Creating a web siteCreating a web site

Part IPart I

Structure DesignStructure Design

Creating a web site Step OneCreating a web site Step One

Planning the web site—what typePlanning the web site—what typeBillboardBillboardPublishingPublishingSpecial/public interest/nonprofitSpecial/public interest/nonprofitVirtual galleryVirtual galleryEcommerce, catalog, online shoppingEcommerce, catalog, online shoppingProduct supportProduct support Intranet/extranetIntranet/extranet

Step Two Analyze your Step Two Analyze your audienceaudience

What is it that users want when they come What is it that users want when they come to your site?to your site?

How can you attract and entice them to How can you attract and entice them to return for repeat visits?return for repeat visits?

What type of computer and connection What type of computer and connection speed does your typical visitor have?speed does your typical visitor have?

More considerations…More considerations…

GenderGenderEducation LevelEducation LevelTechnical AptitudeTechnical AptitudeWhat motivation?What motivation?

Informational Informational EconomicEconomicSocialSocial

Do you have a captive audience?Do you have a captive audience?

Step 3 Building a Web Step 3 Building a Web Development TeamDevelopment Team

Server AdministratorServer AdministratorDesignersDesignersHTML codersHTML codersWritersWritersSoftware programmersSoftware programmersDatabase administratorsDatabase administratorsMarketingMarketing

Step 4 File Names and URLsStep 4 File Names and URLs NamesNames

Front door URLFront door URL Page namesPage names

Case SensitivityCase Sensitivity Character Exceptions that you CANNOT USECharacter Exceptions that you CANNOT USE

/,/,&,*, <,>, and blank spaces/,/,&,*, <,>, and blank spaces File ExtensionsFile Extensions

.htm.htm .html.html .asp.asp .xls.xls .gif.gif .jpg.jpg

Complete URLs and Directory Complete URLs and Directory StructureStructure

http://isec.sandiego.edu/carl/gba576.asphttp://isec.sandiego.edu/carl/gba576.aspVersus gba576.aspVersus gba576.aspRelative versus absolute pathsRelative versus absolute paths

Diagram the SiteDiagram the Site

Plan your site by creating a flowchart that shows the Plan your site by creating a flowchart that shows the structure and logic behind the content presentation and structure and logic behind the content presentation and navigation choicesnavigation choices

This preliminary step is one of the most important that you This preliminary step is one of the most important that you take in planning your sitetake in planning your site

StructuresStructures Linear informationLinear information TutorialTutorial WebWeb HierarchicalHierarchical CatalogCatalog clustercluster

Linear StructureLinear Structure

The linear information structure lets you The linear information structure lets you guide the user along a path. This structure guide the user along a path. This structure lends itself to book-type presentations or lends itself to book-type presentations or content that requires the user to follow a content that requires the user to follow a predefined path.predefined path.

Tutorial StructureTutorial Structure

The tutorial structure is perfect for computer-The tutorial structure is perfect for computer-based training content such as lessons, based training content such as lessons, tutorials, or task-oriented procedurestutorials, or task-oriented procedures

Web StructureWeb Structure

Many smaller Web sites follow the Web Many smaller Web sites follow the Web structure which offers links to and from every structure which offers links to and from every page in the site. This allows the user to jump page in the site. This allows the user to jump freely to any page from any other page.freely to any page from any other page.

Hierarchical StructureHierarchical Structure

The hierarchical structure is probably the The hierarchical structure is probably the most common information design. It lends most common information design. It lends itself to larger content collections because itself to larger content collections because the section pages break up and organize the the section pages break up and organize the content at different levels throughout the site.content at different levels throughout the site.

Cluster StructureCluster Structure

The cluster structure is similar to the The cluster structure is similar to the hierarchical structure, except that every topic hierarchical structure, except that every topic area is an island of information unto itself, area is an island of information unto itself, with all pages in each cluster linked to each with all pages in each cluster linked to each otherother

Catalog StructureCatalog Structure

The catalog structure accommodates The catalog structure accommodates electronic shopping. The user can browse or electronic shopping. The user can browse or search for items and view specific search for items and view specific information about each product on the item information about each product on the item pages.pages.

Structure SummaryStructure Summary

Start with pencil and paper. Your ideas will Start with pencil and paper. Your ideas will be less restricted and you can easily revise be less restricted and you can easily revise and recast without recoding.and recast without recoding.

Write a site specification document. You’ll Write a site specification document. You’ll find it invaluable as a reference while find it invaluable as a reference while building your site.building your site.