Webster+ Web Development Toolkit

Frequently Asked Questions

This page provides answers to some commonly asked questions about the Webster+ Web development toolkit, including setup, configuration, development best practices, and troubleshooting.

Note:
Webster+ supports custom CSS across its entire configuration.

General

What is Webster+?

How does Webster+ handle Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)?

What templating options are available in Webster+?

Is a demo application available for experimenting with Webster+?

 

Setup and Configuration

How do I install Webster+?

Does Webster+ include any CSS-related configuration options?

Which Web servers are compatible with Webster+?

What is the Force JS/CSS Reload option in Webster+ configuration?

 

CSS Hierarchy

What is the CSS hierarchy (or order of specificity) in Webster+?

What is the recommended approach for applying CSS in Webster+ applications?

 

Inline CSS

Can I apply inline CSS within Webster+?

Where would I use inline CSS?

Does inline CSS override my other external CSS style sheet?

If I have multiple elements that are the same, such as <h2 style=…>, and I use inline style, will this affect my other <h2> elements?

 

Internal/Embedded CSS

Can I use internal CSS (<style> tags) with Webster+?

 

Development

How do I troubleshoot a Web page?

 

Security

Does Webster+ support Two-Factor Authentication?

What utilities does Webster+ provide for security management?

Are there tools for managing user access in Webster+?

Can I generate dynamic HTML pages with Webster+?

 

What is Webster+?

Webster+ is a toolset designed for creating browser-only applications and facilitating Web page generation and Web site setup. It uses a REST-style interface and includes various setup/configuration tools, a menu system, and a security framework.

How does Webster+ handle Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)?

Webster+ follows standard CSS specificity rules. Inline styles have the highest specificity, followed by internal/embedded styles, and then external styles. When rules have the same specificity, the one declared last takes precedence.

What templating options are available in Webster+?

Webster+ supports both generic and custom templates for page rendering, giving developers control over the layout and structure of their Web applications.

Is a demo application available for experimenting with Webster+?

Yes. Click the following link to access a Webster+ demo application: Test Drive Webster+.

How do I install Webster+?

See Webster+ Setup and Configuration for details on installing and setting up Webster+.

Does Webster+ include any CSS-related configuration options?

Yes. The Webster+ Setup provides configuration options to include custom CSS code or a URL to an external CSS file that applies to all pages. See Customizations.

Which Web servers are compatible with Webster+?

Webster+ is compatible with Apache, EZWeb Server and IIS.

What is the Force JS/CSS Reload option in Webster+ configuration?

This option is used mainly for development testing to disable browser caching of CSS and JavaScript files. It ensures that your latest changes are reflected immediately without requiring a hard refresh or clearing of the browser cache.

What is the CSS hierarchy (or order of specificity) in Webster+?

The order of CSS rules that affect your page are:

External CSS Files

This is placed in the <head>...</head> section using the <link> tag. Any matching tags in this file are overridden from the default.css.

Internal/Embedded CSS

This is the <head>...</head> section within the <style>…</style> tags.

Inline CSS

This is the highest specificity and is applied directly to an HTML element using the style attribute.

Example:

   <p style="color: blue;"></p>

Note:
If two rules have the same element, the rule that appears later in the stylesheet or linked files will be applied.

See How to Work with Styles in Webster+.

What is the recommended approach for applying CSS in Webster+ applications?

External CSS is highly recommended for Webster+ applications, just as it is for general Web development. It promotes maintainability, enhances reusability, and supports separation of concerns. It also makes debugging easier.

Syntax Example:

Add the <link rel="stylesheet" href="path/to/your/styles.css"> tag within the <head>…</head> section of your HTML.

Can I apply inline CSS within Webster+?

Yes. Inline CSS (using the style attribute directly on elements) is possible within Webster+. However, it is generally discouraged due to poor maintainability and specificity issues.

Syntax Example:

<p style="color: blue;"></p>

Where would I use inline CSS?

You would use it inside the opening HTML tag of the element it styles.

Syntax Example:

<p style="color: blue;"></p>

This will change all <p>…</p> elements content, the color blue.

Does inline CSS override my other external CSS style sheet?

Yes. It has the highest priority among all CSS styling methods: inline, internal/embedded, and external.

If I have multiple elements that are the same, such as <h2 style=…>, and I use inline style, will this affect my other <h2> elements?

No. The style applies only to that specific element and does not affect any others.

Can I use internal CSS (<style> tags) with Webster+?

Yes. You can embed <style>…</style> tags within the <head>...</head> section of your Webster+ HTML templates. This is an option for page/element specific styles or smaller applications, but external CSS is a preferred method for site-wide consistency.

How do I troubleshoot a Web page?

This can be done by using a couple of different methods.

You can press the F12 function key while on the Web page to open the DevTools window.

Alternatively, you can open Webster+ Setup, go to the system Config page, select Misc. and set the Enable MSGBOX directive option. This allows you to add message boxes to your code.

Does Webster+ support Two-Factor Authentication?

Yes. Webster+ offers optional two-step authentication (TFA) that can use SMS or email verifications for enhanced security.

What utilities does Webster+ provide for security management?

Webster+ includes a security system that manages user registration, password control, and SMS/email interfaces for security-related tasks. See System Security.

Are there tools for managing user access in Webster+?

Yes. Webster+ includes various site management tools to handle user registrations, access control, and security settings effectively.

See General Configuration, User Maintenance and Security Maintenance.

Can I generate dynamic HTML pages with Webster+?

Yes. It allows the creation of dynamic HTML 5 compatible pages using Short Codes, enhancing the versatility of Web applications.