From CSS menus, animation to 3D objects on websites, web designers today create all of them. Manually creating these can be a little time consuming and require more knowledge about CSS, with this list of handful websites you can create the desired effect for your project in just minutes using a sleek user interface and increase your productivity.

1. Spritemapper: Merge multiple web pages into one.
2. Buttons: Create highly customisable, modern and flexible web buttons.
3. CSS Matic: This non-profit CSS tool can be used as a gradient generator for creating amazing gradients.
4. Layer Styles: Use this HTML5 app for an intuitive approach towards CSS3.
5. CSS Menu Maker: Use this tool if you need to create custom CSS drop down menus easily.
6. PCSS: You can use this PHP-driven CSS Preprocessor to define variables, nest classes and other things that allow CSS code to be written quickly.
7. CSS Compressor: Increase the loading speed and reduce the bandwidth of your webpages.
8. Skelton: This tool helps you to easily and quickly develop websites that can adapt to different screen sizes.
9. Tridiv: Use this to easily create 3D CSS shapes.
10. CSS 3D Transform: This online CSS tool will allow you to perform level Transofrms online.
11. CSS3 Fancy LightBox: This tool is very similar to the original Fancy Box tool from the same creators. It just contains more classes.
12. Prefixmy CSS: An easy way to prefix CSS code.
13. CSS3 Pie: This can be used for putting in useful decorative features on Internet Explorer 6-9.
14. Sencha Animator: Create animated images, text and design buttons with emebedded analytics and gradients.
15. Patternify: Create beautiful CSS patterns.
16. TopCoat: This is a library of CSS classes that contains form elements, sliders, checkboxes and other things.
17. EzxtractCSS: Extract ids, classes and inline styles from an online HTML document into a CSS stylesheet.
18. Magic: This is a CSS stylesheet, which contains various CSS effects under different categories.
19. SkyCSS Tool: This tool allows you to create CSS classes, while almost completely avoiding manuscript code.
20. CSS Text Shadow: Use this tool to generate text shadow buttons.
21. Responsive Web CSS: This web-based tool will allow you to create a responsive layout skeleton with drag and drops.
22. CSS Patterns Gallery: This website displays creative patterns using CSS3.

While working on Magento some of us may face this fatal error on the Manage Categories page on the Admin part.

fatal Error : Fatal error: Call to a member function getId() on a non-object in
C:\xampp\htdocs\magento\lib\Varien\Data\Tree\Dbp.php on line 331


public function loadEnsuredNodes($category, $rootNode)
    {
        $pathIds = $category->getPathIds();

        $rootNodeId = $rootNode->getId();

        $rootNodePath = $rootNode->getData($this->_pathField);

        $select = clone $this->_select;
        $select->order($this->_table.'.'.$this->_orderField . ' ASC');

        if ($pathIds) {
            $condition = $this->_conn->quoteInto("$this->_table.$this->_idField in (?)", $pathIds);
            $select->where($condition);
        }

SOLUTION:

Run this SQL Query. This worked for me.

INSERT INTO catalog_category_entity(entity_id,entity_type_id,attribute_set_id,parent_id,created_at,updated_at,path,POSITION,level,children_count) VALUES (1,3,0,0,'0000-00-00 00:00:00','2009-02-20 00:25:34','1',1,0,1),(2,3,3,0,'2009-02-20 00:25:34','2009-02-20 00:25:34','1/2',1,1,0);

INSERT INTO catalog_category_entity_int(value_id,entity_type_id,attribute_id,store_id,entity_id,value) VALUES (1,3,32,0,2,1),(2,3,32,1,2,1);

INSERT INTO catalog_category_entity_varchar(value_id,entity_type_id,attribute_id,store_id,entity_id,value) VALUES (1,3,31,0,1,'Root Catalog'),(2,3,33,0,1,'root-catalog'),(3,3,31,0,2,'Default Category'),(4,3,39,0,2,'PRODUCTS'),(5,3,33,0,2,'default-category');

If you have any suggestions or still the error persists then please drop it comments.

