After several weeks of integrating MediaWiki into this sites layout, the mediacenterhouse.com Wiki has now launched and is ready for forum members to build and edit if they like. I’m slowly adding to it day by day, but there’s a lot to type and create!
Archive for the ‘Website’ Category
Wiki launched
Thursday, February 25th, 2010Wordpress and sitemaps
Friday, February 12th, 2010I never though this site would take so much work when I though I’d start it as a hobby last year!
This week I’ve managed to change this blog software from the automated Blogger service by Google, to the much more flexible Wordpress, but the layout is generated by php template files which are relatively small, but if not used to looking at php then it looks very daunting. Basically each blog page is generated from 3 sections; a header, body and footer php file. Everything above this blog section is the header, and the footer is a very small section at the bottom to close off the page. All that’s in between is either made from the index, 404, single, search php files etc. The most complicated part of modding Wordpress is adapting it’s CSS file which if patient isn’t too bad. But you will have to know how to look at your blog through the developer section of IE, Firefox, Chrome etc. These Developer sections outline the loaded CSS and from there you can see what sections need amending to fit your site.
Then a website also needs a sitemap for search engines and no matter how many free sitemap generators there are out there, nothing beats a paid-for solution like the xml-sitemaps one which at $20 is a bargain. Upload it to the root folder of your site then let it do its thing and generate a sitemap.xml file for you. Then Google et al will be happy…
New host, AutoExit and new Forum sections
Saturday, January 16th, 2010As already mentioned in the forum, this site moved hosts this week from a managed host (server shared with about 1000 other sites), to its own Virtual Server which should hopefully see it good into the future. There’s been a bit of a learning curve, especially with moving the forum, and there were a few scary moments as the database went across but all ended up as it should thankfully.
The author of the excellent Windows Home Server Add In, AutoExit, has been kind enough to mention on his blog and twitter pages a review I’ve done of his software. Apparently he’s another up his sleeve he’s releasing soon, so keep an eye out for it.
Also this week I’ve been adding more sections to the forum to allow for more hardware/software/kit that is relevant to any Media Center install, large or small. If you think there can be other sections added that may be of value to the community, please email me.
Extension page updated
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009I’ve now updated the page for my new extension with photos and text. Still more to come though as I’m still working on finishing the room. It’s also had a massive effect on the kitchen and the media access in there as the kitchen is now open-plan through to the new extension. A result of this is that the wall-mounted player has had to be moved and I’m now planning on an in-wall TV (similar to the bathroom) running an Xbox 360 as a Media Center extender from the attic. The work on the house seems to be never-ending…
Microsoft Live Search problems
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009The design and content on this site has slowed down in the last month due to me working on my work’s website and also that I’ve started to watch HBO’s Carnivale series. Other HBO favourites being OZ and The Wire; some truly great TV. However this has its setback, when the wife wants to sit down and start watching a UK TV series then I’m bloody bored stiff; British TV just doesn’t quite cut the mustard.
But the biggest annoyance with this site is that I have submitted it in all the neccessary search engines, however with Microsoft’s Live search I have reached a deadend. Even submitting my site properly and checking the sitemap for accuracy, they index me with the wrong address; as http://mediacenterhouse.com i.e. without the www.
Trying to search for this problem brings no real answers other than Live search seems a bit broken and it’s hit-and-miss as to whether this will fix itself automatically; I expect it will crawl this site properly one day. It’s damn annoying as Live does recognise quite a few good backlinks to this site but is only indexing one page, and it’s the wrong one. (I think this is known as the incorrect canonicalisation of the address, apparently!?). Google and Yahoo work a treat and all within a few days of submition.
So if you come across this page as a result of searching for Live search problems then take heart in that you’re not the only one. Go and watch an HBO series instead to cheer yourself up.