It's probably because I'm an incredible dumbass, but I think your current design is just fine. It's clean and simple, as opposed to, say, Michele's site, which is confused and messy.

Heya Ace. I can't stand the white-on-black thing, to the point where it's almost painful. I like the third option - it's easy to read and the bit of red is nice and eye-catching. The second option is a functional alternative, in my opinion. Either way, folks come to your blog because it's interesting and topical with a dash of funny, not because it's pretty to look at.

Actually, I agree with ccwbass (counter-clockwise fish?). Keeping things as is would suit me fine as well. I tend to check this place several times a day and not once have I found myself thinking "If only the site were designed different, my life would be one step closer to perfection."

The trouble is that there is no way to access the archives.

Or, rather, if you hit the archives button, you just get a string of number-codes for the entries. Not even the titles are visible.

I'm not claiming that my words must remain preserved for immortality, but I also don't want old posts simply vanishing to be never seen again. Once in while I want to reference and old post, and, the way the thing is set up now, I just can't do that.

Well, I could access old posts, but only by randomly clicking on hundreds of number-codes until I found the post I wanted. This isn't really an option now, and it will become less of an option as I post more and more posts. I can't wade through a thousand posts looking for one.

I like this design, but the archiving feature is a big one, and I really can't limp along with a site that only displays my past week of posts.

I think I didn't explain myself well enough.

I'm changing the design not to make it prettier, but so that people can actually click on my archives and see my archived posts.

As it stands now, you can't.

I agree-- looks-wise, this design is better than the alternatives. Based on looks, I'd keep this design. I like this design a lot.

My problem with it isn't aesthetic, it's one of functionality. It's just not functioning at the moment.

Try clicking on my archives button and you'll see what I mean.

Oh, and: You might say, hey, we donated, just pay for a redesign?

That's a good point, well taken, except I've already drank your donations.

But, more importantly, this is a Moveable Type site-- at the moment. Pixy Misa, the proprietor, will most likely be changing over to some other blog-program, because MT just raised all their prices substantially.

So, paying for an MT design is sort of silly, since I'll probably just get a month or two out of it.

Well, white-on-black burns my eyes. I'm with the anything-but-white-on-black crowd. Cafe Press will be coming out with the shirt soon.

Forget it. Now I can't even change it back to a default template.

I'm sorry to curse, but I hate this fucking program.

White-on-black is the bomb. It gives the best contrast on a CRT and doesn't stab my eyes with too much light.

Take advantage of the mu.nu, er, community: see if Rob at xset.mu.nu would like to help you out. He did most of the skinnage (if not all--can't remember, sorry) for www.snoozebuttondreams.com. Those may be fancier than you prefer, but I have to give Rob props for always emphasizing readability and--your chief complaint against the current design--USEability. Meaning, like, the archives actually work?

Or you could do what I did: leave the vanilla template up and wait for Sekimori to come along and offer to do you a free design. But there's a lot of luck required to pull that one off, and in the interim, a lot of looking at one ugly template.

Donation...oh, dear. Well, if you're going to drink my donations, make it a Bogle merlot. If you don't drink wine, may I recommend an Anchor Steam Liberty Ale? Excellent stuff. And you can skip having toast the next morning, too.

I'm irate about having to re-enter my info every time I comment. On the other hand, it really irked me when the search function couldn't find the Michael Moore brunchtime death spree. I really liked that post. So, fixing the site would be great. Never mind pretty, the only real plea is "don't go with the white-on-black", and I look forward to finding things when I look for them.

I updated the main message to say, "At this point, I can't switch to a default anyway."

It turns out that MT has changed its templates so that even the defaults won't work for me. I need to find old defaults or something.

Madfish Willie is going to take a look at the works this weekend, but he doesn't sound sanguine about it. It's probably far too involved a job for him to fix for free.

So I don't know what I'm going to do at this point.

Web-heads may like MT for whatever reason. But it is terrible for the casual user. I had no problem at all with the blogger software. If I changed something, I could see what effect it produced, and then I could tinker.

MT has a bunch of sub-programs or something to handle different functions, like archiving. I can't see how these different programs interact with one another.

I'm irate about having to re-enter my info every time I comment.

Join the club. The problem is that, basically, nothing at all works at the moment.

The front page works. That's it.

As annoying as that the can't-remember-me thing is, it's not an actual killer like not having access to my archives.

I've mentioned this before, but you don't need to enter your email to post anymore, so at least that will save you one line of entry. You can just write that your name is Dianna and post.

Actually, you can just omit your name, too, but then no one knows who you are.

Thanks, Ilyka.

I appreciate it, but I'm beginning to think that MT and I just aren't a very good fit.

