Custom Myspace Layout and Background
Yes, you can do quite a bit to modify the default Myspace layout. In fact, I customized my own Myspace background and layout. One common trick is to add some hidden HTML (web page markup) code to your Myspace profile. Copy and paste the example code below into the About Me or I'd Like to Meet section of your profile, save and then view your profile.
< p>< style type="text/css">< /p>< p>table, td {< br /> background-color: transparent;< br /> border-width:1;< br /> border: 1px border-color:000000;< br /> } < /p>
< p>body { < br /> background: url(http://www.pha.jhu.edu/~bingz/background.gif);< br /> xbackground-position:Center Center; < br /> xbackground-repeat:no-repeat;} < /p>
< p>table, tr, td {< br /> background-color:transparent;< br /> border: 1px border-color:000000;< br /> padding:2< br /> } < /p>
< p>body {< br /> background-color:FFFFFF;< br /> } < /p>
< p>table table table {< br /> border: 1px border-color:000000;< br /> padding:1; < br /> background-color:lightblue; < br /> } < /p>
< p>< /style>< br />
NOTE: In order to demonstrate this code, we had to put a space after each "<" symbol, to prevent it from being treated as actual code on this page. You must remove these spaces to use the HTML code above.
This will create a light blue theme with a panoramic scene in the background. If you know a bit about HTML and CSS, you can tweak the code to try different color themes and background images.
Please don't use the same image as in the above example, because it will place an unfair load on the hosting server. Find an image you like, and either host it on your own server space, or get permission to use the image from the webmaster of the server where it resides. You can find lots of cool images by searching for free background images at Google.
Depending on the size and dimensions of your image, you may want to experiment with background-position:Center Center; and/or background-repeat:no-repeat; which are commented out in the example above.
Are You a Point and Clicker?
Don't want to mess with HTML and CSS? There are lots of Myspace customizing tools on the Web that make it easy to create a custom Myspace layout. Search for myspace layouts at Google and try a few.
For more articles on Myspace safety, layouts and user tips, see http://www.askbobrankin.com/social_networking
BOB RANKIN... is a tech writer and computer programmer who enjoys exploring the Internet and sharing the fruit of his experience with others. His work has appeared in ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is publisher of the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, author of several computer books, and creator of the http://LowfatLinux.com website. Visit Bob Rankin's website for more helpful articles and free tech support.