Comments on: Thoughts on Troubleshooting and Problem Solving

By: p1nk g33k

p1nk g33k — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:43:18 +0000

What I usually do is:
Google the error messages, ask in a major forum, and if that fails, Come back to it later.

The “fresh eyes” approach normally works, though.

p1nk g33ks last blog post..Why you should get out of that traffic exchange or link exchange program ASAP!

By: Craig Haiss

Craig Haiss — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:16:22 +0000

Here are a few techniques I use regularly.

Ask another writer to test the technology in case the errors are specific to my computer, environment settings, and so on.
Use alerts to debug scripts.
Search the help for troubleshooting tips. (I’m a bit biased toward this solution.)
Create log files, and scan them for clues about the problem.

When these techniques fail, I refill my coffee cup and ponder the problem until the obvious solution hits me.

Great post, Tom!

Craig Haisss last blog post..How help search should work

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:37:00 +0000

Robert,

Thanks for opening my eyes to Firebug. I feel dumb for having used the Web Developer extension for so long. This morning I was playing around with Firebug and it is about a hundred times more useful. Thanks again,

Tom

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:30:17 +0000

Thanks for the recommendation, Robert.

Re adapting static sites to wordpress sites, I have tried to change my method for doing this somewhat. The skill is to not bring over any tables at all in doing. You can see a successful example at http://alternative-energy-nation.com and http://alternative-energy-nation.com/blog. However, the current project I’m working on has a complicated navigation menu that I can’t replicate, so I copied it over. Tables are poor for SEO, which is what everyone wants. Still, seamlessness without tables can be tough.

By: Robert Nagle

Robert Nagle — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:16:11 +0000

Firebug web extension is a better alternative which lets you view css hierarchically. It lets you see which css styles have been overridden. Totally cool.

BTW, I really enjoyed your two posts about adapting static sites to wordpress sites. I plan to consult it in the next two weeks for a project I’m working on.