EvoBloggito

Keeping Safari (and Chrome) Hacks Out of Your Stylesheets

Author: Ray Gulick; Published: Jan 13, 2010; Category: CSS, Design/Development, PHP for Designers; Tags: CSS, Design/Development, PHP for Designers; 21 Comments

Although I design and develop on a Mac Powerbook, I mostly ignore Safari for two reasons:

1. Safari is about as standards compliant as browsers get, so it rarely needs any special attention.
2. Safari is used on fewer than 4% of all computers (and it seems to have peaked).

I use Firefox almost exclusively (although I’m now experimenting with Chrome for Mac), because it’s very standards compliant, and it gives me about 99% of the same results as a PC version of Firefox. Using FF in my development process means I have the biggest browser covered (that’s right, FF has over 46% of the market, with IE6-IE8 combining for just over 37%). I use crossbrowsertesting.com to hunt for problems in IE. Ideally, I want my work to look the same in all browsers (but I’ll settle for “close” in IE6).

That said, I try to keep in mind an old saying in the web design business: The most important browser to develop for is the browser on your client’s screen. One of my clients is an ad agency, and they are completely tied to Safari (I’m pretty sure they’ve heard of Firefox, but…). So, looking good in Safari is a priority on their projects. Rarely is there a need for a hack, but occasionally it happens.

There seems to be only one reliable CSS-only way to target Safari (incidentally, it also targets Chrome, which has almost 3x as many users), outlined way back in 2007 by Dustin Brewer. You can put this in your style sheet to enclose Safari-targeted rules:

@media screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio:0) {
/* Safari 3.0 and Chrome rules here */
}

But then you have a hack in your style sheet. I find it’s easier to maintain (and find) hacks by putting them into a different file, and your basic style sheet is more likely to validate. I experimented with using the above selector in the header to point to a different stylesheet, but had some issues (don’t remember now what they were). Finally, I settled on putting the following in the header, following the basic style sheet link:

<style type="text/css" media="@media screen and
     (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio:0)">
     <––
     <?php include("includes/safariCSS.php"); ?>
     ––>
</style>

This displays the contents of an include file, displaying CSS rules in the header as an "internal style sheet." The contents of the php include file consists of CSS rules, but is not a CSS document. Internal style sheets in the header are usually to be avoided due to maintenance and consistency issues, but by using an include, the Safari CSS for all pages is editable in one file.

By the way, the CSS rules from the include appear in the header for all browsers, but the “@media…” statement means all but Safari and Chrome ignore the styles. Given that I’ve done websites with some extremely complex CSS and only needed 2-3 rules targeting Safari, I don’t think this approach risks adding much overhead.

View a Demo | Download Demo Files

Server Side Scripting Reminder: Because the include is PHP, which renders on the server, the files will not work locally on your computer. To see the results of your experiments, upload the files to a server that supports PHP.

I’d Like to Say Nice Things About HostGator’s Support, but…

Author: Ray Gulick; Published: Jan 7, 2010; Category: Business, Marketing; Tags: HostGator, Support, Webhosting; 4 Comments

Update 2/4/2010: I had reason for some support help from HostGator, so I tried out their chat support. It’s an entirely different experience. Dedicated attention from a single support tech who stays with you until the problem is resolved. The result? The problem was resolved quickly and efficiently.

Update 1/8/2010: when I returned to HG’s contact page this morning (still not resolved and I need to get beyond the ticket system), I noted that the email addresses did carry the instruction to "submit a ticket by emailing us." Like most people, when I want help, I tend not to see the details but go straight to the info that looks like it will get me help, without reading (or even seeing) the supplementary info: when I see an "Email Us" heading, I expect the process to act like email. There is a usability lesson in that for me as a web developer/information architect.

This is not the first time I have complained in my blog about Hostgator’s support ticket system. Last time, a nice person from HG even responded to that post, but nothing in the system has changed since then, so nice responses that seem to offer understanding don’t amount to much.

On HG’s behalf, let me say they are very reliable, and I don’t have more support issues than I’ve experienced with other webhosts. I’m just not happy with their support system and/or processes, and probably all that can be traced to whoever is managing their support function.

What’s the issue? HG seems to have a single support channel: a ticket system. And no way around it when it does not fit the need. Here’s the story:

4:28pm: I submit a ticket on a problem with a hosted site after spending half an hour trying to determine for myself what the problem might be and what I need to do to fix it.

4:35pm: Representative A responds and requests more info.

4:41pm: I respond with requested info.

5:36pm: (note increased time) Representative B responds with partial fix and partial explanation.

