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Planning Your Web Site
Brian Kelly
UKOLN
University of Bath
Bath, BA2 7AY
UK
Email
[email protected]
URL
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/
UKOLN is supported by:
A centre of expertise in digital information management
www.ukoln.ac.uk
Contents
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Introduction
Purpose Of Web Site
Resourcing
Architectures
Information Management
Legal Issues
Some Useful Resources
Questions
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About You
How many:
• Currently run a Web site?
• Are thinking about running a Web site?
What does your Web site aim to do?
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Purpose
Scenario
Let us imagine a scenario:
• You work in a research group within a scientific
organisation
• You have received funding for a new research
project
• You wish to provide a Web site which enables
you to disseminate your findings
Is this a relevant scenario?
Is anyone in this position?
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Purpose
Purpose Of Web Site
When planning a Web site it is important to
think about its purpose
Is it:
• To provide information about a project to everyone
• To provide information to project partners
Does the Web site:
• Provide access to project deliverables e.g.
findings, reports, etc.
• Provide access to information about the
development of the project
Is the Web site:
• An information resource
• An interactive resource
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Purpose
Document Its Purpose
You should ensure that you document the
purpose of the Web site:
• All interested parties are made aware
• To prevent arguments in the future
• To identify the resource needed to develop and
maintain the Web site
• For use in a specification document
• To document what the Web site will not do
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Resources
Resourcing Your Web Site
In a proposal for research funding (in our
scenario) you will document:
• The aims of the project and resource
requirements
You should do the same with your Web site:
• The purpose of the Web site
• The technical architecture to be used
• The information flow for the creation and
maintenance of the Web site content
• The resources needed to do this:
• Staff effort
• Hardware
• …
 Software
 Network
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Scenario
Our Scenario
For our Web site let us imagine:
Purpose
• The Web site will be used to provide access to
published papers, presentations and data for our
scientific work
• Our target audience is fellow researchers around
the world
Resources
• We have very limited effort to develop the Web
site
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Architecture
Architecture
Areas to consider:
Standards: concerned with
protocols and file formats
Open standards vs. Proprietary
HTML / XML vs. PDF
CSS / XSL vs. HTML
GIF vs PNG
Applications: software
products used to implement
systems
Architectures: models for
implementing systems
NT / Unix
File system / database application
HTML tools / content management
Information Flow
Resources: financial and staff
costs needed to implement
systems
Apache / IIS
Development vs. Migration costs
FrontPage / Dreamweaver
Use of in-house expertise
Oracle / SQLServer
In-house vs. out-sourced
ColdFusion
vs ASP
Licensed vs. open source
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in digital information management
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Architecture
Architectures
Which platform should we use for the Web server:
Unix
• Popular, especially in many scientific institutions,
universities, etc.
• Linux is open source
Windows NT
• Also popular
• May be easier to use
• A Microsoft option may be unpopular
Other
• Macintosh??
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Architecture
Dedicated Server
Should we use a dedicated server for our Web
site or make use of an existing one?
Dedicated Server
• Funding may be available
• Have greater control
• Need resources to manage
Existing Server
• May be only option if no funding is available
• May be managed by others
• May not provide options we require
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Architecture
Dedicated Domain
Use of your own domain, such as :
http://www.project-name.it/
rather that:
http://www.university.it/depts/cs/
projects/project-name/
has advantages:
• Branding
• Shorter URLs
 Memorable
 …
But there are disadvantages
• Cost of domain
• Loss of identification with host organisation
• May conflict with organisation’s policy
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Case Study
Cultivate Interactive
Cultivate Interactive:
http://www.cultivate-int.org/
• An e-journal
funded by the EU
• Hosted on a
Windows NT
platform in order to
gain experience of
this platform
• Has its own
domain name to
maximise impact
• The Web site is intended for end users, not
for project partners
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Architecture
Backend Architecture
You will need to think about the backend architecture
for managing and accessing resources:
Server-side
Scripting
HTML Files
Options
Content Management
System
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Database
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Architecture
HTML Architecture
Use of HTML files:
• Is simple
• Likely to be HTML authoring tools available
• Can generate HTML from office tools (e.g. MS
Word)
But:
• HTML is difficult to repurpose (it’s an output
format rather than a master format)
• It’s difficult to manage large numbers of HTML
resources using this approach
• It’s difficult to introduce new functionality (e.g.
personalisation, enhanced user interfaces, etc.)
