Simon Dvorak.com

I’ve figured out the DOM drop down menu problem. Quite simple actually. The final script size is under 2K! I’ll add a tutorial to the tips section.

Today I’ve been working to replace the dropdown menus on the Village RV site. I originally created them with Fireworks. If you’ve ever taken a look at that script you know what a monster it is (32K!). However, it is very cross browser compliant

Fortunately, there is an alternative over at gazingus.org. There is an example there of using lists for drop down menus. The script is MUCH smaller and works with browsers that support the DOM. Since I already have hub pages setup that contain links to the pages listed on the drop down menus, other non-DOM capable browsers will still be able to navigate the site.

Seems perfect, right? Almost. The script at gazingus.org uses an onClick event handler to initially show the menus and then hide them again if desired. I have altered it somewhat so that they appear on the first mouseover event. All fine and dandy. However, they never go away. I have tried adding a onmouseout event function but I’m getting hung up on a detail.

If anyone has any ideas on how to add this functionality, I’d love to know!

Well, turns out there are some problems with the Flash method I cited below…Works 99% of the time in Internet Explorer due to conflicts with old ActiveX conflicts and the object tag. I’ll post what I’ve discovered in the tips section.

Meanwhile…I’ve finished Zeldman’s book. GREAT! I’m starting over from the beginning. It’s not only very instructive…it’s fun!

Also, I’ve got the base layout up for Beat Generation.com, DJ JW’s music community site. Will be adding content like music sample and such in the days to come. Check it out!

Today is a GREAT day! While over at Alistapart I stumbled upon Drew McLellan’s article Flash Satay: Embedding Flash While Supporting Standards. If you have ever or will ever embed a Flash animation into a webpage…READ THIS ARTICLE.

Basically, it explains how to use the object tag to not only put the flash animation into your page, but to also display alternate content, such as an image, for those that con’t open the object type…without Javascript! Simply amazing.

I finally made it to the bookstore today and picked up Jeffrey Zeldman’s Designing with Web Standards. So far it is every bit as incredible as I have heard!