Website help regarding a "favicon" file...

peterbeaumont · Sep 20, 2013, 16:11:02

I'm just playing around, trying to learn more stuff about website coding and I thought I'd try to add a "favicon"...

Despite "Googling", "Binging" and studying the source code of numerous sites where I can see a Favicon, I still can't get mine to display and wondered if anyone could help, please?

The html in my index page is:
<link rel="icon" href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />
within the <head> section.
The favicon.ico file is already sitting on the server (a plesk account in Hong Kong where I'm based sometimes) in the root folder.

The website is http://christabelli.com/

Any suggestions, please?

Ray · Sep 20, 2013, 16:19:21

This work on one of my websites, looks like you've got an extra space and / after the word icon on each line.

<link rel="icon" href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">

peterbeaumont · Sep 20, 2013, 16:29:17

Thanks Ray...I'd originally tried both lines with ...icon"> but it didn't work - I noticed a site using ...icon" /> so I thought I would try that also...
I've just changed back to your suggestion, but still no luck.
(I cleared my cache before trying again).

Simon · Sep 20, 2013, 16:41:05

As Zap will tell you, Favicons are a bot of a dark art. Where are you placing the image for the icon, Peter? The one here is in the /public_html folder.

Simon · Sep 20, 2013, 16:43:21

Actually, I'm seeing a favicon now, Peter. An orange dot?

peterbeaumont · Sep 20, 2013, 16:46:22

Hi Simon...the favicon.ico file is in my local website folder and I uploaded it to the root (called httpdocs in my plesk account) folder on the server (which is where the index.html file is...
I don't have an original "image" file saved, I created it as a .ico file originally.

zappaDPJ · Sep 20, 2013, 16:47:59

Your favicon is working fine (as attached) but as Simon said, as the developer you will probably be the last person to see it because of local caching

peterbeaumont · Sep 20, 2013, 16:48:11

Well, it's a Daisy with an orange centre and white petals...

Might not have been the best one to choose, but I was just experimenting...I can't see it though...

Simon · Sep 20, 2013, 16:48:37

Quote from: peterbeaumont on Sep 20, 2013, 16:46:22
Hi Simon...the favicon.ico file is in my local website folder and I uploaded it to the root (called httpdocs in my plesk account) folder on the server (which is where the index.html file is...
I don't have an original "image" file saved, I created it as a .ico file originally.

Sorry, that's what I meant, Peter, the 'image' being the .ico file. But, as I said, it does seem to be working,

Ray · Sep 20, 2013, 16:48:55

It seems to be working now Peter, I can see it.

JB · Sep 20, 2013, 16:52:31

As Zap has said (inferred?) favicons are a bit of a PITA because you can't immediately see if they are working because of your browser cache.

When I set them up it took me ages to realise they were working, and only when I viewed the site with a browser that had not 'been there' before.

peterbeaumont · Sep 20, 2013, 16:54:21

Ok, thank you all...I will wait until I can see it, then change it to something more visible...
I assumed all changes I made on the server were reflected instantly online, as all "normal" changes I make show up straight away.

Simon · Sep 20, 2013, 16:56:48

How silly to think so logically, where servers are concerned.

peterbeaumont · Sep 20, 2013, 17:05:00

Is there a cache within my FTP Client, or a cache on the server that I can clear?
I was clearing my browser cache (I only have IE8 here) after every update I made to the server, thinking I would see the "latest" version...

peterbeaumont · Sep 21, 2013, 10:47:15

I just re-checked after waiting 18 hours, but I still can't see it here...am I being impatient, or just dumb?

Simon · Sep 21, 2013, 10:52:33

Annoying, isn't it? Have you tried a different browser, Peter?

peterbeaumont · Sep 21, 2013, 10:56:04

Yes Simon, very annoying

I only have IE8 on this machine, perhaps that is the reason?
JBs earlier comment suggested that might be related to it?
I'll wait a bit longer...
Is it still visible on your machine?

colirv · Sep 21, 2013, 10:59:32

On my computer it shows in Firefox, Safari, Chrome and Opera but not IE10. That may be your problem!

peterbeaumont · Sep 21, 2013, 11:03:21

Hmmmm...I guess if it's "out there" and visible, it's ok.
I can see other favicons on websites here on IE8, even though mine won't display - and the coding of the websites I can see seem identical to mine...

colirv · Sep 21, 2013, 11:08:30

Mine works in IE10, but I don't refer to it in any html on any page. I simply have favicon.ico sitting there in the root (public html) directory on my website, alongside index.html, and browsers pick it up from there.

peterbeaumont · Sep 21, 2013, 11:11:37

Thanks Colin, I'll try that and see what happens...

peterbeaumont · Sep 21, 2013, 11:30:10

I made the change - if anyone has time to check it later and see if it's still there, I would appreciate it. Thank you.

colirv · Sep 21, 2013, 11:46:03

It's still there - but still not there in IE!

Ray · Sep 21, 2013, 11:59:06

I can see it in IE10

peterbeaumont · Sep 21, 2013, 12:09:44

After it still didn't show here, I just made a new favicon image and uploaded it and it now shows on my screen!
Not sure why, but thank you all for your help.

peterbeaumont · Sep 21, 2013, 12:23:22

Spoke too soon! It disappeared again

I'll sit and think before I make any more changes...

Simon · Sep 21, 2013, 13:14:09

peterbeaumont · Sep 21, 2013, 13:30:34

Exactly...I'll leave it for today and re-check tomorrow...the Server is in Kowloon HK, 7 hours in front of us here, maybe the time difference is an issue...although usually, no matter what time of day or night I make changes, they are usually effective immediately.

Simon · Sep 21, 2013, 13:39:28

My guess is that's it's more of a local issue, as we are seeing the changes (admittedly, I haven't seen the latest one as I'm on my phone at preset), which does point to the delay being browser / cache related. I'm not sure, does clearing the cache in IE also clear the favicons cache?

Simon · Sep 21, 2013, 13:42:04

Peter, this may be worth a read:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3970936/how-to-clear-ies-favicon-cache

It seems to be saying the favicons cache is stored with History, so maybe clearing your browser history as well might be the trick?

peterbeaumont · Sep 21, 2013, 13:53:24

Hi again Simon
I've been clearing the browser history each and every time...I won't make any more changes today and see if anything shows up tomorrow, when our time clicks over to Chinese time...
Just out of interest, does it display correctly on your screen at the moment?

colirv · Sep 21, 2013, 13:56:36

Well Simon's tip (clear History) worked for me. I can now see it in IE for the first time.

peterbeaumont · Sep 21, 2013, 14:02:23

Hi Colin - is it the one you see similar to the attached image? - that was the last change I made a few hours ago...

Simon · Sep 21, 2013, 14:09:23

Here you go, Peter, this is what I see in IE, and it's the same in Mozilla.

peterbeaumont · Sep 21, 2013, 14:18:38

Thank you Simon - it's now displaying on my screen too! (I was too scared to check before

)
I suspect that perhaps my original .ico image was dodgy...anyway, I guess it's sorted now, until I blunder into my next experiment...
Cheers

Simon · Sep 21, 2013, 14:38:12

I suspect the Favicon Fairy was up to mischief again.

colirv · Sep 21, 2013, 15:18:46

Belatedly - yes Peter!