Works best with Javascript enabled

[Colin, Germany]

When I go to the Enfield Town Football Club site, using http://www.etfc.co.uk/ all I get is a page telling me that 'This site works best with Javascript enabled'. There is also a link to validator.w3.org but nothing else. There is no link to http://www.etfc.co.uk/index.php unless I turn Javascript on. Because I have been told many times how dangerous it is to surf the net with Javascript enabled, I normally keep it disabled, enabling it temporarily when I am feeling adventurous. Until recently, the site worked with Javascript disabled, but worked better with Javascript enabled. I think the site would be better if:

 

either

the text were changed to reflect the fact that the site no longer works at all with Javascript disabled,

 

or

a the two links were also available to people like myself who normally access the site with Javascript disabled.

[lovely stuff]

PM Cyclops.He runs the ETFC website,and he's a tech wizard.I'm sure he'll be able to answer your question.

[Cyclops]

Colin,

 

The quick answer to this one is it is almost certainly a browser problem because there is "<noscript>" code for browsers which don't support javascript or have that support turned off, and your browser should be able to read that. I have now added text links as well which you should see. If you are still having a problem send me another PM and I will see if I can put this right.

 

I don't know what browser you are using. Most people are using Internet Explorer which does not conform fully to industry standards. In fact Microsoft are playing catch-up all the time because it has only just recently started supporting tabs and as far as I am aware still does not support alternate style sheets. The other thing about IE is that there seem to be loads of different versions and if you are using this at work your company's IT people may well have hacked it about a bit so that certain things don't work (usually to do with javascript, Java or Flash).

 

The code on the opening screen of our web site is validated HTML 4.01 Transitional. The rest of the site is validated XHTML 1.0 Transitional.

 

All the javascript in the front page does is show different "splash screens" so you don't always see the same graphic every time. There is a fixed graphic in the "<noscript>" code for people who don't have javascript enabled. I have tested that in a number of browsers (Firefox, Konqueror, Opera, Epiphany and Galeon) and it worked OK with javascript support switched off. In the main site if you don't have javascript enabled then you won't be able to change the style sheet unless you are using something like Firefox or Konqueror which supports alternate style sheets and you won't see the generated list of forthcoming fixtures on the home page.

 

While javascript can make a system more open to abuse by a third party, there are so many other ways people can do that these days. If you are running Windows you are far more likely to pick up viruses and spyware from what are still known as "Word macro viruses" but can affect anything in Microsoft Office and quite often Outlook Express as well.

 

Not being a Windows user I can only suggest you make sure you are running a good set of anti-virus and anti-spyware software. AVG has been suggested by others in the past for anti-virus and can be used in conjunction with programs such as AdAware and SpyBot. You should really ensure you have a robust firewall as well and, if possible, only use your computer as a "user" rather than "systems administrator" (which is I believe the Windows default on most of their systems) unless you are installing any software. Anyone who has used Linux in the past, such as yourself, will understand that concept and it appears even Microsoft have woken up to it being a good idea for home users with Vista.

 

Another good idea is to make sure that your system is on one "drive" (whether physically or by partitioning a physical unit) and then have your data on separate a "drive". Again, Linux users will be familiar with this concept, having the specific mount point "/home". If you do that and at some point have to do a reinstall of your OS, you just make sure you don't format the data partition/drive/mount point and you won't lose anything. You might have to use "expert" options to do that.

 

These days some versions of Linux (certainly SuSE and PCLinux) will automatically detect where you already have user space and allow you to have ownership and all the permissions which go with that if you decide to do a full install rather than an upgrade but don't format the "/home" mount point. And don't forget, most viruses are aimed at Windows users, which is another reason other systems such as Linux, OSX, FreeBSD, etc. are safer.

 

Phil.

[The Invisible Man]

I love it when he talks dirty.

[Colin, Germany]

Originally Posted By: Cyclops

... I have now added text links as well which you should see. If you are still having a problem send me another PM and I will see if I can put this right.

I can see the text links, and they are working perfectly. Thank you, Phil.

Originally Posted By: Cyclops

I don't know what browser you are using.

On my laptop, I am normally using Firefox, but I use Internet Explorer for a few sites which do not work with Firefox. I also use the NoScript plugin for Firefox.

Originally Posted By: Cyclops

In the main site if you don't have javascript enabled then you won't be able to change the style sheet unless you are using something like Firefox or Konqueror which supports alternate style sheets and you won't see the generated list of forthcoming fixtures on the home page.

I can change style sheets in Firefox using the 'Page style' in the 'View' menu. I cannot see the generated list of the next few fixtures, but I can see all the fixtures via a link on the home page.

Originally Posted By: Cyclops

While javascript can make a system more open to abuse by a third party, there are so many other ways people can do that these days. If you are running Windows you are far more likely to pick up viruses and spyware from what are still known as "Word macro viruses" but can affect anything in Microsoft Office and quite often Outlook Express as well.

The company I work for uses Microsoft Windows as a standard, and I need to use Microsoft Office, too. I even have to allow macros for many of my spreadsheet documents. However, I do not use Outlook Express.

Originally Posted By: Cyclops

Anyone who has used Linux in the past, such as yourself, will understand that concept and it appears even Microsoft have woken up to it being a good idea for home users with Vista.

...

And don't forget, most viruses are aimed at Windows users, which is another reason other systems such as Linux, OSX, FreeBSD, etc. are safer.

I hope I can soon start using Linux again.

Thank you once again for yet another improvement to the Enfield Town website.

[Gazza]

Originally Posted By: Cyclops

...The code on the opening screen of our web site is validated HTML 4.01 Transitional. The rest of the site is validated XHTML 1.0 Transitional.

All the javascript in the front page does is show different "splash screens" so you don't always see the same graphic every time. There is a fixed graphic in the "<noscript>" code for people who don't have javascript enabled. I have tested that in a number of browsers (Firefox, Konqueror, Opera, Epiphany and Galeon) and it worked OK with javascript support switched off. In the main site if you don't have javascript enabled then you won't be able to change the style sheet unless you are using something like Firefox or Konqueror which supports alternate style sheets and you won't see the generated list of forthcoming fixtures on the home page...

That CSE I got back in 1980 seems worthless all of a sudden!

[Steph]

Well if you only got grade e in sociology what do you expect.

[Gazza]

Never did sociology.........always wanted to live in the real world!!

[Mr Happy]

So what happened then??!!

[Cyclops]

Colin,

 

I rarely read the forums so if you need to tell me anything a PM is better because I get e-mailed to say the message is waiting for me.

 

Phil.