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This page last updated: Dec. 29, 2009.

Site News and Technical Information

Technical Information

Technical Information

Remember you can click on any picture or map to get a larger version.

TravelingMorgans.com is now in a constant state of flux and constantly changing.

You will see the date of change for each page.

You will see the date the site last changed on every page that is in the new format.

We are trying to find ways to automatically fix the links from the "old format" pages, but you could find some broken links in those "old format" pages.

You have our apologies for any inconvenience caused by our migration process.

Why move to a new format?

The old format was created with Microsoft Publisher. This became outdated and new versions were prohibitively expensive. Publisher also had some features we did not like such as creating web sites for IE only, cryptic file names, and the penalties imposed by Google and most other search engines for such sites. Only the most thorough searchers found TravelingMorgans.com in search engines.

We tried an old version of DreamWeaver we happened to have (the new one being prohibitivly expensive on our budget). It was better, but still not flexibile enough for our needs. Our new menu system perhaps would have been possible, but it was not built in. There was also the cost issue.

With the approach of Windows 7, it was also apparent our old computer on Windows XP would not be supported forever. We elected to migrate to FREE Ubuntu Linux and to go with FREE web development software that was very flexible, but had a steep learning curve. This included new picture enhancement software to learn.

Drop Down Menu System

We are proud of the new drop down menu system. It uses no client-side scripting (such as java script) and that makes it quite safe from a security standpoint.

However, many older browsers do not allow drop down menus. Go to site map if you are using an older browser such as IE 6.

This menu has been designed and tested for Firefox 3.5, and is being tested for IE8. No other browser testing is planned, but the menus should work for recent versions of standards compliant browsers such as Safari and Opera.

Note, the movies on this site are currently in Quicktime format (.mov). Some were rotated to appear in a vertical (i.e. "portrait" format). Since Apple makes QuickTime plug-ins for Windows and Mac computers only, these "portrait" oriented movies will probably not appear correctly on Linux based computer, but will be fine if you are on Windows or Macintosh computers browsing with Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari -- and perhaps others.

KEY: The black text menu items represent pages that have been brought to the new standard. Magenta items have not yet been upgraded.

We received a lot of information from Steve Gibson of grc.com, ideas from Robert & Cassandra Joy of weddingsweddings.com as well as tech support from 1and1.com.
Thanks to all.

Other Technical Information

Note: the movies on this site are currently in Quicktime format (.mov). Some were rotated to appear in a vertical (i.e. "portrait" format). Since Apple makes QuickTime plug-ins for Windows and Mac computers only, these "portrait" oriented movies will probably not appear correctly on Linux based computer, but will be fine if you are on Windows or Macintosh computers browsing with Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari -- and perhaps others.

Site Information

What is on line in the New Format with Drop Down Menu Pages

Main Page converted to new format with drop down menus.

2008-9 travels converted to new format with drop down menus (2009 still needs remaining pictures).

About Us, Contact Us, and Site News converted to new format with drop down menus.

National Recommendations, Misc. Recommendations, Texas Recommendations converted to new format with drop down menus.

What is going to be addressed soon in New Format with Drop Down Menu Pages

Add error reporting feature to each page of new format.

2009 travels still needs remaining pictures.

2005-7 travels still in old format, need to be converted to new format.

Spring 2009 Texas Skimmer Boat trip to see Whooping Cranes needs additional Texas Page

Fall 2009 South Texas pictures will replace current South Texas Page

Summer 2009 Yellowstone pictures & movies will be incorporated with Yellowstone section and converted to new format. This will be a big project.

What is up in the Old Formats

(all will eventually be converted to new format with Drop Down Menu Pages)

Phase 1 main section — Completed June 15, 2007

Phase 2 — Phyllis’ Journal up to date with basic pictures — Completed July 1, 2007

Phase 3 — Yellowstone National Park Completed August 20, 2007

Phase 4 — Grand Canyon National Park Completed August 28, 2007

Phase 5 — Bryce Canyon National Park Completed October 8, 2007

Phase 6 — Texas Completed January 28, 2008

· West Texas — Big Bend NP

· Texas Coastal Bend — Padre Island National Seashore & Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

· Central Texas Hill Country

· East Texas & Houston Area

· North Texas and South Texas mostly empty but more to come

Phase 7— Utah Completed Sept. 22, 2008

· Bryce was completed in Phase 5

· Arches NP

· Canyonlands NP,

· Dead Horse Point SP

· Newspaper Rock

· Zion NP

· Southwest Utah State Parks

· Capital Reef NP

· Dixie NF including Red Canyon

· Escalante Staircase NM and other BLM lands

Phase 8—Completed Oct 18, 2008

· New England, mainly New Hampshire

Phase 9 New York Sections (completed in old format Jan. 2009)

· Catskills Mountains,

· Letchworth State Park,

· Niagara Falls Sampling, (more coming including Canadian Side)

What is yet to be placed on the web site?

Phase 10 Arizona scenic sections

· Apache Trail

· Superstition Mountains

· Tonto Natural Bridge SP

· Several Indian Dwelling National Monuments

Phase 11 South Dakota and Black Hills

· Badlands NP

· Black Hills SD, including fabulous Custer SP and Wind Cave NP

· Devils Tower NM (links from Black Hills and Wyoming below)

Phase 12

Various small sections of states we have traveled since 2004, but have not spent much time.

· Ohio (Tony Packo's in Toledo up and running in an old format 1/11/2009, more to come)

· Indiana

· Missouri

· Oklahoma

· Arkansas

· Wyoming (Yellowstone is up in am old format and has more content, rest to come)

· Montana

· Massachusetts

· Pennsylvania

Future Phases

Enhance the web site with lists of things very few web sites or scenic guides will describe.

Include references valuable to RV users

Indexes

Add user requested features

Cover places visited before beginning full time RV travel in December 2004

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