Links on the Library Catalog affected by the revised web site

The links on the right sidebar listed under "Other Resources" had to be updated on the following files:

help_request.html
mainmenu-noFeature.html
mainmenu.html
opacmenu.html
srchhelp_a.html
srchhelp_b.html
srchhelp_c.html
srchhelp_d.html
srchhelp_i.html
srchhelp_j.html
srchhelp_m.html
srchhelp_p.html
srchhelp_q.html
srchhelp_r.html
srchhelp_s.html
srchhelp_sy.html
srchhelp_t.html
srchhelp_Y.html

Launch Strategy

======== Launch Strategy ========

1 Planned launch date: 24 Aug 09 (1st class day of Fall 2009)

2 Have FT librarians test links from new home page
-----2.1 Fix broken links, etc.

3 Have IRT Webmaster make final suggestions
------3.1 Implement suggestions

4 Prepare the base index page for each folder
-----4.1 Check each NEW backup folder for base index pages
-----4.2 Load index.php files Sunday before classes
----------4.2.1 Rename LibHome-final.php to index-libhome.php
-----4.3 Archive all index.htm files
-----4.4 final link test Sat/Sun
----------4.4.1 During Test copy all links to htm files to a text file.
----------4.4.2 Compare to file lists and archive extraneous files. [at a later time]

5 Retire old homepage on Sunday

Toward the finish line

Excerpted from the mindmap with a few details to finish:

-------------------------------------------------------------
7 Launch Strategy
-------------------------------------------------------------
7.1 Planned launch date: 24 Aug 09 -- 1st class day of Fall 2009)
7.2 Have FT librarians test links from new home page
---- 7.2.1 Fix broken links, etc.
7.3 Have IRT Webmaster make final suggestions
---- 7.3.1 Implement suggestions
7.4 Prepare the base index page for each folder
---- 7.4.1 load Saturday before classes
---- 7.4.2 final link test Sat/Sun
7.5 Retire old homepage on Sunday

-------------------------------------------------------------
8 Windup
-------------------------------------------------------------
8.1 Identify superseded pages
8.2 Archive superseded pages
8.3 Clean up stray files
8.4 Prepare for getting feedback from users

Documenting and Using templates for addtional pages

Now that we have played around with ideas and settled pretty much on what pages in particular sections should look like in general, I am beginning to document how the pages are constructed. After consulting with Maria Youngman, IRT Webmaster, I noted that I can use more php includes than I thought of doing originally on the sub pages.

Note: The homepage really stands alone but I can use some of the same includes to make it a cleaner page.

Before I go any further, I need to explain to those who might not know... In order to use templates that contain php includes, you must get the file itself from the server via ftp. Simply saving a web page file from a browser will not work. Once a page is displayed in a browser, the includes are deployed and one sees the code that the included file contains rather than the include statement itself. (See an example in the comments to this post.)

I've created the first template with comments (subPageTemplate-LeftRightCols.php) to be used when creating new pages that will use the two column style with a left navigation bar, e.g., most of the HELP pages like "ask.php." I've loaded the Includes files in the root directory and I will place the template files like this one in a folder called /Templates2009/.

The Includes files have also been placed in a subfolder (subpages) within the /Templates2009/ to identify and store them. They are currently:

• topsection4.php
• MetaStyleScript-sub.php
• Message-sub.php
• footer-other.htm
• PageTracker-sub.php

I plan to turn the template files themselves into documents to be used for training possibly using colors and highlighting to enhance readability. The comments are already in the files.

Testing the pages

An email went out to the FT Reference Librarians on Monday afternoon 8/10/09 asking for their help in testing the links on the new pages. They were given these instructions:

-------------------------
Please open two instances of the home page test file. (This is just in case you accidentally return to the current home page during the test.)

• Note: Breadcrumbs will not really work until we go live.
• Use the browser BACK button to go back to this page.
• Note2: There are a few pages we intend to convert that are not finished.
  

As you explore, if you run into a broken link, please note two things for us:

• The name or url of the page you were on.
• The name (wording on the page you were on) of the broken link.
• For example: Broken link labeled Citing Styles on the new home page; Or, Broken link labeled Courtesy on http://library.austincc.edu/gen-info/lending-about.php

----------------------------

We received some very helpful information about broken links (and a few other questions) this week. All in all, there were very few broken links. All of them have been fixed.