Technical Stuff.

I've been asked how this site is put together, the short answer is that I don't know, not the detail that is. The truth is that I leave it to a software program called WebStudio. This means that whilst I have learned how to operate that program I'm still struggling with html codes or whatever the number thingies are called, so if you come across odd happenings, it's probable down to me, rather than the tools that I'm using. After all I'm a photographer first and foremost; what's that I hear you say, I should stick to programing!

Of greater certainty is the operating system that I test the finished job on. I have two PC's, one operating on MS Windows 2000, and the other on Windows XP, nothing to choose between them really. I note that you folks out there in the ether of the World Wide Web are using all the versions of Windows from 95 upwards. Nobody has tried to log on with Windows 3.1. though. Yet!

The discerning among you are of course using Macs as one would expect from the photographic community. I suppose I should buy one just to test this site on, a G5 maybe? I shall put a brace on my birthday wish list.

The most popular browser in use is Internet Explorer 6.0 as anticipated. A fair number of you are still using versions 5 and 5.5. I wonder why, since the upgrade is free. Maybe you are sensibly working on the "don't fix it until it's broke" principle.

Of the other browsers in use only Opera and Mozilla feature to any great degree, so I have installed both to test run the site. Opera 7.23 and Mozilla 1.5 are the versions that I have. Both manage to scramble text that I.E. copes with. Possibly because the text is prepared on another MicroSoft program, M.S. Office. However now that I am aware of the problem I know what to avoid. I'm beginning to appreciate some of the features of both these alternate browsers, developing a slight preference for Mozilla, maybe because it's free.

The Internet Service Provider who is kindly taking my money to host this site on their server, answers to the name of Abel Gratis, a very helpful clan located somewhere in Scotland, Edinburgh I believe.

I'm fortunate in having a Broadband ASDL permanent connection to the internet. The result is that it is relatively quick to up-load new data, and download this site. However I am conscious of the much greater time that it takes to download over a 56k telephone line, but have taken the decision that the images displayed here must be of a reasonable size and quality. I do try and ensure that each page will download in less than 20 seconds, but this will depend on traffic load. It does mean that some of you will suffer from slower downloads, a fact for which I can offer no solution, other than to go Broadband wherever possible. Commiserations if that isn't an option.

Dave Miller