Each page have a navigation area, which links to all the other pages within that section of the website. This is great, but in order to go to, say, the FAQs page from the home page, you'd first have to go to the about page, then on to the FAQs from there. This is by not acceptable.With the help of some advanced selectors a dropdown menu can be easily created with CSS. Follow the step by step process of creating your own CSS Dropdown Menu.

The menu we’ll be creating have two sub categories that appear once the parent link is activated by a hover. The first series of sub-links appear underneath main nav bar, then the second series of links fly out horizontally from the first dropdown.

Download Drop Down Menu

The HTML Structure

Firstly we need to create a HTML structure for our CSS menu. We’ll use HTML5 to make the navigation menu in a <nav> element, then add the primary navigation links in a simple unordered list.

We will add the first sets of sub-menu under the “Tutorials” and “Blog” links, each one being a complete unordered list inserted within the <li> of its parent menu option.
The secondary sub-menu is nested under the “JQuery” option of the first sub-menu. These links are placed into another unordered list and inserted into the “JQuery” <li>.

The CSS Styling

Let’s begin the CSS by getting the basic dropdown functionality working. First hide the sub menus by targeting any UL’s within a UL with the display:none; declaration. In order to make these menus reappear they need to be converted back to block elements on hover of the LI. The > child selector makes sure only the child UL of the LI being hovered is targeted, rather than all sub menus appearing at once.

Adding position:relative; will allow us to absolutely position the sub menus according to this main nav bar, then display:inline-table will condense the width of the menu to fit. The clearfix style rule will clear the floats used on the subsequent list items without the use of overflow:hidden, which would hide the sub menus and prevent them from appearing.

The individual menu items are then styled up with CSS rules added to the <li> and the nested anchor. In the browser this will make the link change to a blue gradient background and white text.

The main navigation bar is now all styled up, but the sub menus still need some work. To make sure they fly out under the main menu they are positioned absolutely 100% from the top of the UL (ie, the bottom). The LI’s of each UL in the sub menu don’t need floating side by side, instead they’re listed vertically with thin borders separating each one. A quick hover effect then darkens the background.

The final step is to position the sub-sub-menus accordingly. These menus will be inheriting all the sub-menu styling already, so all they need is to be positioned absolutely to the right (left:100%) of the relative position of the parent <li>.

Download Tutorial.

Want to Learn PHP and MySQL but without spending a penny today we bring out some free ebooks for you you. Learning PHP and MySQL is almost a basic part of every web developer's skill set nowadays. If you want to built a website, you surely need either of the skills.

You can find many resources online but we are listing the best ones. Check out the list of best Free Ebooks on PHP and MySQL.

Over time, most software developers find that it’s much easier to re-use code components than it is to recreate the wheel every time you write an application. Over time, these developers typically archive a library of these reusable modules in order to save time the next time they need to do the same task.So on popular demand, here we bring 10 more websites with sample codes for programmers. These websites are storehouse of the following languages JavaScript, Django, Web, Google, Java, AJAX, Rails, PlugIn, Android, CplusPlus, MySQL, DotNet, Game, AppEngine, PHP, Flash, jQuery, Database.

1. Programmer’s Heaven

ProgrammersHeaven.com is a large resource of information, tips, and forums on programming languages like C++, Delphi, Basic, Java, PHP, Python, Pearl, Ruby and more. Also if you want a specific code which isnot present on the website, you can simply make a request on the forums and you will surley get some response.

2. SourceForge.net

This is the most obvious one on the list. SourceForge is indeed one of the most important open source communities on the web. From reviewing a sample code to learning new things, this website is the best place to look. On the main page, simply click “Find Software,” and then “Development.” The result will definitely thrill you. It is a whole new world of open source projects with above 54,000 listings under “Software Development”.