As I just wrote to Madfish Willie, I'm more than willing to go with a vanilla design just to have my archives working, but I can't, because now MT has changed the way its templates work and I can't just cut and paste the defaults into my boxes.

Whatever design you settle on, would you please, please, PLEASE include some more cowbell?

I've got a fever (really bad) that can only be cured with MORE COWBELL.

And clean up some of that "loose shit" on the left side of the screen.

Where's Joe?

Hold on. I think I've remembered a miracle solution...

now MT has changed the way its templates work and I can't just cut and paste the defaults into my boxes

You have my sympathies there--the archive problem is why my old posts are still sitting over on journalspace. Euwww.

If you'll allow me to log in, I'd be more than happy to take a look fer ya.

Ace:

The new template situation only applies to MT 3. There are still lots of sites out there that have the default templates for the 2.6 version MuNu's using. Otherwise, I can simply send you a copy of mine. If you want more info, drop me an email.

Just so we're clear on terminology here. The template is a page of code that determines what content appears on your page. The Stylesheet is a different page of code that determines how that content is displayed... # of columns, colours, fonts etc. You can make many different changes to the stylesheet, without there being any change to the template. Think of the template as being what words appear on the page, and the stylesheet as being how the words look.

Now, unfortunately, the person who created your design did not follow currently accepted best practices, and has included the stylesheet information on the same page as the template, instead of creating 2 seperate pages. it is perfectly possible split those 2 parts out, so style changes can be easily made without affecting the template. Or, as you say, you could just continue with minor tweaks until MuNu switches blogging software.

But as for the deal breaker - the functionality problem - here's the scoop on your archives situation, from what I see.

MT uses a different template for each type of page on your site. Your index template is for the main page. It's fine, though if you want to change it, see above. (I say again... the change in default templates in the new MT need have no effect on you. You could change to a new template with little difficulty)

The template for your daily archive is also fine. That's the archive page you see when you click on a permalink. So the permalink sends the browser to the daily archive template, which then uses its coding (tags) to pull the proper information out of the storage file of posts (the database) to display them.

When you click on your Archive link in your sidebar, the browser is sent to your monthly archive template. Except it looks like you don't have one. ie: You don't have a template with the code (tags) necessary to pull data onto the page in a way the reader can use. Instead, what you're seeing when you click on that link is the actual contents of the folder on the server (just like a folder on your hard drive) listing the files by name (MT uses #'s to name the files). So, unless I miss my guess, all you need to regain archive functionality is to install a new monthly archive template in your MT control panel. (I know, easier said than done)

If you know what to look for, it's not hard to do. I'd be perfectly willing to have a look to make sure my supposition is correct (it's also entirely possible I'm off base here, as I have no idea how your current design is currently structured) and also to install a replacement archive template for you if that indeed turns out to be the problem.

I don't want to get in the way if MadFish is able to help you out, but I'm around tonight, and available different times most of the weekend if you want to get in touch.

I'm a recent arrival at MuNu, but have been helping Stevie at caughtintheXfire with her setup for some time now, She can certainly vouch for me if you'd like to make sure I'm not some blog saboteur!

Drop me an email if you want more info, or if you want me have a go at it for ya.

Paul

PS. It wouldn't be fair not to tell you... the code for this design is absolutely awful. You really would be better off just dumping it and replacing it with a more standards-compliant one that would be easy to tweak to share the same visual appeal as this one. As your other readers are saying... functional trumps pretty every time. I'll help you with the change over if you want me to, and if/when you're ready.

Emma,

Thanks for the offer. I've made you an author on the web, with the ability to view & change the templates.

You may view and change stuff if you like, but I don't know if it will be necessary. See the next post.

Light and Dark,

Thanks for the advice. I'm barely able to follow what you're saying, except for one thing: You say something seems missing. That's what I think, too.

Actually, when I go to my template page, one entire line of the template is just missing.

When I go down to the Archive-Related Templates, past the main index templates and such, there is a blank line, and then "Category Archive," and then "Date-Based Archive," and then "Individual Entry Archive."

Am I supposed to have a fourth line there (actually, the first line)? If so, how the heck can I get that back?

Emma & Paul,

With both of you offering help, I'm eager to accept help from either of you, but I don't want to ask both of you to help. I don't want to waste both of your time, when I could only waste one person's time.

So, I guess, I'm asking: Which of you is less dreading helping me?

I have a couple of ways I can go at the moment.

One thing is I have to get back that "missing line" I mentioned to Paul. I don't know how to do that. Maybe you do.

The other thing is that Blogo Slovo uses the exact same template as me -- Maystar's Gunsmoke -- and has no problems with it. I just asked him to send me copies of his templates. I figure that, if I load his templates (tweaked for me), then things should be spiffy.

