To insert click throughs into a Macromedia Flash banner:

In Macromedia Flash, clickable elements are usually assigned to buttons. A button is a special type of symbol that contains 4 frames. Each frame represents one of the following “states” of the button: Up, Over, Down, or Hit. These four states determine how the button will visually behave when the user rolls their mouse over it or clicks on it.

To create a new button:

1. Select Insert > New Symbol, or press Control-F8 (Windows) or Command-F8 (Macintosh).

Note: In Macromedia Flash 3 and earlier, deselect everything on the stage and choose Insert > Create Symbol

2. In the Symbol Properties dialog box, enter a name for the new button symbol and choose Button as the Behavior option. Click OK.

Macromedia Flash will switch to symbol-editing mode. The Timeline header changes to display four consecutive frames labeled Up, Over, Down, and Hit. The first frame, Up, is a blank keyframe.

3. To create the image for the button’s Up state, you can use the drawing tools, import a graphic, or place an instance of another symbol on the Stage. You can use either a movie clip or a graphic symbol in a button, but you cannot use another button in a button. To create an animated button, use movie clip symbols.
4. Select the second frame, labeled Over, and choose Insert > Keyframe. The button image from the first frame will appear on the Stage.
5. Change the button image for the Over state. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the Down frame and the Hit frame.

   Note: The Hit frame is not visible on the Stage on playback, but it defines the area of the button that responds when clicked. Make sure that the graphic for the Hit frame is a solid area large enough to encompass all the graphic elements of the Up, Down, and Over frames. It can also be larger than the visible button. If you do not specify a hit frame, the objects in the Up state are used as the hit frame.

   

6. After defining the images of the four button states, choose Edit > Edit Movie to exit Symbol Edit mode.
7. Open the Library window by choosing Window > Library. Locate the button in the Library window and then drag the button symbol out of the Library onto the Stage. This creates an instance of the button in the movie. For information on assigning actions to the button instance refer to the documentation below for the version of Macromedia Flash that you are using:

To assign a simple action to a button (Macromedia Flash 4 and earlier):

1. In Edit Movie mode, select the button instance created in Step 7 above.
2. Make sure that Enable Buttons from the Control menu is unchecked.
3. Double-click the button to get the Instance Properties dialog box. (Note: In Macromedia Flash 2 this was the Link Properties: Button dialog box.)
4. Assign the action by selecting the Action tab in the Instance Properties dialog box. Then, click the plus (+) button and double click on the appropriate action.

   Note: In Macromedia Flash 2 assign the action using the Action pop-up menu in the Link Properties: Button dialog box. Only one action may be assigned to the button.

5. Make sure that Enable Buttons in the Control menu is checked, so that option is toggled back on. If the selected action has any associated parameters, those parameters will appear in the Parameter panel on the right side of the Actions panel. Choose or type the parameters appropriate for that action.

To assign a simple action to a button (Macromedia Flash 5):

1. In Edit Movie mode, select the button instance created in Step 7 above.
2. Choose Window > Actions to open the Actions panel.
3. In the Toolbox list on the left side of the panel, click the Basic Actions category to display the basic actions.

4. To assign an action, do one of the following:

   • Double-click an action in the Basics Actions category.
   • Drag an action from the Basic Actions category on the left to the Actions list on the right side of the panel.
   • Click the Add (+) button and choose an action from the pop-up menu.
5. If the chosen action has any associated parameters, those parameters will appear in the Parameter pane at the bottom of the Actions panel. (If the Parameter pane is not visible, click the small triangle in the lower right corner of the panel.) Choose or type the parameters appropriate for that action. For example, the getURL action shown below contains three parameters: URL, Window, Variables, and an option for Expression.

To assign a clickTAG for your advertisement:

The clickTAG is the tracking code assigned by the ad serving network to an individual ad. The clickTAG allows the network to register where the ad was displayed when it was clicked on. This click through data is reported to the ad serving servers so advertisers may determine the effectiveness of their campaign.

