Site Information
Details of how this site was made, principles and who was involved.
Project management, technical work and design by Eoin Houston. He hand coded XHTML, CSS and PHP. The site also utilises Google Webmaster Central and Apache HTTP Server directives to smooth transition from the old site and provide a search facility. Coding, writing copy and image preparation almost exclusivly done utilising Ubuntu and Gentoo Linux workstations. Specifically KATE, OpenOffice and GIMP.
A Rough Chronology
- Inception and first working example produced October 2007.
- Basic design and layout formulated with advice from Grant Kinburgh, March 2008.
- June of that year site structure and sections formulated by Eoin, Malcolm Bruce and David Drury.
- Following Highland Show and Farm Fun Day the first copy of text written through September and October by Malcolm.
- Mid October Emma Burnett and Jo Pritchard assess general design within existing framework. Watermark graphic in top banner devised by them. Jo goes on to select and provide many photographs.
- David writes General Manager's opening text.
- Into November Steve Boyd re-writes much of the content specific to the Out of Bounds Project and the Pet Lodge.
- Katy Mowat comes on board to deliver PR and devise site launch.
- Site goes live to public 24th and then officially launched Wednesday 26th Novermber 2008.
- Through December XML sitemap produced by Eoin.
- Google custom search incorporated.
- January 2009 saw CSS rounded boxes introduced (Firefox and IE7+ only).
- Built webserver on the farm and moved website from Easyspace in-house, 11thFebruary.
- Webcam trial begun. Used to support animal welfare and for public interest.
- Online sponsorship / feedback mechanism developed.
- Implemented page translation using Google Translate.
This site has been in existence for 610 days.