But I'm not necessarily attached to that idea. It seems like it could and should work, but if the template is a mess, then maybe it would be better to start clean.

I think that maybe I should just load some of the default stuff and then tweak it. I like the colors & fonts and the like from Maystar's design. It should't be that tough to simply take a default template and put that sort of thing in, right?

Let me know your advice.

Thanks,

Ace

Here's Blogo Slovo's site, by the way. See? Same darn design (except he's made a few minor changes), and yet everything seems to work for him just fine.

Ace:

I'm quite happy to help, as I know is Emma. I think you're gonna have to make the call! Although 2 sets of eyes is always a good thing when 'bug-catching'.

You're exactly right about going to a default & then tweaking it with the visual style of this one, and that would be my recommendation.

However, in light of the current archives problem, my advice would be to deal with your readers' useability issue first. The design is not a problem for the reader, so focus on the archive template problem first, then you can toss around choices about the design later. (Note that the existing setup can easily be saved, then changed to something else. If you don't liket the change, you can always come back to this setup.)

You'll need a proper archive template whatever design decision you make, so it's not like it's wasted effort to fix it, even if you switch to a new design later.

That said, if you're willing to set me access to your templates as well, I can have a look, and report back. If Emma does the same, we can compare notes. I won't make any changes without checking in with you first.

I've downloaded a copy of the original template from Maystar. If you can also email me the templates that BlogoSlovo sent you, I can look for the differences that might explain why his is working & yours isn't.

Please email me to let me know what you decide.

Paul

Heh. A dilemma.

To untie Paul and let him work his magic on the blog? Or to. ..

Paul, I think that you're probably the best man for the job -- and I'll remain like a infomercial operator -- standing by, that is -- just in case.

What say you, gentlemen?

Geezus. I just took a look at your templates - and I wouldn't have gone with that design simply because of the strident disclaimer by the "designer". Crimony. I know it was like, um, you know, WORK to do it, but holy Moses, that "disclaimer" is very off-putting.

I like the design, it's functional, but the comments section sucks balls, you need to add some lines or something seperating each comment. They all kinda blend together making it very unpleasent to read.

Paul,

I gave "PaulT" permission to change my templates. I think that's you, right? That's the name on your site.

Whatever you can do, I'd appreciate it.

Again, I think that it would be much easier for me to change a proper template to look a bit like Maystar's than to adapt Maystar's.

Especially if you'd be willing to help, and when I say "help," I really only mean help in the sense that I'd just need to ask you the occasional question. I can see, basically, where thing like color and font-type go in the design. I'd do all that stuff, I'd just want to ask you questions about why things aren't working or how to get them to work like I want.

So, that's probably the way to go, I think.

Emma,

Thanks for helping. I need a Ken Mattingly on this mission.

Paul,

Actually, your design, as simple as it is, is pretty classy. (I think that was the original design here, too.)

Yep. White on black sucks, but I'd be lying if I said the resultant migraine would stop me from coming here a few times a day. Good luck. Sounds like you've got help offers from some pretty swell people there.

Simplest is best.

Emma:

You're not kidding about that disclaimer! I couldn't believe it when I read it either. it'll be great to have you looking over my shoulder, just in case.

Ace: I'll have a look at the archive situation right now. And I'd be happy to help you work through upgrading to a standardised template & stylesheet too. I have a couple of really nice little tricks for learning to do that. Do you happen to use Mozilla or Firefox browser?

Damn, I love it when a plan comes together.

Archives are fixed, Ace.

I did some squirelling around just to familiarise myself with your setup too. If you are on YIM or MSN Messenger, it would be great to be able to chat for a bit about how you'd like to tackle the next steps.

My Yahoo id is gazettephoto1 and MSN is the same email address as I post with here.

Either that or send be an email letting me know when you'd like to work on it, and whether you'd like me to just change you over to a new starting point, getting you close to the Maystar setup and then helping with the ongoing tweaks.

There are a number of useability improvemnets & customisations you might like to make too... that's why a chance to talk first would be great.

Paul

Whoo-hoo! Nice!

Thanks, Paul. It's great. What a relief.

I'm dowloading YIM.

Oh come on! Not one other person like's white on black? Sheesh.

I like white text on black backgrounds. But since folks might actually want to read the drivel I post, I refrain from using it. Actually, I like whitish-gray text on a dark blue background (sorta like MamaMontezz) but apparently, I am in the minority.

P.S. For Paul: breathing in your hear - looking over your shoulder -- same diff. Heh.

If anyone needs any help, e-mail me at emma [at] missaprops [dot] mu [dot] nu; I'm going to be sitting in front of this contraption for most of the night, working. Bleh.

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