of the Southern Ocean,

Thomas - “SurfTasmania”

----- PS: Here’s our standard “About” blurb --------

The CoastView web site is a venture managed by CoastView Enterprises, a registered partnership in the state of Tasmania, Australia.

Given Tasmania is an island, the coastal and marine environment plays a significant role the day to day lives of most Tasmanians. The CoastView venture and web site is dedicated to coastal business, sport, recreation and research within the state of Tasmania.

At present CoastView is focused on providing free information services to the general public, marketing services to corporate interests , and scientific, technical, creative and media services for Tasmanian businesses, communities, recreational groups, government departments, and non-profit organizations.

The CoastView Team has professional skills in law, IT management, marine science, photography, immersive imaging, film, digital media, web design, and content management systems. We also actively participate in sailing, swimming, surfing, paddling, fishing, diving, boating, and exploring the beautiful Tasmanian coast, lakes, and wilderness.
--------------------------------------------

Sweet! I’m an Australian living in the UK and I love getting a slice of home. Yours is the third EE site which has given me just that. Thanks.

I have only 4 comments, 3 of which are purely for cosmetic reason.

1. You have a default black border for the images on your front page which is fine but it gives some of the images a border when its not appropriate. eg: the firefox button and images with drop shadows. Might also be the case on secondary pages too. Not sure.

2. Images that are also links show the link hover state when you hover over them (I’m on a Mac with Firefox 1.0) , that is, you get a background of the link hover color at the bottom of the image when you hover over the image.

3. More whitespace please. I can see you have a lot of content to squeeze in but a bit more vertical whitespace between some of those center column elements would make it a little easier to negotiate.

4. I want some more panoramas! Can Thomas Moore share what kit/software he uses for his panoramas? Just interested as I am delving into that art at the moment with mixed results.

Generally, great job.

Tim . . .no wukkas mate!

Thanks for your comments!

Believe me I want to do some serious “cosmetic surgery” - I knew nothing of CSS only a few weeks ago.  There was serious pressure to “just get the new site up damn-it” and so I got the site to “kinda ok” and away we launched.

(1) Yes! Already on my list - In most cases the image outline gave me an effect I was looking for BUT I do wish to “turn it off” for certain images and the smileys - how bad the smileys look with this border!

(2) Basically a ditto of above - wish I could and will eventually “turn it off” for the images.

(3) Ditto again. I’d like to be better able to control the vertical whitespace in CSS and I am still learning how . . . I stumble forward with a mixture of br’s and paragraphs and whatever seems to work!

(4) I’m working on the panorama gallery - if only the Gallery dealt with Quicktime files!

You can go here:

My WWP Sept 2004 entry

to see a rundown of my tools and software.

Thanks again Tim for your input - I do plan to improve the design sooner than later - as Queen Elizabeth I said “ All my possessions for a moment in time. “ . . .

I agree with Tim’s comment on the whitespace—it is a bit crowded.

Very nice, though.  Makes me want to visit your beautiful country!! 

Charles . . .

Thank you for taking the time to comment.

We can’t wait to have the chance to improve the design and your comments will help.

Please do come to Tasmania - a truely magic place.

We were in Tasmania March last year as part of my year trip around Australia in a Motorhome.

As we were in Perth we got an offer for our Motorhome from an Irish couple in Tasmania who’s been living there for more than 25 years. So we decided to travel the 3.000 Kms+ from Perth to Tasmania. It was actually not planned for us to go Tasmania.

We were so happy we went there, we stayed there for 10 days an travel around the Island. 
Amazing place, Hobart, Cradle Mountain, Glass Bay....so many memories…

It’s amazing that only 3% of the tourist who visit Australia go to Tasmania...mmm....and we were about to be part of the 97%...happily we weren’t

Cheers
Mario
www.livemyadventure.com