I mentioned that I was loading an update to Windows because I had a feeling it would cause problems. Unfortunately, I was correct. The update removed the port settings from all my installed printers, rendering me unable to print. Worse still, it corrupted my antivirus software such that it would not load at startup. I spent the past weekend uninstalling and reinstalling the software until I finally got it working. Once I did, it found a virus. Very frustrating.
Enough griping about technology, let’s talk about some of the good things it can do. Long-time readers of the Mercheum Blog might recall that my initial concept for the website was a series of static HTML pages with hyperlink navigation. Using WordPress has provided a number of advantages over this approach. One is that WordPress automatically creates what are known as archive pages for taxonomies, including custom taxonomies. Manufacturers, Copyrights, Item Types and Characters Depicted are custom taxonomies. For Manufacturers and Characters Depicted, I try to make the archive pages useful, providing some additional information at the top of the page above the index of relevant exhibit pages generated by WordPress.
I recently discovered the Harvey Comics Database, a fan website done in wiki format. Wikipedia is probably the best-known example of a wiki. I briefly considered using the wiki format for the Harvey Mercheum website, but had already started with WordPress and decided to stick with it.
I have gone through all the Characters Depicted archive pages and added links to the appropriate article in the Harvey Comics Database, if available. If you have any suggestions for other improvements to the archive pages, please leave a comment below, or use the Contact the Curator form. And if you are knowledgeable about Harvey Comics, consider becoming an editor for the Harvey Comics Database!