Solution

Design Exercise

The following table can be used to assist in the design exercise.

Figure 1 Table used In Design Exercise

Directory Structure

A sample directory structure for part of the exercise is illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Directory Design

In Figure 2 the following signs are used:

*	The directory will be repeated for other instances using a defined naming convention (initials followed by surname [e.g. jbloggs]; newsnnn, newsflnn, doc-codenn {e.g. beg05, fur13 or fac12] or software name).
$	Main menu entry point.

Issues

Some of the issues to consider include:

• Will personal home pages be allowed? Where should they be located? What can and can't they say?
• Who is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the content?
• Who is responsible for ensuring consistency of look and reel and writing style?
• Who is responsible for ensuring the quality of the HTML?
• The naming convention to be used.
• The persistency of URLs.
• Skills levels needed and associated training requirements
• Naming conventions
• HTML authoring model

Responsibilities

The Information Officer will be responsible for finalising documents before final printing. As part of the final printing exercises, the document will be converted to HTML format (using rtftohtml or Internet Assistant), copying files to the WWW server and links from the appropriate menu files updated.

Permissions needed:
Update docs.html file. Create directories beneath this level.

Software Support Staff will be responsible for updating help files for software and for adding links to corresponding documentation (or should this be done by the Information Officer?).

Permissions needed:
Software support staff group require update permissions to software.html Also need to create directories beneath this level.

The Administrative Assistant will be responsible for updating the staff list and [providing link so the files containing names and phones numbers for each individual member of staff.

Individual members of staff will be responsible for maintaining the name.further.html (subject to departmental and organisational rules and guidelines and UK legislation).

HTML Tools

The following tools will be used:

• Word For Windows and Internet Assistant For Word
• PowerPoint and Internet Assistant For PowerPoint
• Unix / PC editor
• A Database Gateway

Using The Tools

Microsoft Office software (Word and Powerpoint) will be used in a rigorous way (e.g. consistent use of styles in Word) as the main authoring tools. Internet Assistant will be used, with a modified template to produce a consistent department look and feel. Modifications to menu files will normally be made on the Unix WWW server using a Unix editor (emacs or vi). Staff will little Unix experience will copy the file to their PC and use a PC editor. An FTP Client (e.g. Rapid Filer) will be used to copy the file between the PC and Unix system and to rename the file (to change from .htm to .html) Microsoft's dbWeb (or equivalent) will be used to provide dynamic access to the cluster database.

Information Not Made Available

Personnel Details will not be made available on the Web.

Material on this page is copyright Ariadne/original authors. This page last updated on September 11th 1996