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Architecture
Server-Side Scripting
Use of server-side scripting (such as PHP or ASP):
• Allows HTML fragments to be included
• Similar approach to writing software using
subroutines
This approach also allows
header
conditional inclusion of fragments:
• Time of day
• User agent
navigation
• Cookies
• …
Main body
footer
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Architecture
Database
Use of databases (such as MySQL, Oracle or SQL
Server):
• Allows resources to be managed
• Can make use of RDBMS (relational database
management system) features
• Database normalisation techniques can ensure
that a piece of information (e.g. person’s name,
address, etc.) is stored only once, which helps
with maintenance
• Resources can be accessed using database
techniques (e.g. report writer) as well as by using
a Web interface
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Architecture
Content Management System
Use of a Content Management System (CMS):
• Provides many of the advantages of server-side
scripting and databases
• Also can provide additional management
facilities:
•
•
•
•
•
Version control
Project management
Access control
Publication utilities
…
But:
• Can be expensive
• Open source CMSs available, but may require
technical expertise to use
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Architecture for the Cultivate Interactive e-journal uses
file fragments (SSIs) which are included by a serverside script (ASP technology on a Windows NT Server)
issue8
resources
issue7
ssi
css
default.asp
header.ssi
ie-style.css
content.ssi
nav-top.ssi
ns-style.css
rss
Standard headers, etc.
managed separately
Case Study
Article content
managed by editor
Cultivate Interactive
Request for article <http://cultivate-int.org/issue7/rss/>
runs default.asp This checks the browser and pulls in an
appropriate CSS file. It then pulls in the header.ssi and
nav-top.ssi,
then the content.ssi file, …
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Architecture
Searching
If you have a Web site with more than a few
pages you should provide a search facility
Possible approaches include:
• Running licensed search facility locally
e.g. ht://Dig
• Running open source search facility locally
e.g. a Microsoft solution
• Using an externally-hosted search facility
e.g. Google, Freefind, etc.
See <http://www.searchtools.com/>
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Architecture
Approaches To Searching
Surveys of the search
facilities used in UK
University Web sites have
been carried out since
1997
ht://Dig is the most popular – this is an open source
solution
Externally-hosted solutions, such as Google and
Freefind are growing in popularity
See <http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/
issue30/web-watch/>
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Architecture
Externally-Hosted Solutions
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/
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Rather than install a
search engine
locally you can
make use of an
externally-hosted
solution, such as
Google.
To do this you
simply need to
complete a form
and then add a few
lines of the HTML
provided
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Architecture
Using Metadata
Metadata may enable you to provide richer
searching
Scenario – US Government Web Site
Find Bush
Pages about George Bush
and by George Bush, plus
details of Bushes in White
House garden
Find
author=Bush
Pages by George Bush
Note that not all search engines allow you
to index metadata 
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Architecture
Cultivate Interactive
In Cultivate Interactive the metadata is stored in a
neutral form. The metadata is transformed into
<META> elements using a single ASP script.
ssi
rss
default.asp
content.ssi
resources
issue7
issue8
metadata.ssi
author=“Kelly,B”
title=“RSS ..”
metadatatransform.ssi
Why This Approach?
If you wish to make the metadata
available in another form (e.g.
