FilterTips

Welcome to Filter Tips, a division of my site Sugary Premades. Here, I will list some tips on how to pass the new coding filters (effective since January 2011). These tips should apply to all types of layouts (userlookups, petpages, etc.) Hopefully, your layout can pass through the filters after you've read this short guide. Don't forget to read the final tips at the end of the page!

Textareas

The textarea code has changed. You don't put an underscore between the word "text" and "area" anymore. Just use the normal textarea code, as shown below.

Overflows

The codes overflow-x AND overflow-y don't work anymore. Use overflow:hidden OR overflow:auto instead. So yes, it means that there's no way to hide JUST the horizontal scrollbar (none that I know of, anyway).

Style Tags

Only use the normal style tags and no other variations.

End HTML Tags

All HTML tags must be ended. One open tag can mess up your entire layout. This applies to tables, divs, links, and any other HTML tags. Check that all of your tags are properly closed.

Order of Tags

Keep the order of your tags consistent throughout your coding. End the inner tags first before ending the outer tags. See the example below for clarification. I can't explain it well in words!

HTML Attribute Values

All attribute values, such as links, should always be enclosed in quotation marks. This may seem like a minor thing, but it may ruin your entire layout.

CSS Styles in HTML

Avoid using HTML attributes for styling, and instead change them to inline CSS. In the inline CSS, you can add as many properties as you want. See the example below. For more info on inline CSS, see this guide.

Position

This is a common mistake, so I believe it deserves its own section. The word "position" is still not allowed in between the style tags. When you want to position something (an image, a div, etc), use inline CSS. Refer to the previous explanation for more info on this.

Disallowed Words

Usually, the filter message will tell you what word is being blocked in your coding. You can just paste your coding into Notepad, use CTRL+F to find that blocked phrase, and delete it from your coding. However, there are cases in which this method won't work.

Aside from the word "position", there are, of course, other words that will be blocked. From personal experience, I've found trouble with certain HTML color codes (hex codes). I once got this filter message:

I searched for that exact phrase in my coding, but nothing came up. I had to go through my entire coding and try removing parts of it, so that I could find this "rude word". It turned out to be a color code that wasn't even similar to that phrase in the warning message. Moral of the story: limit your use of hex colors! It's a PAIN trying to find the exact word that the filter doesn't like.

I also heard on the NC Chat that any image code with the word "window" in it WON'T pass the filters! So check your wishlist/tradelist and remove the items that have the word window in their names.

Other Tips

#1. Change the layout a little at a time. Edit parts of it, test it out, then continue editing. This way, it is easier to locate exactly where the problem is. When the coding doesn't pass the filter, you can know that it has something to do with what you just recently edited.

#21. Be very, very patient. Coding is not difficult, and it gets easier with experience and patience. If your layout doesn't pass the filters the first time round, don't give up. Carefully go through your coding to detect any problems. Unfortunately, I can't help you more than what I've told you on this page, but I wish you the best of luck with your battle with the filters.

If I think of more tips, I'll add them to this page. For now, happy coding!

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