The code below will allow ad serving networks to dynamically assign a clickTAG to their ad.

In this example, a getURL action is being assigned to a button that will navigate the browser to ["clickTAG"]. The “getURL(clickTAG)” statement appends the variable data passed in via the OBJECT EMBED tag and navigates the browser to that location. It is the tracking code assigned by the ad serving network, which allows them to register a user’s click on that advertisement.

<EMBED src=”ad_banner_example.swf?clickTAG= http://adnetwork.com/tracking?http://www.destinationURL.com”>

The code below will allow ad serving networks to dynamically assign a clickTAG to their ad:

on (release) {
if (clickTAG.substr(0,5) == "http:") {
getURL(clickTAG);
}
}

Note: The ActionScript in this Flash advertisement is verifying that the clickTAG URL begins with “http:”. This is an important security measure. If you do not take this precaution, a malicious HTML page could source your SWF and pass a clickTAG URL that begins with “javascript:” or another scripting pseudo-protocol. If your ActionScript code were to call getURL with a maliciously crafted JavaScript URL, it would be possible for the site serving the malicious HTML page to obtain the contents of your HTTP cookies or perform other actions on your site’s behalf.

Below is a workflow diagram of how the variable is passed from the Macromedia Flash advertisement to the ad serving network, then redirected to the URL.

Additional Information

To learn more about buttons and their construction, study the sample buttons included with Macromedia Flash. In Macromedia Flash 5, sample buttons can be found in the Windows > Common Libraries > Buttons menu. In Macromedia Flash 4 they are found by choosing Libraries > Buttons. In Macromedia Flash 2, they are found in the Xtras menu.

For a step-by-step guide to creating a button, see the Lessons included with Macromedia Flash 5. Choose Help>Lessons>06 Buttons.

Ha Ha Tonka at DC9
Named after a state park in their home state of Missouri, Ha Ha Tonka is a four-piece rock outfit with a little bluegrass twang that reflects their Midwest roots. Their unpretentious lyrics and middle America sound make them instantly likeable. Catch them at intimate DC9 before they head out to play South By Southwest. Show at 9 p.m. Tickets are $8. – ND
DC9: 1940 9th St. NW, DC; 202-483-0666; www.dcnine.com

THURS., MAR. 4

Jack’s Mannequin w/fun., Vedera, Sunday’s Roulette at 9:30 Club
When Jack’s Mannequin first announced their March 3 show at the 9:30 Club, tickets were instantly gone. However, you’re not down for the count yet. They’ve added a second night so fans that missed out hopefully won’t anymore. Come check out the artist responsible for hits like “Holiday From Real” and “Diane, the Skyscraper.” Tickets are $29.50 and doors open at 6 p.m. –AE
9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; 202-265-0930; www.930.com

THURS., MAR. 4

Hoots and Hellmouth at IOTA
Hoots and Hellmouth will headline IOTA with Stripmall Ballads opening for the Philadelphia-based band. H&H plays music that is representative of American roots yet with a soulful touch. They’re sure to play hits from their most recent album, “The Holy Open Secret,” among others. The trio goes on at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $12. –AE
IOTA Club & Café: 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA; 703-522-8340; www.iotaclubandcafe.com

WED. & THURS., MAR. 3 & 4

Gaelic Storm at The Birchmere
It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade since Gaelic Storm’s appearance in Titanic, but this popular group is coming to Alexandria’s Birchmere for two performances on March 3 and 4. The March 4 show is sold out, but tickets are $35 and still remain for Wednesday the 3rd. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Be sure to get tickets before they sell out and see this Celtic melody meets worldly sounded band.
The Birchmere: 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA; 703-549-7500; www.birchmere.com

