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Just a few things you need to know--
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Netscape
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Do not ride the Autonomous Bus.
Eaerly versions of Netscape will not handle the frames found in the Autonomous Bus sequence.
Your system will crash. Netscape Communicator can handle the pages well, and it even makes an attempt, although
a lame attempt, to color the borders around the tables as seen in WhiteGold Web. Alt tags now appear when the mouse
is pushed over an image, and the execution is crisp, even though the spacing is not as tight as Internet Explorer.
When I started prowling the Web, I used Netscape religiously. Now that I have invested time to
understand HTML and have gained some experience using other browsers, I've found that there are dead spots in
all of them. Netscape, even the Communicator version is still buggy.
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Internet Explorer
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There are no restrictions providing you use v3.02 and NOT higher. Forget using IE v4.0. It seems that Microsoft
has finally hit the Peter Principle on that version. They released it much too soon. I don't think that they will be able
to recover from that stupidity. There are some good things about IE, however.
Use your mouse to read the alt tags on the images. The colors and spacing are displayed as I intended.
Internet Explorer follows the rules with a minimum of exceptions.
If you can still download and run IE v3.02 from Microsoft, take the time and do it now. Use the button on the Safe House
main page. I've bypassed all the advertizing and begging to put you right where you need to be. If you are running IE v4.0,
uninstall it and downgrade to v3.02.
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Sound
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Both MIDI and WAV sounds are used, and sometimes they are concurrent. If you have a problem with
WAV volume using IE, right tick on the sound console, select properties, and set the volume there.
If your volume setting isn't mirrored in the Win95 Volume Control found in the task bar,
shut down and restart.
If you're running your sound with an AWE64 series sound card, you'll need to turn off "full duplex" to allow both Midi and Wave sounds
to be run concurrently.
Here's how to do that..
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Turning off AWE64 Full Duplex
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Right-tick on "My Computer"
Tick on the "Device Manager" tab
Tick on the "+" to the left of "Sound, video and game controllers"
Tick on "Creative AWE64 16-bit Audio (SB16 compatible)"
Tick on the "Properties" button
Tick on "Settings"
Tick to turn off the check in "Allow Full-Duplex operation"
Tick "OK"
Tick "OK"
Shut down and restart your computer.
The sound was designed to be presented with Crescendo plugins. These are free and run with both browsers.
Because several sound objects are imbedded in the same page, you may have to play with the buttons a bit to get what you want.
If you find a good MIDI or a WAV that can be used here, send it to me ASAP.
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The HTML
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One of the smartest things the founders of the Web did was to insure its growth by making the source
code stealable. I've learned a lot making the Safe House. I've hacked ideas from everybody else's page.
I used to use HotDog but quickly found that most of it didn't work right. I couldn't get the FTP
section to even run at all. They have something that looks like a project that should bind together
all the HTML for a site, but it doesn't do that either. Multiple sites are too complex to maintain
with HotDog. The buttons were nice the first time, but later, as I remembered what did what,
it was easier to find an example somewhere and cut and paste and edit it into my stuff.
So, HotDog now is history.
I use Notepad and EditPad and WS_FTP to make and move HTML. Win95 glues all this together just fine.
I thought others were kidding when they said that they, ". . . just write HTML with a text editor and upload it."
They weren't. It's really like that.
The most important element in HTML aside from the anchor is the table. The use of the table separates
the men from the boys. You'll see the use of tables extensively here in the Safe House. Har, har.
If your pages improve because you looked at my source, let me take a look at your site for a high-five.
Plaigerism is the best form of flattery in my book. I'm always open to see something new.
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New Ideas
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Send me an idea, and if I use it, I'll give you credit. I collect nifty little GIFs as well. The Safe House
is just now up and running, most of the links are not in yet, and I'm typing as fast as I can. Perl scripts will be added
to make some of the pages really fun. Don't miss anything!
The Tour is the best way to see the site. The Autonomous Bus requires you to make the jump.
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Updates
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A mail-list will be started to advise you when to reload a page. I haven't decided how to make that an
automatic process yet. Look for the subscription page on exit. It isn't there yet, but I expect you back.
If you're into sneaky stuff, go to the bottom of each page and wipe the left end of the line below
the last line of the page. Hidden in the background will be a revision date. Don't get caught looking.
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WackyWebWorks™
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If you want me to check for PFM
on your page, email me. I'd enjoy that.
I'm glad you checked this little document. I know you're here for a reason, so let me extend my welcome and get you back to..
Buzz Lange's Safe House!
Kill this window before you go. We don't want Netscape or Microsoft to get their hands on it.
..Buzz Lange, Chief Ops: Safe House
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