XHTML) you need to change a
single file
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<meta name=“DC.creator”
content=“Kelly,B” />
www.ukoln.ac.uk
Searching in Cultivate Interactive
Use of metadata is illustrated
http://www.cultivate-int.org/search/
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Information Management
Information Management
One we have a technical architecture for our Web site
we will need to define the information management
processes for creating and managing the content
Things to consider:
• Authoring Tools
• Conversion
• Standards
• Use of CSS
• Workflow
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Information Management
Authoring Tools
Many HTML authoring tools are available:
• FrontPage
• Dreamweaver
• HTML-Kit
• …
Issues:
• Cost
• Training
• Support for standards
• Use with HTML fragments
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The importance
of open
standards will
be discussed in
the third lecture
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Information Management
Conversion
In many cases you will have existing resources which
are in formats other than HTML (e.g. MS Word, PDF,
etc.)
What can be done with such resources:
• Make available in proprietary format:
• Bur readers without the viewer can’t access the
resource
• Convert manually (e.g. HTML Transit):
• This can be time-consuming
• Conversion may not comply with HTML standards
• Convert “on-the-fly” (e.g. Transit Central):
• This may be expensive
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Information Management
CSS
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS):
• Separation of content from appearance
cf. monolithic programming with modular
programming and use of subroutines
• Allows appearance to be managed independently
of content
• Allows appearance to be managed sensibly:
compare one CSS file defining appearance of all
files with appearance included in every file
But:
• Many HTML authoring tools provide limited
support for CSS
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Information Management
Workflow Issues
You may have developed an architecture but
have you identified the workflow processes:
• How will content for the Web site be submitted?
• Who will be responsible for converting files, file
markup, etc.?
• Who will be responsible for ensuring content is
accurate?
• Who will be responsible for ensuring that the
appearance is satisfactory?
• Who will be providing any metadata?
• Who will ensure that the resources work
correctly?
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Case Study
Cultivate Interactive
Processes for the Cultivate Interactive e-journal
Articles are normally submitted by
email in MS Word format
EDITOR
The editor does not
deal with the lookand-feel as standard
CSS files and
navigational features
will be used
Proofread
Convert (MS Word  HTML)
Tidy HTML and store as
fragment
Create metadata
Move to Web site
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Resources
Resourcing Your Web Site
Don’t forget the resources you will need to
develop and maintain your Web site!
Design
Server
Content
Backup
Desktop PCs
Management
Staffing
Hardware
Security
Technical
Authoring
Software
Networking
Cache
Graphics
Server tools
Development tools
ISP
Bandwidth
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Resources
Software For Free
Open Source Software
A wide range of open source software is available:
• Free – available for no charge
• Open – source code available for modification
Includes:
• Server software: Apache
• Authoring tools: HTML-kit
• Server-side scripting environments: PHP
• Content Management Software: Zope
• …
Note that you will need technical expertise in order to install
and use open source software.
Not
allofopen
source
software
provides value for money
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expertise
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management
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Resources
Software For Free
Externally-Hosted Services
Rather than installing software locally another
approach is to use remote services such as:
• Web statistics
• Online surveys
• Content
• …
Useful Resources
<http://www.free-webmaster-resources.net/>
<http://kresch.com/resources/>
<http://www.thefreesite.com/>
<http://www.mycomputer.com/index2.html>
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Case Study
Cultivate Interactive
http://www.exploit-lib.org/issue5/indicators/
Cultivate Interactive (and
its predecessor) made use
of an externally-hosted
service for providing usage
statistics
http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue23/web-focus/
An Ariadne article
summaries the
pros and cons of
this approach
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Legal Issues
Legal Issues
Do not forget the legal implications of running
Web sites:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Copyright, protection of IPR, …
Data Protection
Libel
Defamation
Contractual issues
Accessibility
…
You will need to think about the dangers
of others suing you and the need for you
to protect your own intellectual resources
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Legal Issues
Copyright
You find a Web site that you like so you:
• Copy the Web site and replaces its logo with
yours
• Copy its images and use on your Web site
• Copy the HTML in order to have a similar lookand-feel
• Copy its CSS file
• Copy its JavaScript
• Copy its words
All of these would breach the copyright of the owner!
