Download Lesson 2: Markup Language and Site Development Essentials

Lesson 2:
Markup Language and Site
Development Essentials
Copyright © 2004 ProsoftTraining, All Rights Reserved.
Lesson 2 Objectives
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Discuss the history of markup languages
Distinguish between HTML and XHTML
Identify HTML and XHTML flavors
Explain the value of universal markup
Demonstrate knowledge of Web site
development principles
• Plan Web site development
History of Markup Languages
• Standard Generalized Markup Language
(SGML)
– Originally created by IBM in 1986
– A metalanguage, meaning it is used to
create other languages
– The basis for HTML, XHTML and XML
– You create your own document rules using
a Document Type Definition (DTD)
History of
Markup Languages (cont'd)
• Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
– Based on SGML, invented by Tim Berners-Lee
– Allows hyperlinks
– HTML vs. SGML
• HTML versions include:
– HTML 3.2
– HTML 4.01 (the most popular version of HTML)
• HTML 4.01 flavors include:
– 4.01 Transitional – allows deprecated tags, not as strict
– 4.01 Strict – requires all container tags and does not allow
deprecated tags
– 4.01 Frameset – for use with frames
History of
Markup Languages (cont'd)
• Extensible Markup Language (XML)
– A subset of SGML, also a metalanguage
– XML describes data instead of formatting
– HTML or XHTML provides formatting and document
structure
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XML documents have a tree structure
XML documents must be well-formed
XML and valid documents: the DTD
XML and style sheets
From HTML to XML
History of
Markup Languages (cont'd)
• Extensible Hypertext Markup Language
(XHTML)
– Combines HTML with XML
• XHTML 1.0 flavors include:
– Transitional – allows deprecated tags, not as
strict
– Strict – requires the exclusive use of CSS for
all formatting elements and does not allow
deprecated tags
– Frameset – for use with frames
Universal Markup Creation
• Follow W3C standards
• Benefits of following standards include:
– Code will render as expected in more
browsers
– Pages will be more scalable (as you add
more sophisticated content, you will not run
into problems)
– Pages are more likely to be available to
disabled users
Web Site
Development Principles
• Project management and the Web
development project cycle
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Create and document an initial Web site plan
Obtain relevant input from stakeholders
Communicate the Web site plan
Consider technical and non-technical concerns
Develop the site
Publish the site
Manage the site
Creating and Documenting
an Initial Web Site Plan
• Site plan is a rough outline of planned
development
– Site diagram
– Storyboard
• Eventually becomes a site map for completed
site
• Determining audience and message
• Validating design issues
– Consider issues such as central message, fonts,
images, colors, ethnic and cultural diversity, and
common color schemes
Obtaining Relevant Input
from Stakeholders
• Stakeholders are relevant organization employees or contributors
who can provide or help determine:
– The purpose of the Web site
– The services that the audience requires from the site
– Development timelines
• As you work with stakeholders:
– Remember that non-technical people may be asked to approve
your project
– You must translate technical issues into non-technical language
• Team members can include representatives from marketing, IT, sales
and other areas of your organization
Documenting and
Communicating the Plan
• Create a storyboard
• Document decisions in meetings and follow up
• Communicate the plan in various ways:
– Calling relevant parties to ensure that everyone is
satisfied
– Sending e-mail messages
– Sending postal ("snail mail") messages if necessary
– Sending fax messages
– Telephone calls
Communicating the Plan
• Use oral presentations and presentation
aids, including:
– Presentation software
– Overhead projection
– Whiteboards
– Easel and poster paper
– Charts
– Published handouts
Leading Discussions
• Strategies leaders use to manage a
meeting:
– Make introductions
– Recall past business
– Create a list of action items, including
timelines
– Monitor time
– Ensure proper discussion focus
– Handle heated discussions
– Distribute minutes
Considering Technical and
Non-Technical Concerns
• Leaders can ensure communication by:
– Regularly asking if anyone has questions
– Asking team members to summarize their
understanding of decisions
– Asking a third party to deliver a summary of
progress
– Writing regular updates about the project
Developing the Site
• As your team develops the site, you will
be engaged in various activities:
– Creating markup code
– Testing functionality
– Approving the site
– Publishing the site
Testing Pages in
Multiple Browsers
• As you develop Web pages, test them using
multiple Web browsers
• Different generations of the same browser may
interpret HTML somewhat differently
• Browser vendors also implement standards
differently
• Browser types include:
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Microsoft Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome
Opera
Lynx
Publishing the Site
• To publish a site, you need to know:
– The IP address and/or DNS name of the site
– User name and authentication information
– The destination directory (i.e., folder) on the
Web server
– Space requirements
– The protocol you will use to upload the site
• Working with service providers
– Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
– Application Service Providers (ASPs)
Managing the Site
• When managing a site, you must be
prepared to:
– Create new content
– Update dead links
– Remove old sites
– Remove unused pages
– Ensure connectivity
– Report access troubles
– Process feedback from customers and
stakeholders
Obtaining Feedback
• Your Web team must process various
types of feedback
• Feedback can come from various sources
• Ways to obtain quality feedback
– Providing Web forms on the site that ask for
customer input
– Conducting surveys in person
– Conducting surveys via e-mail
Intellectual Property
• A unique product or idea created by an individual or organization
– Generally has commercial value
• Never "borrow" content without express, written consent
• Review copyright and trademark issues (e.g., trade secrets,
licensing, infringement, plagiarism)
• Understand copyright scope, reach and time limits
• Consider ethical issues of copyright and plagiarism
• Avoid copyright infringement, trademark infringement and
plagiarism by:
– Reviewing content
– Obtaining express, written consent
– Creating reasonable deadlines
Outsourcing
• Increasingly, Web development work (including
site design) is being outsourced to workers in
remote locations
– May save the company money
– May require you to work with remote workers
• As you use and work with remote teams, you
may have to obtain:
– Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
– Legal consultation
Lesson 2 Summary
Discuss the history of markup languages
Distinguish between HTML and XHTML
Identify HTML and XHTML flavors
Explain the value of universal markup
Demonstrate knowledge of Web site
development principles
Plan Web site development