Technical
We posses an extensive technical skill set which allows us to create powerful solutions. We use appropriate technologies to maximum efficiency. Below is a brief explanation of some of the technologies we use.
Active Server Pages (ASP, ASP.NET)
ASP pages are exactly like normal HTML web pages except they contain special code which is executed on the web server. ASP lets you make web pages that are interactive and respond to choices made by the user. This code can be used to achieve almost anything from a member's only area, to an online product catalogue.
eXtensible Markup Language (XML)
Our content management system, mkweb, is built on top of XML. By storing the pages and content in XML format, you can re-use the data elsewhere. For example, we can easily integrate your sales data, from the e-commerce activity on your website, into an accountancy package by writing what is known as a Extensible Style-sheet (below). XML is an especially efficient, fast and flexible way to store web content.
eXtensible Style-sheet Language (XSL)
To get the data from XML into a particular format, for example HTML or PDF we can use a style-sheet to specify the rules for how the information is transformed. For example, mkweb uses a custom style-sheet for a page on your website to display the data contained in XML files on the server. The resulting output is plain HTML which is then served to the web browser using ASP.
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS 2)
CSS allow us to have very precise control over the appearance of web pages. They also ensure design consistency - one style sheet is used to format the whole site, so it all looks aesthetically similar. Using one common style sheet also allows us to completely alter the formatting of a web site by changing only one file. CSS are important for their ability to allow us to separate data from design.
Databases (Access, MSSQL, and MySQL)
To store data which will appear on your website mkdynamic uses data-driven solutions combining ASP with a database technology. This could be used, for example, to store a list of email address for an online mailing list. Databases are also invaluable for storing products for use in an e-commerce website. They allow you to easily add, remove and change products as you wish.
JavaScript (Client-side programming)
For added functionality we can develop small client-side scripts to perform simple operations such as form validation. Client-side scripts have the advantage of reducing load on the server.
Flash
With Flash we can create interactive and animated features and advertisements. Because Flash is not supported to the same degree as plain HTML, we tend not to create entire websites with it.
DHTML (Visual effects, menus)
By combining HTML, JavaScript and CSS we can create complex visual effects including shadowing, drop-down menus, and hover effects. Appropriate use of DHTML can significantly enhance a site's usability.