If you have recently been assigned the role of Web developer for your department or if you are a new employee assuming this role, your first step should be to review all of the information contained in this site. Next, contact Jaimie Woodard, Web Services Manager, to sign-up for the Web Presence Training Program. Once you have completed the program, you will then have access to the template files and have the knowledge to begin updating your department's Web presence. If you still have questions, contact the Web Presence Team at webpresence@uwf.edu.

Why do departments have to use the templates?

The template system provides the desired consistent UWF look and feel while still allowing the Web developer flexibility in the presentation of individual content. The template items have been tested for browser compatibility and user accessibility. The use of the server side includes (SSI), and cascading style sheets (CSS) within the template will allow updates to be propagated quickly. Do not attempt to reverse-engineer a template under any circumstance. The template makes reference to standard resources (e.g., images, CSS, JavaScript) that a reproduction may not take into account.

Where are the templates?

The templates are maintained by University Marketing Communications and Information Technology Services. In order to receive the templates, all campus Web developers must first become "certified" by participating in the Web Presence Training Program.

How can developers avoid common mistakes?

The most common mistake is re-engineering the template. While certain aspects of the template cannot be altered, the system was created to be a starting point and a framework to build on. The template is a frame providing consistently placed navigational regions and a central content area that can be customized by the designer to create a distinctive site.

Other things to consider as you create your site:

• Avoid too many menu items in the Left Navigation Bar. The idea is to keep it simple and clear to viewers unfamiliar with your area. Organize your main links in broad categories with short labels such as “Faculty and Staff” and “Departments” as much as possible. Be aware that you can use the secondary navigation area and content area of your page for additional links.
• Give your page a little breathing room to make it clean and readable. The UWF Web Presence Team recommends a 15-pixel space between the the content items (headlines, body text, photos, etc.) on your pages. It is also a good idea to keep at least that same amount of space between content items and the Footer Bar.
• Keep your text alignment consistent. The university’s design looks best when text in the content area of a page is aligned flush left. Mixing the alignment of heads, subheads, and body text (centered, flush left, justified and flush right) creates a fragmented feel and can be harder for the viewer to follow.
• Clearly label downloadable files. If a menu item links to file formats other than to SHTML, CFM or HTML pages, such as pdf, tiff or jpeg images, add the extension in parenthesis to the item. For example, “Application Form (PDF)” would be an appropriate label for a downloadable file. This will warn the reader that they will be downloading a file rather than linking to a new page.
• Make sure your menu items match your page titles. Even when your title in the banner area remains the same throughout your site, you can set a headline at the top of your content area that matches the menu item, so the reader knows immediately that they have gone to the right page.
• Do not use frames. Frames corrupt usability and interfere with search engine indexing and bookmarks.
• Avoid “splash” pages. A splash page (a branding page that appears before a site’s homepage) frequently adds no useful content to a Web site.
• Do not build in hit counters. Hit counters typically do not provide accurate or useful content to users. The university's Web server generates log files that contain useful statistics for Web developers about user activity.
• Do not use blinking text. Blinking text in general is considered an annoyance.
• Do not post “Under Construction” notices. If a page is under construction, do not provide a link to it or place it online until it contains useful, relevant content.
• Do not post your site until it has been reviewed. Remember to keep your site in a development or "dev" folder as you build it. The Web Presence Team will provide a design and technical review of your site when you are ready, offer suggestions and provide support to help you make the transition. An editorial review of your content is also available. If you desire, a University Marketing Communications editor will check your content for style, grammar and accuracy.

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