Lesson 3
Site Organization
This lesson will focus on what pages lool like behind the scenes. No, I am
not refering to the html code. What I hope to help you with is seeing how
folders, and pages are set up on the server. Maybe this will help you more
in the future if you begin to write more pages. Remember, style is hard to
backup and change, and to be honest who has the time or desire to change
the folders and pages and all of the links that connect to and from those
pages? Not me, I've got to produce pages on a regular basis from 8-5 and
when I go home I've got three babies screaming for my full focused
attention. Once they are in bed, the last thing I want to do is get on
that stupid computer and think about making corrections.
On to the lesson.
What I want to point out in this lesson is:
- Files on a server and how they work.
- Best strcuture for folders and pages.
- Don't forget your images.
Here we Go!
Files on a server and how they work
Now, I am going to assume that you are not going to be the system
administrator for the server you are working on, so I will leave out
setting up the server for web use. That would take at least another
lesson or two.
If you look at the top of the page you will see the
server domain name followed by a / .
This denotes a folder or a page on the server is to follow. It is called
the pathname.
For example:
at the top of this page, unless I moved it you can see that the URL is:
http://www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog/mpm/training/lesson03.htm
If you break down the long address you can imagine how these folders are
sitting on the server.
The server_domain_name is: www.psrc.usm.edu/
The path names beyond that address show this:
the first folder is:
- Write down why the site appeals to you.
- What do you
like about it?
- What don't you like about it?
Animations
Next, animations - I find that most animations are quite anoying
when presented on a main page. I really hate those advertising banners
that are animated. I can really do without that! There are effective
places to present animations. If you are trying to demonstrate a process
or something like that. Anyway, it is your page do what you like. Keep it
to a minimum and you will probably be o.k. Simplicity rules!
Download Time
Download Time - This could break you. I mean How long are you
willing to wait for a page to download? I think the latest suggested size
is anything below 15K. Over that and people have to wait too long, and
they will probably leave your site before they really get a chance to see
what you have to offer. Keep it Simple!
Images
Images - Images can be great if they are used properly. See if the
sites you like use their images effectively. What types of images would
help your presentation. Simplicity is also a rule here. If you go
overboard with images people might get lost in the pretty pictures and
never see the content.
General Effect
General Effect - What I like to call GE. If you were ever in Drum
Corps you will understand. The general effect of a page is just that. What
you see overall.
- Is it pleasing to look at?
- Can you tell what it has to offer?
- Is this a site you will want to return to later?
- Do you like the layout?
- How is the navigation?
Keys to Effective Presentation
Keep it Simple! That's all you have to do to effectively present your
information. Don't get me wrong. Don't eliminate the things above, use
them, just keep it in check. Will this help dempnstrate my information
easily. Don't use this page as an example. It is a tutorial I put together
to go as a temporary stand alone until I have more time to work on it.
What you really need
What you really need to design a page others can use and enjoy is this:
-
A working knowledge of HTML - Hypertext Markup Language.
-
Some information to share.
-
A willingness to change its layout to make it work. Be flexible.
Go back to the Training Guide main page and check out the homework for
lesson 2.
Back
to the MPM Lesson Plans
page.
Back to the Training Guide Main Page.
Copyright ©1999 |
Department of
Polymer Science
|
University of
Southern Mississippi