Think about what you would think if you commissioned
a design for your Web site and a competitor stole it.
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Legal Issues
Copyright (2)
Some of the major companies will actively protect their
copyright:
• Images of Disney cartoon characters
• “Harry Potter” name, images, etc.
Companies such as Disney, AOL Time Warner, etc.
will:
• Include watermarks in their images, video clips,
etc. and use automated tools to find Web sites
using them
• Use search engine tools to find Web sites using
their trade marks without permission
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Legal Issues
Copyright (3)
What should you do?
• Develop your own resources, so that you own the
copyright
• Make use of copyright-free resources:
• Copyright-free clip art libraries
• Open source scripts
• …
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Legal Issues
Data Protection
EU legislation is becoming increasingly strict
on data protection issues:
• Information held about individuals must be
registered under the Data Protection Act
• The information must only be used for the
registered purpose
• The information must be accurate
• Individuals have rights to view the information
held about them
If you run a conference, you must be careful about
publishing delegate information on the Web
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Legal Issues
Link Policies
Can you add a link to a Web site without seeking
permission?
http://dontlink.com/
Some organisations do
not allow links to be
made unless permission
has been agreed!
It is currently unclear as
to whether this has any
legal standing
Linking. You may not link to this site without
prior written permission from ExxonMobil.
http://www.mobil.com/privacy/
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Legal Issues
Link Policies (2)
Can you think of any valid reasons for implementing
such link policies?
• “Deep links” can cause loss of revenue by users
missing ads on home page
• The <IMG> tag is a kind of link – and you wouldn’t
want your logo on someone else’s Web site
• You might not want to be linked to from a “World’s
Worst Web Sites” page!
From a scientific research point of view you should
probably treat links as valid forms of citation, and not
wish to place restrictions on others linking to you
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Legal Issues
Libel And Defamation
If your Web site contains:
“Dr Smith’s research findings are severely flawed.
This is not surprising as the man is an idiot and
should be sacked from his post”
do not be surprised if Dr Smith takes you to could for
defamation of character.
Do not be surprised if he wins!
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Legal Issues
An Acceptable Use Policy
You should develop an
Acceptable Use Policy for
your Web site which
covers:
• Content of your Web
site
• Rules for information
providers
•…
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/
computing/policies/
A Google search for “AUP” or “acceptable use policy”
will provide many examples
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Resources
Further Information
The Institutional Web Management Workshop:
• Has been held annually since 1997
• Is aimed at institutional Web managers in UK
Universities
• Lasts for 3 days
• Consists of:
• Keynote Presentations:
Case studies of best practices
• Workshop Sessions:
Discussion groups, hands-on sessions, etc. in which
participants make active contributions in areas of
interest
• Social Events:
Which help to develop a community spirit
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Resources
IWMW 2002
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/
events/workshops/webmaster-2002/
Let us review some of the main themes
from the most recent workshop
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Resources
QA For The Web Site
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/
events/workshops/webmaster-2002/qa/
The QA procedures
for the workshop
Web site are
available
In addition materials for a QA Workshop session are available
at <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/
webmaster-2002/materials/napier/
>
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Open Source Debate
A debate on “The house believes that the future of Web in UK
Higher and Further Education communities lies in the adoption
of open source software” took place at the workshop
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/webmaster-2002/debate/
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Resources
Further Information
Some useful resources:
• WDVL, <http://www.wdvl.com/>
• WebReference, <http://www.webreference.com/>
• Webmonkey,
<http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/>
• Web Developers Journal,
<http://www.webdevelopersjournal.com/>
• Builder.com, <http://builder.com.com/>
• Internet.com, <http://www.internet.com/home.html>
• Internet ProductWatch, <http://ipw.internet.com/>
• HTML Goodies, <http://www.htmlgoodies.com/>
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Questions
Any questions?
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