I'm doing something wrong....

[Jever]

...but I can't see what.



Hi all,



I'm new to website publishing so please assume I know nothing.



I'm stuck at home with not much work at the moment, so to fill my time, I thought I'd try updating my own website, which previously was done by someone else.



The guy who did my last website said he used Xara Magix, so I bought a copy of that and used one of their pre-made templates.



I've made a five-page website that looks great when I preview it on my computer. The problem comes when I upload it. What appears is clearly the website I wrote, the photos are there but the text grows in size and looks a complete mess.



Is there a process I should be going through before uploading to get the format right?



It looked so bad I replaced it with a blank page that had a reconstruction message on it but when I uploaded that the text disappreared and all that's left is a white sheet.



Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?



One last question: When you upload a website, does it automatically delete/replace the previous website?



Thanks in advance


Jever

[handrawn]

you will need to post here your xara WEB/XAR file - or reload your site and supply a link, otherwise it is guesswork

[Chris M]

Upload your site as you did originally and view it. If it looks funky press ctrl+F5 and see if that fixes it. If not post back here.

[Jever]

Hi,

Well this is weird, I uploaded it again and the text looks fine now.

Here it is: https://www.eyork.uk/index.htm

Is there any way I can get it to fill the entire screen instead of just being a strip down the middle?

By the way, what happens to the preceding website when you upload? Does it automatically get replaced/deleted?

Jever

[Chris M]

What happened is your browser held the old site in it's cache and displayed a mix of the new site and the one it had in it's memory. Keep ctrl+F5 in mind when you upload any edits you make in the future, it will save you being frustrated.

If, as you stated, the original site was a Xara site and the original creator stuck with default settings, then yes, the new site deletes any/all edited files and replaces with the new.

You used a template which means I'm out of the conversation as to how to edit to full screen. You can certainly do so, but my knowledge of templates is zero. Keep checking back, someone will pipe up with advice.

[Jever]

Thanks Chris, that's helpful.

[Acorn]

...but I can't see what.

Hi all,
I'm new to website publishing so please assume I know nothing.
I'm stuck at home with not much work at the moment, so to fill my time, I thought I'd try updating my own website, which previously was done by someone else.

The guy who did my last website said he used Xara Magix, so I bought a copy of that and used one of their pre-made templates.

I've made a five-page website that looks great when I preview it on my computer. The problem comes when I upload it. What appears is clearly the website I wrote, the photos are there but the text grows in size and looks a complete mess.
Is there a process I should be going through before uploading to get the format right?
It looked so bad I replaced it with a blank page that had a reconstruction message on it but when I uploaded that the text disappreared and all that's left is a white sheet.

Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?

One last question: When you upload a website, does it automatically delete/replace the previous website?

Thanks in advance Jever

Jever, you site looks fairly clean so congrats to you.
Working with a template in a new tool is not that easy right off.

Some pointers:

• The site is in need of a Favicon. Use Help for the bold phrases. I would use the red callipers in your logo (see below).
• Use a higher definition logo. It currently brings the site down. Use and import the original https://cdn.icaew.com/uh/production/...ogo__icaew.svg and type in the words.
• Lose the "Made with Xara" - you made it.
• For each page, add Page title to each.
• For each page, add Page description.
• About us page, align the "About us" to match the other pages.
• Add the mailto: hyperlink to your email.
• Consider adding a Mobile Variant.

All the best.

Acorn

[Jever]

Hi Acorn,

Some really good points there, thank you, I shall try to work through them.

I've been comparing my site to others and mine appears to be the only one that doesn't fill the screen entirely.

Do you think that makes it look a bit amateur? Strictly speaking, it is an amateur effort but I would like it to look as good as my competitors' websites.

Are there standard templates available that will overcome this? I have the content that I want to present, it's just a case of setting it out well now.

Jever

[Jever]

By the way, Acorn, how does one create a favicon? Can I do this in Xara?

Can you explain what you mean by use help for the bold phrases?

[Chris M]

A favicon is the tiny picture that shows on your browsers tab. The red and white TG is a favicon. The following works well but will ot be the only way to make one...

Create an image (Acorn suggests the red callipers) in a square 120px x 120px. Making it square is important. The TG favicon obviously isn't, which is why the bottom of the G is cut off.
With the image selected click the luggage label on the toolbar and type favicon into the Apply Name field, then click Add
Your favicon need not be on the page area so move it off if it is. I usually push mine off the top of the home page.

The 'use help for the bold phrases' means Acorn suggests using the Xara help files to give you an understanding of what the phrases mean and how to implement them.

I can't help you with templates as I have never used one.