FRI., MAR. 5

Photo courtesy of Rounder Records

Sondre Lerche at The Rock and Roll Hotel
Musical polymath Sondre Lerche may be nearing national treasure status in his native Norway, but remains largely unknown stateside. That could be because his half-dozen albums have treaded every genre from jazz to power pop, but his latest, “Heartbeat Radio,” brings them all together, making for his most accessible record to date. New York singer-songwriter JBM (aka Jesse Merchant) opens. The show begins at 10 p.m. Tickets are $20. – HG
The Rock and Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; 202-388-7625; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com

FRI., MAR. 5

The Vita Ruins CD Release w/Ra Ra Rasputin & Cobra Collective
Mainstage beginning at 9 p.m., The Vita Ruins will host their CD Release amongst some other notable acts in our area. The Vita Ruins’ long awaited release entitled “A Day Without A Name” will be the first full-length album for the DC-based band. This indie band is one worth checking out. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. –AE
Black Cat DC: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; 202-667-4490; www.blackcatdc.com

SAT., MAR. 6

Pat Green w/Wade Bowen at 9:30 Club
Country artist extraordinaire Pat Green is returning to the 9:30 Club for an early show with Wade Bowen. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $35. Take your chances at winning a pair of tickets from On Tap! Visit our contest page at www.ontaponline.com/pages/contests.php to enter. –AE
9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; 202-265-0930; www.930.com

SAT., MAR. 6

The New Retro at Velvet LoungeWearing suits and having fun: it’s a rare conception to think of but The New Retro pulls it off naturally. The band is the lovechild of a Marvin Gaye-Red Hot Chili Peppers one night stand that yielded a blessing.  Their high-energy performances as well as their dark-driven blues numbers warrant praise and acts as a reminder that life is for living and having fun.  ‘The Defenders of the Funk” carry on their legacy in support of the “Grayscale” record release party put on by Navi, an up-and-coming hip-hop artist out of College Park, MD, with infinite flow, hellacious beats, and most dangerous of all: a conscientiousness mind. $10. 10 p.m.
The Velvet Lounge: 915 U St. NW, DC; 202-462-3213; www.velvetloungedc.com

MON., MAR. 8

Jenny Owen Youngs at IOTA
There is something shocking about hearing Jenny Owen Youngs for the first time. It’s not her sweet voice or simple songs. It’s the disconnect between her innocent schoolgirl looks and her foul mouth. Expect to be entertained by this hardworking singer-songwriter. Show at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. – ND
IOTA Club and Café: 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA; 703-522-8340; www.iotaclubandcafe.com

MAR. 9-10

Photo courtesy of Henry Rollins

Henry Rollins at The Birchmere Spoken Word, The Frequent Flyer Tour
Henry Rollins, the former Black Flag frontman, punk icon and DC native, can’t seem to slow down. Although his music career may be on stand-by, his spoken word career is hotter than ever. His three month North American Tour finds him at the Birchmere for a night that promises to be full of thought provoking, amusing reflections on life. Don’t miss this smart, intuitive show that will make you go hmm. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $25. – CP
The Birchmere: 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA; 703-549-7500; www.birchmere.com

THURS., MAR. 11

The Low Anthem at 9:30 Club
South by Southwest. Bonnaroo. Lollapalooza. The Low Anthem have been playing all the trend-setting festivals in the last year and gaining major momentum. This talented band switches from mesmerizing harmony drenched lullabies to raspy foot-stomping jams while switching between dozens of instruments. Show at 10 p.m. Tickets are $15. – ND
9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; 202-265-0930; www.930.com

MON., MAR. 15

Sherwood at Jammin Java
Straight up pop-rock by a group of fun-loving Californians who have been spending the past few years crafting radio friendly tunes. Heavy touring to promote their latest album, Qu, brings them back to DC to headline Jammin Java only a few months after playing 9:30 Club. Drummer Joe Greenetz was called “The Animal” in college. Come to the show to see why. Show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $13 day of show. – ND
Jammin Java: 227 Maple Ave., Vienna, VA; 703-255-1566; www.jamminjava.com