3. CodeGuru

CodeGuru is another amazing resource site for developers. It covers languages like Visual C++/C++, .Net/C# and Visual Basic. Though it isn't a very big collection in terms of the programming languages, but site is filled with articles that are far more comprehensive than your standard forum posts found elsewhere. Codes here offers important explanations about how to accomplish specific tasks.

4. The Code Project

CodeProject is a fast growing community of developer which looks much like a free article directory website, except that the contributors here are actually programmers who attempt to provide the best programming articles available. A majority of these are furnished with well written explanations along with the sample code. The Code Project isn’t just a plain boring resource where you go through the site and yearn your code. But you will most likely get sucked with the prizes and competitions going on, the surveys, articles, message boards, and the job board!

5. DevX

This list would never be complete without mentioning of DevX. The website is a massive programmer’s hub which is a huge portal of many other sites covering the most popular programming topics such as Java, C++, Database programming, Visual Basic, Mobile programming and much more.

6. Planet Source Code

This is one website, which shares a love hate relationship with every user. The website in terms of design is disturbing especially its very tiny font menu listing and advertisements spattered randomly all over the page. But, if you know where all to look for, the website is an awesome library of extremely useful sample codes. You can select the programming language of your choice at top where the option reads, “To start, just choose:” and here you go! The website carries coders for almost every major language.

7. GNU and The Free Software Directory

If you are looking for Open Source codes, then this website is definitely one that you cannot miss. Free Software Directory is directly from the home page of GNU. The amazing directory includes a list of free software from various categories like database, games, audio and video, graphics, email, Internet apps, communications and much more.

8. Google Code

This is Google's platform for open source codes, Google Code is a place where you can find codes from a vast range of categories like Python, JavaScript, Django, Web, Google, Java, AJAX, Rails, PlugIn, Android, CplusPlus, MySQL, DotNet, Game, AppEngine, PHP, Flash, jQuery, Database, GWT and much more.

9. Happy coding

This is another neat website to find sample codes. The directory is vast and you can find codes from various categories like C++, visual basic, open source codes, ASP, PHP, C, various program samples, projects samples, java samples, hashtable, constructor, xml, database applications and much more.

10. DevArticles

Favorite of many niche programmers, DevArticles is indeed one of the most well embraced directories of sample codes. You will be astonished by the vast range of software categories available here, which also includes the rare ones like including Flash, embedded tools, and mobile Linux!

If you know some other important website with sample codes for programmers the please do share it with us in comments.

This is the first post of this blog so to become a successful programmer one should keep certain points in mind. We bring you a list of points which can help you out. 
 Many would agree that programming has become much easier nowadays than what it used to be. But becoming a true coder is about knowing a lot more than how to use a bunch of frameworks and code generators. You have to do things yourself!

 1. Do up your own Framework: Writing your code base means you can make it adapt to suit your needs exactly, which is one heck of a boost for any coder!

 2. No Developer Tools: Like the frameworks, some say that developer tools are also making programmers' lazy. No they are not, but it still doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try your hand at coding without them. It’s more time consuming and more work, but it makes you a much better coder.


3. Say no to Code Generators: Often, programmers ignore certain parts of a language because there are just too many button makers, gradient generators etc. available to make their task easy. Don’t use them and you will actually be thorough in languages like CSS3. Again, takes more time and effort but totally worth it!

 4. Avoid copying and pasting codes from books: Try not to copy and paste these codes, instead, write them down by your own hand. When you’ve typed out a code, compare them to the one in the book and see how you did. It gives you a good perspective of where you stand and where you need to be!

 5. Use Notepad: Having no help from the editor forces you to remember the code that you are writing. Having such capabilities will help you in the long run.

6. Do it again: When you move from one project to the other, you will often find code fragments that are common in the two. Moreover, often a code can be easily found online, so you don’t have to write it. Avoid doing this and you’ll become a much better programmer.

 With inputs from: www.cio.com