WWW Design Policy

Never use browser-specific design

Our web pages should be usable and presentable from as many of our users' chosen browsers as possible. We can accomplish this by knowing the HTML standards currently supported by the majority of web browsers in use.

Validate Your Pages Against Established Standards!

• TEST Validators Page (something to set up)
• W3 Validator
• W3 Tools (Standards validation; Link Checker...)
• W3 Open Source Software
• Poison Tooth Online Link Checker (BETA)
• Doctor HTML
• Dr. Watson ("Compute estimated download speeds" and more)
• Bobby
• Web Page Purifier
• Lynx Viewer
• Screen Size Tester
• Weblint Gateway
• Page Valet
• Web Authoring Tools
• W3 List of Tools
• Javascript Standards
• Javascript Tests (validation?)

Check here for tips on designing valid pages.

• CalState Library Web Standards
• Campaign for a Non-Browser Specific WWW
• Web Page Designer's Spot
  

Images

All pages could use a standard set of icons for oft-repeated links.

• For example (these are not the chosen icons, just examples):
  Use for links to phone number(s)
  Use for mailto links
  Use for form links
• This set of icons will be provided in a shared directory.
  Facilitates easy sharing of the icons.
  Reduces usage of disk storage.
  Facilitates easy changing of the selected icons.

Images will ONLY be used when...

• The image is moderate in size (Less than 30Kb per page?)
• The image adds clarification to the link (if linkable)
• The image adds a professional appearance to the page
  The purpose of images is to help users navigate and to add a professional appearance to the page. Images should be used sparingly because each image increases the traffic on our network and delays retreival of the page.

Links

Required Links will be presented on every page for ease of navigation:

State University of West Georgia Homepage	http://www.westga.edu
Ingram Library Homepage	http://www.westga.edu/library
Ingram Library Comment Form	http://www.westga.edu/cgi-bin/libfdbk.cgi
mailto link to the person responsible for maintaining that page	mailto:page_maintainer@westga.edu

These links could be presented through header/footer; frame; or toolbar arrangement. The best solution should be investigated -- taking into account ease of implementation.

This selection criteria will be used to select all other links

• Directly useful to a particular class
• Directly useful to a particular school or department
• Directional information pertinant to all users (faculty/staff/students)
  This would include howto type information

Placement of selected links will be determined by the current hierarchy strategy

First Level (What's the rule here?)
Second Level (Or here?)
See:
Michael's Hierarchy GIF
UWG Site Hierarchy
Defining and Using Structure in Digital Documents

Other Policies to Consult

• UWG WWW Guidelines and Rules
• W3 Validator
• Doctor HTML
• Dr. Watson
• Bobby
• Web Page Purifier
• Lynx Viewer
• Web Page Designer's Spot
• CalState Library Web Standards
• Webmonkey - Design