MAR. 15 & 16

John Hiatt & The Combo with Holly Williams at The Birchmere
John Hiatt’s career has spanned more than 30 years. His collection of songs have been covered by everyone from Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and BB King , Three Dog Night and The Neville Brothers. Don’t miss Slow Turning, Master of Disaster, The Tiki Bar is Open, Have a Little Faith in Me, Angles Eyes and many more of his classics in an intimate setting. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $49.50. – CP
The Birchmere: 3701 Mt Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA; 703-549-7500; www.birchmere.com

FRI., MAR. 19

Photo courtesy of Erin Lassahn

Tom McBride and the Whig Party at IOTA
It’s hard to believe that Tom McBride and the Whig Party is still an unsigned band, but hopefully not for much longer for this talented local act. Tom McBride and his whole crew will be at IOTA on March 19, sure to play hits from last year’s release, Like a Lion, among others. They have a strong stage presence that instantly brings in any crowd, all night long. Their clean sound is supported by Tom’s strong vocals and a talented group of musicians. Tickets for this show are just $10 and the show begins at 9 p.m.
IOTA Club & Café: 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA; 703-522-8340; www.iotaclubandcafe.com

FRI., MAR. 19

Liberation Dance Party at DC9
Put your dancing shoes on because DC9 is bringing you new music and music videos beginning at 9 p.m. If you need a little incentive to bust a move, they also have an open bar from 9 to 10:30 p.m. for rail cocktails only. For $7 you can’t beat this. Grab your friends and enjoy.
DC9: 1940 9th St. NW, DC; 202-483-5000; www.dcnine.com

FRI., MAR. 19

Photo courtesy of Kix

Kix, ZO2 and Baby Jayne at Zaxx
For those of us with rocking memories of crazy big hair filled with Steve Whiteman gyrating on all over the stage in the 80’s, and have The Itch to get your fill of Body Talk, Cold Shower and Sex, then get your advance tickets today to a show promising to bring back those crazy days. But Don’t Close Your Eyes…or you just might miss it! 21+. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets $27 in advance and $30 day of show.Jaxx Nightclub: 6355 Rolling Rd., Springfield, VA; 703-569-5940; www.jaxxroxx.com

FRI., MAR. 19

Kingsley Flood, Threadbare Orchestra and Tall Tall Trees at Velvet Lounge
The Velvet Lounge will be thrice as nice on Saturday, March 20 with this trio of talent. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the music begins at 10 p.m. at this 21 and older show. And as a bonus, downstairs, DJ Pas and DJ Busca will also be spinning. $8.
Velvet Lounge: 915 U St. NW, DC; 202-462-3213; www.velvetloungedc.com

TUES., MAR. 23

Thee Vicars at the Quarry House Tavern
An English four-piece from a town called (cough) Bury, Thee Vicars channel the 4/4 fury of American garage rock icons The Sonics with an extra added dash of Anglicisms by way of Billy Childish and early Kinks singles. (As if the matching suits weren’t a dead giveaway.) Norway’s Pirate Love — fresh off a stint at SXSW — open. The show begins at 8 pm. – HG
Quarry House Tavern: 8401 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD; 301-587-8350; www.quarryhousetavern.com

WED., MAR. 24

SevenMaryThree
With hits like “Cumbersome” and “Water’s Edge” in the mid 90’s, 7M3 is touring once again, supporting their live acoustic record, Backbooth. Although released in 2008, the record reminds us of how great they are live with Jason Ross’s powerful and distinctive voice, strong songwriting and a catalog of songs from their 15 year career. If we’re lucky, maybe they will perform their amazing rendition of Otis Redding’s “That’s How Strong My Love Is.” All ages show. Tickets are $20-$23. Doors at 7 p.m. – CP
Jaxx Nightclub: 6355 Rolling Rd., Springfield, VA; 703-569-5940; www.jaxxroxx.com

