The following are some easy tips for building websites that may help not only your website visitors, but yourself as well!
- Create an index page (index.htm, html,php) for every directory. This will enable you to point at general directories with links (http://www.austincc.edu/directory/) without being restricted to a file extension. It also looks nice in publications and reports!
- Always label Adobe PDF links and other document as such. No one likes clicking on a PDF link without knowing that it is a PDF file. Take a look at the icon list style tutorial for a stylish way to do this.
- Do not link PDF's from main menu links. If possible recreate the content in html and
place it in its own page or link to the pdf form within the body of the webpage. If you have many PDF and other types of documents, create a page(s) in which these can be browsed altogether.
- Avoid opening pages in new windows. Often modern pop up blockers will prevent your page from loading. If you absolutely need to open a page in a new window, alert the user of the action. Example:
- ACC Homepage
*Link opens a new browser window, you may need to disable your pop up blocker to view.
- Link text that describes the content that will be displayed. Aviod linking the actual url.
Example: ACC Continuing Education Course Schedule for Web Authoring and Website Design
- If you are copying and pasting from a Microsoft Word Document or other type of file format, use "Paste Text Only" or "Paste Special" in your edit menu if available. Then format the text using your editors tools. This will reduce the amount of proprietary code that your webpage contains.