5:39pm: I respond with questions to clarify what happened.

5:43pm: After noticing that some problems remain, I respond outlining remaining problems.

7:38pm: (that was one long dinner break) Representative C responds with additional partial fix, but no requested explanation.

7:42pm: I respond with remaining issues that are apparent.

7:59pm: I share repeated error that has been showing up in error logs.

9:28pm: I’m still waiting…

(Note: times are in HG’s time zone, an hour ahead of mine)

Does anyone besides me see a problem here with lack of continuity in HG’s support responses, both in terms of time and personnel? Anyway, I see such a problem, so I decided to go to HG’s website and send an email to the support contact email, with a little "constructive critcism." Copied from my email:

I’m a fan of Hostgator. I currently host a few dozen websites on Hostgator. I spend a fair amount of time telling my clients how reliable and rocksolid Hostgator is.

But that may have to change, because HG does not have its support act together. At this point, I have several support issues behind me, and the record shows this is the usual experience:

1. submit support ticket to the support dept
2. receive first response in approx 10 minutes, from rep A (so far, so good)
3. respond and receive next response in approx 1 hour, from rep B (not so good)
4. respond and receive next response in 1-2 hours, from rep C (not even close to acceptable)
5. there may be 2-3 additional cycles, extending the support process up to 5-6 hours

The upshot is that relatively simple matters can easily take 2-3 hours (more is not unusual) to resolve. Between the lack of continuity (because of extended times and different support reps) and the slow response times, the support, well, it sucks.

(BTW, my one experience with support from your billing dept shows response times always in the 10-15 minute range, with greater continuity with support personnel)

Can you not see the value of going to a different system for a customer for whom the first response does not resolve the issue? I guarantee you are about to lose at least one customer entirely, or at minimum, cease to see any additional growth in this account.

Would you like to guess what happened to this email? It was directed to HG’s ticket system. That’s right: an email complaint about HG’s ticket system opened a ticket. I’m currently awaiting a ticket response on my original ticket, AND this ticket. Can anyone here spell "INFLEXIBLE?" Can everyone here say "It’s time to look for a webhost with a better support system?"

Business in 2010: Still Evolving After All These Years*

Author: Ray Gulick; Published: Jan 2, 2010; Category: Blogging, Business, Communication, Marketing, Zeitgeist; Tags: Blogging for Business, Business, Change, Economy, Entrepreneurs, Future; One Comment

New Year’s resolutions aren’t part of my tradition. They’re too easily forgotten or ignored, and they seem to focus primarily on end results rather than on underlying issues that create the need for improvement.

However, because the end-of-year holidays include more days off than I’m used to in a 2-week period, I usually do end up thinking about how things have gone over the previous year and where I’m going in the next. While I don’t exclusively think about business at such times, I’ll restrict this post to my reflections about Evo’s business (believe me, it’s better for both of us ).

My business has changed fairly dramatically in the past year, and blogging and blogs have played a big role. Evo has been in business since May, 2000—nearly 10 years. In terms of business activity, 2009 was not awful, but not great (until the last couple of months). My long-time business partner left the company in August and, while that has limited Evo’s ability to do some things, it’s also created profitable opportunities for collaboration with other companies.

I originally selected "Evolution" as part of the business name because I knew we’d have to evolve to be effective, as well as to stay in business. Back in 2000, I thought of websites primarily as online brochures. A lot of people still want static, set-it-and-forget-it websites that somehow bring them tons of business. It doesn’t work that way in 2010, and it really never did. I’m excited that websites can play an active role in marketing for a price that is well within the reach of most small businesses and organizations. My focus is now primarily on helping businesses and organizations incorporate blogging and blog-based websites into their marketing mix. In September, I developed and released a highly-customizable WordPress theme, Evo4 CMS, specifically for creating blog-based websites, and it’s greatly increased both my flexibility and efficiency in the implementation phase.

The challenge is that blogging, engaging online with customers, and keeping your website updated requires some time and effort. Definitely not a set-it-and-forget-it scenario. In 2010, I have to do a better job of communicating the benefits that kind of time and effort can bring about. Depending on how well I’m able to do that, next year should be a great year for Evo. And, I will have put some real tools in the hands of people to help them manage their business, which is a good feeling.

So, I’m focusing on two things in 2010:

1. collaboration with other developers, marketers, and consultants
2. helping businesses and organizations acquire the web-based tools and knowledge that allows them to manage their own marketing

I’m looking forward to it. Still evolving (and maybe still a little bit crazy) after all these years.

*apologies to Paul Simon