THURS., MAR. 25

2U at The State Theatre
Sorry, it’s not U2 but close…it’s the world’s best U2 tribute band, 2U! Check out all your favorites like “All Because of You” and “Sweetest Thing” at this show when doors open at 6 p.m. The show starts at 7:30 and tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door.
The State Theatre: 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church, VA; 703-237-5717; www.thestatetheatre.com

THURS., MAR. 25

Jukebox The Ghost, Tally Hall and Skybox at Black Cat
Jukebox The Ghost, an On Tap featured band, will headline the Black Cat March 25 alongside Tally Hall and Skybox beginning at 8 p.m. on the mainstage. Jukebox The Ghost hails from DC and combines pop sounds with rock influences that come off in a quirky and unique way. Upbeat and catchy, this show is a guaranteed hit. $13. –AE
Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; 202-667-4490; www.blackcatdc.com

THURS., MAR. 25

PopGun Showcase w/ Deleted Scenes at The Velvet Lounge
Brooklyn’s PopGun booking agency is giving Washington a taste of their current roster with this one-off showcase/party. DC’s own indie darlings, Deleted Scenes, headline, while three neighbors from up north — Savoir Adore, Grandchildren and Mon Khmer — round out the bill. The show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $8. – HG
The Velvet Lounge: 915 U St. NW, DC; 202-463-3213; www.velvetloungedc.com

FRI., MAR. 26

Imperial China, Cephalopod, Miracles and Busses at Velvet Lounge
Four bands will begin rocking the Velvet Lounge beginning at 10 p.m. on March 26. Imperial China, a band hailing from DC –and one of On Tap’s bands to watch –headlines this show with their indie sound and incredible stage presence. Fill this Friday night with tons of music while downstairs features Will Alberque and Jennder. Tickets are just $8 for this popular U Street destination. –AE
Velvet Lounge: 915 U St. NW, DC; 202-462-3213; www.velvetloungedc.com

SUN., MAR. 28

Army of Me (Acoustic) w/Colleen McCarron at Jammin Java
DC based band Army of Me is slowly becoming a household name around here. Their latest release, Make Yourself Naked” is an EP with five tracks that are mature and infectious. Vince Scheuerman provides vocals that fit in nicely with their group’s indie pop sound. Hear them in person when they headline Jammin Java in an acoustic show with Colleen McCarron on March 28. Tickets are just $10 in advance and $13 at the door. 7:30 p.m. –AE
Jammin Java: 227 Maple Ave. E Vienna, VA; 703-255-1566; www.jamminjava.com

MON., MAR. 29

Japandroids, Love Is All and Tennis System at Rock N Roll Hotel
Japandroids is making DC just one of the many stops on their worldwide tour, as the headline this popular DC music venue. The garage-rock band that hails from Canada has recruited Love Is All and local act Tennis System to kick things off. Doors open at 8 p.m. for this show that brings out a slew of rockers. $13 in advance and $15 at the door. –AE
Rock N Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; 202-388-7625; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com

TUES., MAR. 30

Photo courtesy of Matthew Good

Matthew Good at IOTA
Hailing from British Columbia, Matthew Good was the lead singer in one of Canada’s most successful alternative rock bands in the 1990’s – The Matthew Good Band – with hits like Everything Is Automatic, Indestructible and Apparitions. Good’s life experiences, emotional turmoil and temperament lends itself well to his body of music which is wrought with moving vocals, aggressive arrangements and well-constructed straight forward songwriting. This musician, author and activist fights the good fight in both his personal and professional life and his music shines through. – CP
IOTA Club & Café: 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA; 703-522-8340; www.iotaclubandcafe.com

