Web Services
Web Page Hints
Organization:
- It makes it a lot easier to work on your website if you have it organized.
One easy way to structure your information is to only put your html
files in your main web folder. Then create sub-folders for your images,
PDF documents, etc.
- Once you've looked around and seen what you like or don't like, then
start the web process. It's not a good idea to just start throwing things
on your web page and trying to organize it all once you've accumulated
hundreds of files.
- Read the Web Services Style Guide. It has
lots of rules/guidelines/hints for making your web page better and will
help keep you out of trouble.
Storage Space:
- While the school does give departments & faculty members web space,
the web server is not a storage space. Everything that is in your web
folder is accessible to people through the web. Even if you haven't
linked to it, files can be picked up in search engines and anyone can
get to your personal items.
- With lots of people putting personal items on the web server, space
fills up fast and we may have to start imposing restrictions on users.
It only takes a few people/departments abusing the privilege before
we have to create restrictions for everyone.
- Nobody should have MP3 files on the web space, unless they have a
specific use for it within their website and it is not violating copyright
laws.
- If you have used Photoshop to create graphics for your site, that's
great! But we don't want the .psd files on the web server. So store
those
on your network drive, not the web server please.
Images:
- There are only 3 types of images that can be used on web pages -
GIF, JPG
& PNG. PNG isn't used that often. Your images will most likely
be GIF or JPG. These are the only image file formats you should use
on your web
page. GIF is used for simple line art and JPG is used for color intensive
images (such as photographs).
- The clipart found in Word or WordPerfect are not web images. If you
are desperate for some clipart, there are several websites that offer
free web clipart, just do a search for them. We do not encourage the
use of clipart on official university pages.
- If you would like custom graphics, think through what
kind of imagery you would like and email
a request to Web Services. We're happy to help the campus community,
within reason. Be aware that some projects will have to take a
backseat to other (more important/time sensitive) projects.
Content:
- Web sites need to contain relevant content. Relevant does not mean just reusing
all of your brochure/promotional materials. You need to evaluate and analyze
the content you want and need to provide for your audience. Rewrite materials
so they are to the point and contain useful facts and information.
- When getting ready to build a new web site or rebuild a site, you need to
ask yourself some questions:
-- What is your goal in offering this web site?
-- Who are your key users? (or Who do you want to be your key users?)
-- What do you want your users to get out of your site?
-- What do your users expect to get from your site?
Answering these questions will help Web Services build a more productive and
useful site for your unit.
