I'm looking to build a website. I don't have much experience in this area but feel like I might be able to handle one of the builders currently available. However, I'm not sure if there's anything that fits my needs. The end goal is to have a site where dog owners who have had DNA tests performed on their pets can upload pictures along with the results of the test. I think a simple wiki could handle this. However, I'd like to incorporate these features:
1) A list of dog breeds that can be searched in any combination. (Bonus points if the breeds can be weighted in the search. e.g. I want to find all dogs that are 1/2 or more Labrador Retriever with some amount of Rat Terrier...)
2) For any specific dog, a single-click search for the closest matches in the database.
3) Ultimately, I'd like all dogs to have a single-click search to a site such as Petfinder, pulling up adoptable animals that match the breed of the chosen dog. (This can come later...)
Does anyone have any idea where to start with something like this? I know there must be software templates for this sort of thing out there, but it's hard for me to really grasp the possibilities of most options I've checked out.
Well, all I can give advice about is that you shouldn't use flashy colors. For example, if you go with a blue background, don't go with a flashy blue, go with something that's easy on the eyes. Also, find a good host for your website and a good domain name. You can actually find them for pretty much nothing in cost (cause yeah, you have to pay for such services). You will also want to factor in that you will need donations and publicities to help support your website.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Casual crazy magic player, otaku maniac, unrully cosplayer, what did you expect me to be?
No amount of good CSS will compensate for shoddy HTML. Basically, if you can get the code done well either through templating or hiring someone or doing it yourself, then CSS will be a non issue. You could use a search code and apply tags to each page and when you search for something, have it pull up the page with the most relevant tags. That is a relatively simple way to do it.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I am disillusioned enough to know that no man's opinion on any subject is worth a damn unless backed up with enough genuine information to make him really know what he's talking about."
-H. P. Lovecraft
There are a few things that you need to consider. Are you willing to spend? Will you be buying your own domain? You're also going to have to pay for hosting.
I would suggest going with WordPress if you're not very experienced. Even then, many experienced web developers still go with WordPress because it is user friendly and the community is very helpful. Just about any problem you encounter will have a solution in the WordPress codex. Any more questions, just ask. I have built a number of sites using WordPress.
Many thanks to all of you who have replied here! I'm taking in all the advice I can and will post here when the site is running. I've managed to enlist some help from a more experienced computer user, have the domain, and should be running before TOO long...
I'm looking to build a website. I don't have much experience in this area but feel like I might be able to handle one of the builders currently available. However, I'm not sure if there's anything that fits my needs. The end goal is to have a site where dog owners who have had DNA tests performed on their pets can upload pictures along with the results of the test. I think a simple wiki could handle this. However, I'd like to incorporate these features:
1) A list of dog breeds that can be searched in any combination. (Bonus points if the breeds can be weighted in the search. e.g. I want to find all dogs that are 1/2 or more Labrador Retriever with some amount of Rat Terrier...)
2) For any specific dog, a single-click search for the closest matches in the database.
3) Ultimately, I'd like all dogs to have a single-click search to a site such as Petfinder, pulling up adoptable animals that match the breed of the chosen dog. (This can come later...)
Does anyone have any idea where to start with something like this? I know there must be software templates for this sort of thing out there, but it's hard for me to really grasp the possibilities of most options I've checked out.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!
"I am disillusioned enough to know that no man's opinion on any subject is worth a damn unless backed up with enough genuine information to make him really know what he's talking about."
-H. P. Lovecraft
I would suggest going with WordPress if you're not very experienced. Even then, many experienced web developers still go with WordPress because it is user friendly and the community is very helpful. Just about any problem you encounter will have a solution in the WordPress codex. Any more questions, just ask. I have built a number of sites using WordPress.