TUES., MAR. 30

Photo courtesy of Alternative Tenticles

Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School of Medicine at The Black Cat
In the years since the Dead Kennedys split, their always acerbic frontman Jello Biafra has had innumerable one-off side projects, but has tended to stay focused on his spoken word work. Now he’s getting back to what he does best — political critique that dost rock — with a new backing band and their first full-length, “The Audacity of Hype.” Doors open at 8 pm. Tickets are $12. – HG
The Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; 202-667-4490; www.blackcatdc.com

TUES., MAR. 30

Wordsmith album release party at the Eye Bar
Praised by national magazines like Hip Hop Weekly and considered one of the most influential hip hop artists in the DMV, Wordsmith continues to make his mark well beyond the borders of the mid-Atlantic region. After teaming up with hip hop legend Chubb Rock last year on a collaboration album entitled “Bridging the Gap,” Wordsmith is releasing his first solo album entitled “Vintage Experience.” Couple this with a barrage of strategic mix tape releases equaling hundreds of thousands of downloads, his own record label, as well as songs licensed to Sega and Puma Fragrances, this hip hop artist is priming himself for commercial success. Already a mainstay on college radio, his first single “Hook Up Hotline” off his new album has received airplay on over a dozen urban radio markets and climbed as high as number 15 on the Indie charts. As a theater-trained performer, Wordsmith is noted for his energetic stage show and has shared the spotlight with numerous A-list hip hop artists including Wu Tang Clan, Poor Righteous Teachers, Boot Camp Clik, and Wale. Despite the irony of his unsigned status, Wordsmith’s music has been played on world-class venues including MTV’s Mixtape Monday’s, XM Radio, and ABC. All of this has grown his reputation as an unsigned emcee who works like a signed one. The album release party is open to the public and Wordsmith will be performing the evening of the release. 9 p.m. – TP
Eye Bar: 1716 I St. NW, DC; 202-785-0270; www.eyebardc.com

Huge art displays are just one of the many different exhibitions you’ll see at Arts Beats +Lyrics.

Traveling art exhibitions are few and far between. Urban art exhibitions are even rarer. But on March 26, the Atlanta-born Arts Beats + Lyrics (AB+L) urban arts show breaks through those barriers as it makes its way to the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC.

Originally conceived as an alternate mode of urban expression that specifically avoids the commercial sins of skinny jeans-wearing rappers, tricked-out cars, scantily clad females, and gross exploitation, the appeal of AB+L is the attraction to a pure and unadulterated vision of what the hip hop community should look like through the eyes of some very enthusiastic and passionate individuals who view the current state of hip hop as tragically misguided and unfaithful to its origins. And it is free to the public.

In fact, the website tells an almost epic tale of how art and music were once the possession of the people but were lost to the marketplace of the greedy elite. “At this point the artist lost control of his creation” – so says the website – and thus the struggle to right this wrong finds its full expression in AB+L.

Established in 2004, AB+L is the vision of Jabari Graham who needed a plan B when he lost his job. That plan has matured into a show that first gained attention in Atlanta’s Little Five Points District. After packing a few shows in the city, it was time to take his show on the road – literally. Working closely with his business partner Dwayne “Dubelyoo” Wright, the show, which is sponsored by Jack Daniels, highlights both national and regional talent and includes art displays of varying sizes, including graffiti artists, b-boys, break dancers, and hip hop performers. One display might contain a variety of intricately painted boom boxes while right next to it a display of low rider bicycles pushes the limits of art and functionality.

Featured artists include graphic designers like Eric Nine, whose creative works of art travel along with the show, even when he can’t be there.

“My opportunity to be a featured artist happened when I did a portrait of J-Dilla, a legendary hip hop icon, which was presented to his mother by DJ Rasta Roots who showed it to Dubelyoo,” Nine explained.

Nine is only one of many artists whose work will be on display. The canvasses upon which these artists create their art are as random as the art work is unique. As Nine said, “The possibilities are limitless.”

This event is free and open to the public, but you must be 21 to enter. For more information about them, visit their website at www.artbeatsandlyrics.com.

