Basic/important questions for new user: links, surrounding areas, page width..

[jseville]

1) in iframing a form in for reuquesting an online CMA, I noticed how narrow the page is for our template. I don't necess. mind this and fit it without it looking too bad (an achievement for someone as nontechnical as myself), but my question is why is the page width on the template so narrow--does it matter to page rankings and seo somehow???

2) how do I work on the "surrounding areas" links in the master border. I only seem to be able to edit the main navigation links or add pages within the the main navigation links? (disclaimer--this question was brought up in the form but the REW rep said to text message him directly at the time so there was no answer I could find)

3) I have lots of links to add--some internal and some external. I noticed all the links allowed/provided for on the editing form are for EXTERNAL links. Are internal links just done using the same form as well?

4) all the links coming to me--a couple hundred are coming to my html pages or my http://JustNewListings.com main page. How do I keep my URLs in html format?

5) Can I tell you the links page of the current online version of my site that contains my link partners and have you manipulate the source/html to fit on the new links page for my template construction? I see the source for the page, my concern is the whole margins, fonts, colors issues.

That's it for now and am very excited. If any answers are avail. I'd like to get this hammered out for the most part this weekend so it can be unveiled next week.

http://dev5.rewdev.com/ is the site we're talking about.

[webmaster]

1. We optimize for 800*600 so the width is important from a usibility issue, that being said, I think there is to much space on the right hand side of the template (This is Moriah's first) so I will have her extend that. Also I can give you a non navbar version for iframing your IDX and your CMA - I will have to show Moriah how to do this, but it will work much better, send me a PM on monday to remind me and I'll take care of it.

2. Surrounding Areas Links - Create your pages with area-real-estate as the name of the pages and click "hide" - then let your designer know what pages go in that area, and they will hook up the links to the pages via ftp. They need to be hardcoded.

3. Actually it is not just for external links, if you highlight the text or want to create a link in the nav (For internal links) simply use a forward slash like this / and then write the link address like so /filename.html and it will link internally. External just put in the full URL as normal.

4. By default the CMS creates .php pages - if you want the extension to be .html just let your programmer know and he will make them all .html using mod_rewrite

5. You should remove all formatting of the link partners on your pages (using notepad) then just copy paste the html using the html version.

Hope that helps

[judyo]

I, too, have requested my VOW to be created on a different page as it doesn't fit without scrolling & you can't see the entire page on my site as it now stands. This was a while ago so if someone could take care of this for me I'd really appreciate it.

[webmaster]

Got you both in the queue - it might take a couple of days because we are super swamped but I will ensure this gets done as soon as possible

[Aaron]

Hi Judy, sorry for the delay. I have made the wider template for you mls search page.

http://www.cook-county-real-estate.net/MLSsearch.html

[judyo]

Thanks Aaron. Much better!

[jseville]

Still having trouble w/ the template system for creating internal links.



Ex. I want each of the bullets on the home page to link to the appropriate pages.

· Fairfax county real estate

· Prince William county real estate

· Etc.



So I highlight the “Fairfax county real estate” text, then I click on main navigation link, then I enter the URL using forward slash and php. Then I go view the site and “Fairfax county real estate” is not in link form and I have a new navigation button on the button where I never wanted one. I just wanted to link the text “Fairfax county real estate” to the right page…not create a new navigation button.



So what’s the appropriate process for linking text internally--not for creating new navigation buttons.



jay

[Aaron]

Hi Jay, When Adding Internal links within your content in the Content Management System. Simply Highlight the text that you want to create a link with. Then click the little icon that looks like a chain, on the toolbar of the editor. A small window will pop-up. Enter your link in the same format.
/filename.php

I think the problem might have been that your clicking the "Add Main Nav Link" button, which will add an external link to the Main Navigation.

Aaron

[jseville]

Thanks!