Content

Questions

What kind of sites can you create?

What languages and technologies do you use to build a site?

What languages and technologies are you unable to use?

What browsers do you use to test your development work?

Can you provide custom artwork for use on my site?

How much does a new site cost?

How long does it take to build a new site?

Can you copy something from another site for me?

Do I have to use your hosting packages for my new site?

How should I contact you to discuss my requirements?

What payment methods do you accept?

Answers

What kind of sites can you create?

We specialise in building business websites, which generally requires the sites to work in as many different browsers as possible, load quickly, be search engine friendly and have a well presented, consistent interface. In terms of functionality, we can build just about anything you need, although we currently prefer to use tried and tested third party software for implementing major functions like shopping carts and secure payment processing systems.

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What languages and technologies do you use to build a site?

Our new sites are usually written using XHTML (v1.1) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS v2.1). Occasionally we will need to use client side scripting and for this we will use Javascript. All our code will be validated against the official language definitions to reduce the chance of problems on browsers or platforms we cannot test for.

Whenever possible we also use PHP or ASP server side scripting to generate common code which will be the same or similar on each page within a site. We do this because it is much easier to maintain and add to a site where recurring code, like navigation menus and page layout code, is all found in one place rather than being individually included in each and every page.

Finally, we use PHP or ASP scripting and possibly MySQL databases for any sites which require interactive features such as a message board, feedback form or product catalogue.

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What languages and technologies are you unable to use?

There are lots of different web languages and technologies available for a huge variety of jobs, ranging from creating animation effects to presenting scientific information. This makes it impossible to give an exhaustive list of technologies we do not currently work with.

If you need work carried out on a site which currently makes use of something not mentioned above please feel free to contact us anyway. We can then check what is needed and give you an informed decision about whether we will be able to help.

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What browsers do you use to test your development work?

We currently test all our sites on Internet Explorer (v5.5, v6.0 and v7.0), Firefox (v1.0, v1.5 and v2) and Opera (v8.5 and v9) all running under Windows XP. We can also test using Konqueror, Epiphany and Firefox (v1.0 and v2.0) running on Mandriva Linux if required.

We are currently unable to test our sites on any Apple Macintosh browsers, but we do run additional checks against various validation systems to minimise any problems on platforms we cannot specifically test for.

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Can you provide custom artwork for use on my site?

We are software developers, not artists, so we cannot provide custom artwork. However, we are able to create simple graphics for use as backgrounds, buttons, logos, etc. If you want to have any special artwork or photography on your site this is not problem as long as you can supply the images, either in an electronic format or on paper.

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How much does a new site cost?

The final cost of a site will depend on the size and complexity of the design. Typical costs will range from about £500 for a simple 5-6 page business card type site (including hosting and a domain name) through to several thousand pounds for a full shopping site.

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How long does it take to build a new site?

Again, this will depend on the size and complexity of the site's design. It also depends on how quickly you can supply us with the content for the site. Assuming there are no delays getting the information for the site content, a simple site shouldn't take longer than a couple of weeks.

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Can you copy something from another site for me?

This depends very much on what you want to copy. A lot of website owners protect their content by copyright which means we cannot just copy it. This will prevent us from using protected images or other content.

However, if the item you want to copy is something functional like the menu system or email form, then we should be able to use the basic idea. Even if the original code is protected, which it probably will be, we can still develop our own version which will work in a similar way to the original.

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Do I have to use your hosting packages for my new site?

No, absolutely not. A new website will usually require new hosting so we include it by default to provide a complete all-inclusive package for our clients. However, if you already have hosting which is capable of running the completed site, or would prefer to buy some elsewhere, just tell us when you ask for a quote so that we can make the necessary adjustments.

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How should I contact you to discuss my requirements?

You can contact us in writing, by email, telephone or by using our online form. Most discussions can be completed via email and/or phone, but if you are based nearby (we operate from Bangor, Northern Ireland) we can arrange to visit you for a face to face meeting.

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What payment methods do you accept?

We can accept payment by cheque or by direct bank transfer. We can also accept credit/debit cards via PayPal.

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