Gentleman Jack Art Beats + Lyrics will take place on March 26 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium: 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, DC; 202 369-5695; www.mellonauditorium.com

The taxonomy of the site is the system of organization of content into groups and sub-groups. Defining a well thought out taxonomy is the fundamental step in creating a site. The goal of this entry is to define the content structure for On Tap’s website.

The basic goal of any taxonomy is to break groups of content (taxon) into subgroups (taxa) such that they are mutually exclusive, unambiguous, and taken together, include all possibilities. In database terms, this categorization is referred to as “normalization.” An example would be deciding how to record listings for bars and clubs in the database. At the most simple level, you could create one record for each entry, with fields for the information you wish to store: business name, address, city, state, etc.

In normalizing the database, you look at what content is unique to a record, and what is common across multiple records. Business name is (for the purposes of this example) unique. Street address is as well. City and state are presumably shared by many businesses. So in a normalized database, you would break down the data like so:

With the data broken out in this manner, you can enter a city name once, then link to it as many times as you want. If you realize there is a typo in the city name, you fix it once in the cities table, and it is automatically updated in every linked business record. If you want to see how many businesses are listed for each city and state, you can use MySQL’s GROUP_BY function to generate that report.

So, why the primer? Because this basic step is what has led to a lot of the challenges On Tap faces with both the website and the sales database — failure to properly think through the categorization at the start leads to problems down the road.

As an example: Under the “Food & Drink” category for the new site, we have “Bartenders” listed as one of the subcategories, referring to the Bartender of the Month profiles we do. If we simply enter each Bartender profile as an article, and assign it to the category “Bartender” with a parent category of “Food & Drink,” we can then display a list of all of the Bartender profiles (or five most recent, etc.) on the Food & Drink page. But what if you want the Bartender profile to also show all of the info. for the bar where they work? The address, a map, links to what is going on there, etc? To do that, you need a separate custom field for those bartender entries that can store the record id of the bar.

Site Taxonomy

Based on my initial outline and the feedback I have gotten, here is what I believe we have agreed should be the main organizational framework for the site.

Content needs to be grouped according to date created; category / subcategory; and by whether or not it appeared in a print issue — this last part is necessary to be able to create online “issues” that correspond to each month’s print issue. Something we haven’t really discussed, but has become clear to me is needed, is the ability to group content by other types of criteria. For example, if we do a special St. Patrick’s Day page, there needs to be a way to group the various St. Patrick’s Day content — band profiles, events, bar writeups, etc. — on a dedicated page. I’m proposing that we use Wordpress’s built in “Tags” feature. With that, you can assign Tags to an article and then select content to be displayed based on the Tags. So a music feature about an Irish band that is performing at ShamrockFest could be given a tag of St. Patrick’s Day and that would allow it to appear in some sort of “Related Content” section on the St. Patrick’s Day page.

Currently, content is assigned to one parent category — music, film, etc. — reflecting the section of the print magazine that it ran in. How do we want to categorize content that doesn’t fit into one of the website sections? For example: In the February issue there was an article in the “Spotlight” column about a woman who started a skincare products business. Where would that appear on the site? Only under the current issue listing of all articles? Or should there be some sort of sub-grouping for Spotlight and other columns that may come up?

Courtlyn Carr

Courtlyn Carr

Web: www.courtlyncarr.com
Album: Turn Blue
Show: March 19 at The Whiskey: 1803 West St., Annapolis, MD; 410-626-6022; www.thewhiskeyannapolis.com  
March 28 at Frederick Coffee House: 100 N. East St., Frederick, MD; 301-698-0039; www.fredcoffeeco.com

