Technical Help Forum

I just looked at that page, and it seemed quite normal to me... Don't know, but what type of browser are you using?

Hello Sandi, Those tips are written using VTML color and the Handwriting font. I can read the tips with no difficulty. Perhaps someone with more technical knowledge can explain why you can't read the page, but it's OK at my end. Regards.

Ok on mine. It would appear yours is not reading the VTML.

Thanks for checking it out. This is a mystery because this has happened on other pages also. BTW, I'm using netscape browser.

VTML isn't the problem bc I use the color and the italics & bold in my own tips and don't have a problem, so something else is going on. Plus, I read many other sites that are using VTML colors, fonts, etc. So, some other mysterious tech problem is occurring.

How very odd. I am sure someone with an idea of whats going on will chime in soon. Good luck

Heya Sandy- This could be anything from a resolution problem (on your end), to a language problem (eg: depending on how the code is read, displayed, or hell, I dunno). What you are seeing is code - most likely VTML code. You might want to put in a note to feedback@virtualtourist.com and see what Giampiero6 has to say. This is very strange. Jeff-

I copied & pasted the fractions that were on the VT tip page. When I pasted them in this email, they appeared as regular words as you see below, but on the member's tip page - on my pc - they are fractions. Bizarre! Description: While in Mexico City, be sure to go to Xochimilco; the Venice of Mexico. The floating gardens should not be missed. Hop on a boat and ride through the canals, while munching on a taco or tamale cooked up on one of the many floating kitchens. Wash it down with a cold one while being serenaded by floating mariachi bands!

Sandi (Sorry for the "Sandy" prior)- There must be some sort of "character-set" issue that your monitor can't acknowledge. So, I'll ask: Windows version? Netscape version? Latest Windows Service Pack? Latest monitor software update? The only reason I ask this is because I do this for a living (lucky me). ;o) Jeff-

The font in question is "Lucida Handwriting", and for some reasons it cannot be displayed properly with some graphic cards settings. On my computer at home the pages come ok with MSIE, Netscape and Firefox, but I have seen similar problems as you describe them when I use a certain computer terminal at the place where I work. Btw, I do not really like this font, as even with a good graphic card it is always a bit difficult to read. Sans-serif fonts are best for your eyes on a computer screen.

Leo- Spot on. Lucinda Console is usually a "reserved" font. and danged tough to read. I think you may be on to something. Jeff-

It might also be that there is a similar problem with "lucida handwriting" as with "Arial" and "Helvetica". The latter is legally reserved for Apple computers I believe, but on Microsoft operating systems the very same font must not be called "Helvetica", but is named "Arial" instead. That is why in a proper font-tag of HTML always both types are indicated to ensure that the font looks the same on both systems.

Again, spot on. I'm going to assume (like I ever do *that*). That the Client side is up to date with the server side. Again, it's too difficult to diagnose the problem without the aforementioned information. Just a thought. Jeff-

Thanks, Leo & Jeff, sounds as though you're probably right. Being technologically remedial as I am, I haven't upgraded anything on this Dell pc which was given to me by a friend & is probably 5 or 6 years old. It uses Windows ME & Netscape 7.0. Haven't updated Windows service packs & don't know my latest one; same with monitor software updates. Sorry to say that I'm clueless on those, too. I avoid using the Microsoft browser because for some reason it works very slowly on this pc. I've had 2 tech-aware friends try to improve that for me & after making an effort, each said "just use Netscape instead." So, that's my situation. I probably need to update everything. It's not that often that I run across a VT page where this problem shows up, but I was curious about the cause.

Sandi- Figured it out. The page in question is written in HTML (which is not supported on VT). It hasn't been converted. What you are seeing is what the writer wrote, but in another unsupported script. If you go to the page, and do page > view > source, you'll see the source (I'm amazed it shows at all!) But I would go to microsoft.com, get the service pack for ME and load it. Also, go to your monitor's homepage and get the assorted fixes. If you haven't done this in 5-6 years, it might be a good idea to get current. OR, you could go to dell.com and do the recommended updates. Your choice. ;O) Jeff-

Thanks, good advice. I'll follow through on your suggestions. Thanks for taking the time to think of a solution. I enjoyed visiting your pages.

Sandi- Anytime! We're here to help (at least I am in good company). Thanks for your kind words on the page(s), mucho appreciado. I would still like to see *why* you are seeing fractional context through your browser. I'm kinda strange that way. Like to see things work. (I think I've just been here too long!) (LOL!) Jeff-

This is the great thing about the VT community. There usually is somebody around that can help :-)

I left an email for Giampiero. Maybe we'll get his thoughts on Monday. I. too, have a lot of curiosity. Even when it isn't really necessary to know the answer.

@ Jeff > The page in question is written in HTML (which > is not supported on VT). It hasn't been converted. We had this topic in another thread recently. ALL PAGES that you call on your browser have HTML and not VTML. VTML is only stored on the VT-servers, but when the page-code is sent to your browser, they send you a HTML-code. They HAVE to send you a HTML-code, because it is your browser that does not understand VTML, only HTML. VTML was "invented" by VT, the browsers that display a page do not know anything about it, so they need HTML in order to show the page!

Leo- I'm fully aware of that! I don't think I was as direct in my answer as I should have been. ("Train of thought derailment" I think, on my side). IE, NetScape et al only presents HTML, what I was trying to say was it's more than likely a CODEC issue on what was viewed on the Client side. VTML is on the Server side. I know where you're going with this, and I agree. Jeff-

ok :-)))))