On my way to writing web sites and Blogs I have come to use several scripts as a standard feature, some in the normal web sites I build and some in this Blog.
The scripts i use in the Blog are mostly Plugins so for this article I will concentrate on the scripts and maybe I will write about plugins later.
Over the years I have used and discarded many scripts.
As is usual on the Internet, many of the scripts are free if you look for them and a few have the option to pay for them.
Most of the scripts are free to use but you have to leave the owners link on the page, the alternative, of course is, you pay for them to remove the link.
This gives the opportunity to try the script and, if you like it, pay for it to remove the link.
You may not be bothered by the link, in which case use the script for free.
What do scripts do?
There are many types of script; Php. Asp. Asp.net. Java. Perl. C. C++. Coldfusion. Python…..etc.
I tend to stick with the reasonably easy Php scripts.
I have tried the legendary Jqueery but found it much too complicated, maybe I will try again in the future.
There are four scripts I use most.
- Rainbow Header for Flash headers and navigation.
- Tabber.
- Php Easy Form
- Visual Lightbox
Rainbow Header
The Rainbow Header script produces a Flash header which changes the graphics in the header part and also the titles in the Graphics.
Included is the drop down navigation. All parts can be changed to your own liking.
I have a site using this at the moment (Example)
Have a look at the header images and titles changing and the drop down navigation which can go as deep as you wish.
The only draw back I have found is that links don’t work if placed directly underneath the navigation.
These guys do a lot of Webmaster scripts at excellent prices, take a look.
Tabber
Tabber tabs are formed inside a table. Unfortunately I do not have an example at the moment but the basic construction is a table with header columns which, when clicked on use a drop down menu which contains more information for your users.
Numerous headers can be used as long as you don’t go past the width of the page.
A small piece of php code (supplied with the script) is used in your html head tags and the rest, as they say, is plain sailing.
The script is free from a number of sources and usually no link is required on your pages.
Get your copy here.
PhpEasy
Php Easy Form is a script that allows you to insert a simple contact form in your contact page.
This particular form includes a simple Capcha code.
When someone fills in the form an e-mail is sent to the e-mail address you specify in config page of the script.
This is just about all you have to do. Just follow the instructions to make the script work.
Make sure you test the script from your site after you publish, just to make sure all is well.
Visual Lightbox
Visual Lightbox does just what it says on the box. Creates a lightbox for you to place on your site.
Explanation of a lightbox is when a visitor clicks on an image, the lightbox appears and shows all the images one at a time with a delay(set by you) between each image. The lightbox changes size to suit the image being displayed.
I was so impressed with the free version (which carries a watermark link on each image) that I purchased the paid for one (which gives you the opportunity to remove the link)
Excellent and really easy to use, I can fully recommend this script. See an example Take a look at the Lightbox site
I hope this article on scripts has helped you, I’m sure the scripts I have recommended will enhance your Webmaster status and thank you for reading this article.