Track: Turn Blue

Courtlyn Carr’s stunning good looks could obscure her talent as a mainstream country musician; that is, if she didn’t actually have talent. The Annapolis-based musician, who moonlights as a model, demonstrates some credible mainstream country music chops on “Turn Blue,” her second full-length CD. Carr’s vocal power isn’t in the same league as say, Martina McBride, whom she calls an influence. But it’s a warm, inviting and crystaline voice nonetheless, and would fit right in with the current the current crop of country radio songstresses. A soft acoustic guitar and lilting fiddle imbue the title track — a simply arranged weeper — with a reassuring measure of traditionalism, while Carr’s vocal phrasing convinces us of her heartache. The sassy “Tennessee Nights” is supposed to be a rocker, and Carr tries to toughen it up, but her delivery here only hints at the grit of say, Miranda Lambert. Better is “What Turns You On,” a sultry come-on that has the listener closely pondering Carr’s words. Whew. Courtlyn Carr certainly has the sex appeal — and possibly even the voice —  of a Nashville star. Off-the-shelf musical arrangements bog this country disc down at times, but Carr lifts most tunes above the fray. We look for good things from this emerging musical talent. —MC

Patty Reese

Patty Reese

Web: www.myspace.com/musicianpattyreese
Album: Strong Medicine
Show: March 5 at Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café: 1517 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; 202-387-1462; www.kramers.com

Track: Strong Medicine

The term “blues-rock” is too often a synonym for loud, bombastic tunes played by musicians who think they are the second coming of Stevie Ray Vaughan or Janis Joplin. Washington-based Patty Reese is a blues rocker, but she is definitely an exception to the tired stereotype. The six-time Washington Area Music Award winner’s new record, “Strong Medicine,” showcases a mature, supremely talented artist who has the pipes to belt songs out in full-on Janis Joplin-esque style, and the good sense not to do it on every track. On the record’s title track, Reese’s smoky, sensuous vocals wrap themselves around a slow groove, while “Who’s Got Your Back” is a rocking jam with hints of surf-style guitar. Reese is not only a powerhouse vocalist, but a strong songwriter who uses words as well as vocal acrobatics to convey timeless stories of love and lust, triumph and heartbreak. There are very few weak points on this disc. If we had to cite one it might be that Reese’s vocal stylings are sometimes too reminiscent of her heroes (think Bonnie Raitt or Melissa Etheridge,) but that’s not exactly criticism, is it? “Strong Medicine” is bound to make any fan of real blues-rock feel better about the state of the genre. —MC

GroundScore

GroundScore

Web: www.myspace.com/dcgroundscore
Album: Healthy Children
Show: March 23 at Asylum: 2471 18^th St. NW, DC; 202-319-9353; www.asylumdc.com 

Track: You Deserve It

Although GroundScore has only officially been around since late 2008, they’ve already got a polished and diverse sound that is spreading throughout the East Coast. Their latest CD, “Healthy Children,” is 12 tracks of something that sounds like Sublime meets 311. This punk rock trio’s album flows nicely and keeps an upbeat tempo throughout. Reminiscent of several genres of music, they identify mostly with a rock/reggae sound while exerting their individuality by mixing in punk-influenced songs. For a band with such a great sound, they’re not as well-known as one would think, despite the local upcoming shows they have at places like Asylum, O’Shaughnessy’s and My Brother’s Place. With raw talent like theirs, it’s only a matter of time before they’re a common name around here. —AE

Alex Gordon Hi-Fi

Alex Gordon

Web: www.whoisalexgordon.com
Album: Stock Footage
Show: March 13 at the National Colonial Farm’s Homegrown Series: Accokeek, MD; www.accokeek.org

Track: Constellations

Alex Gordon Hi-Fi’s mellow sound has taken his band throughout the country making appearances at coffee shops and festivals. The stay-at-home Dad’s most recent release, “Stock Footage,” is definitely an album you can throw in the CD player and let play. The 11-track release is full of smooth sounds and mature lyrics to help you chill out. While not exactly fitting a genre, his music is uplifting yet calm. What is very evident throughout the album is Gordon’s impressive strumming. He opts for a finger style method of playing which leaves you with an updated and impressed outlook on acoustic guitarists. —AE