Webpac conversion

Adrian Erb, Teresa Ashley, and Margaret Peloquin have been meeting continually on Thursday afternoons at the CYP FRC to work on converting the Webpac to the newer Skyline version. The process took this path:

• Training
  


• iii customizable files and forms
  
• importance of tokens
• wwwoptions
• styles.css
• toplogo and toplogo_loggedin
  


• coding the customizable forms
• resolving issues, e.g., using a "search" button instead of the iii submit button.

Adrian worked mostly with the electronic resources pages but pitched in where needed on other pages such as the catalog Help Center pages.

Teresa worked on the search pages and general design. She will continue work on converting the Spanish language pages during the Spring. (anticipated deadline end of the Spring session)

The new catalog will be operational by 11 Jan 2010 when librarians return to work. This should allow time to update graphics on any handout they may have.

Those on campus can preview the new catalog at
http://alicat.austincc.edu:2082/

Spanish pages that have been completed

Visitors FAQ
http://irtstaff.austincc.edu/tashley/Spanish/FAQ-LSvisitors-spi.htm

Unattended Children
http://irtstaff.austincc.edu/tashley/Spanish/faq-unattended-spi.php

Lending Policies
http://irtstaff.austincc.edu/tashley/Spanish/lending-about-spi.php

Locations
http://irtstaff.austincc.edu/tashley/Spanish/loc-spi.php

Take a look at the black top menubar on Lending Policies. I’ve added a link to the English version on this page. Margaret and I discussed having a link to the other language on these pages, but I wanted to try it on one to see how it worked.

Converting some pages to Spanish

Saidah Ochoa is working with a helper to translate some essential pages to Spanish.

Teresa Ashley is working on the coversion of the pages. Pages gotten so far:

• home page
• locations and hours
• lending policies (We may have to redo if Loan8 is published.)
• and something else that escapes me right now and I can't get to my email

Teresa will update the blog as she has draft pages done.

About the Library UMD

I like the clean style of this page.

About the library (univ of Minn at Duluth)

http://www.d.umn.edu/lib/admin/index.htm

Lending policies (update)

I've been working on creating one page that lists all of the user groups and loan periods instead of having 3 separate pages that say almost the same thing. I created a loan chart and asked the people most involved with circ loan rules to comment upon its accuracy. I have had no responses. Here is my first attempt at the one-page concept.

http://library.austincc.edu/gen-info/loan2.php

I may try a table with alternating colored rows instead.

HERE IS A FINAL DRAFT

http://library.austincc.edu/gen-info/loan8.php

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.

Minor changes to new home page per IRT request

I showed Maria (IRT Webmaster) our pages Thursday and she was really pleased. She asked me to make some minor changes. She asked me to change

1. the footer a little to make it look more like the ACC footer
2. add ICT to the left Nav bar under Services & Progs (The wording will be Media/Computer Centers (ICT)
3. add ICT to the quick links -- same wording as above

Item 1 --

In order to change the footer on the homepage, I moved the LS address info to the left column under the rotating Read poster. I adapted the ACC homepage and IRT homepage footer information to meet our needs. (Note: I had to comment out the original CSS style and use Maria's IRT style on the footer links to make them work correctly for us.) I also modified the footer for the sub pages to make it look similar.

Items 2 and 3 --

The length of the line was too short to include (ICT) and I don't think this is a deal breaker so I used only "Media and Computer Centers."

The page I'm working on is at
http://library.austincc.edu/LibHome-BB-foot.php

This is the page I will eventually use as the homepage. I have been working on some standard php includes for the sub pages that I can use also on this page so I'll use them in the final version.

Landing pages for breadcrumbs

[I've revised this page with more information.]
It appears that index.php does work the way index.htm works with breadcrumbs. Maria has made that feature active so that we can create the index.php version of the files listed below when we go active. I'll do this on Saturday, 22 Aug, so I can test them in preparation for Monday.

Will not have to do this:
{ Maybe I have to get Melanie to invoke something. However, we can use a redirect index.htm to achieve the same thing. And, it wouldn't have to be updated along with the base file. One just needs to know the base file name. }

Base file names:

/eresources/FindArticles.php
/gen-info/about.php (about the library)
/gen-info/AUP/acceptableUse.php
/gen-info/Dir/LS-Dir.php
/gen-info/Services/svc-prog.php
/help/GetHelp.php
/loc/index-loc.php

progress on gen-info pages plus TABLES

We are making big progress on the gen-info pages. Please see the updated spreadsheet at
http://acclswiki.austincc.edu/cm/wiki/?id=63168

Also, a Wowie today! with Teresa's table styling. I was able to simplify it a little for the faculty page for putting items on Reserve temporarily at:
http://library.austincc.edu/gen-info/SvcsNEW/reserves-fac-about.php

Maybe later, I'll play around with putting the code in an Excel spreadsheet along with our staff directory information for ease in updating the alpha list. Browser readers read this kind of table well.

Structure of the gen-info folders

This is really about the information/files which were all in the main /gen-info/ folder.

Note: When using breadcrumbs navigation, a "folder" has to have an index file to go back to after any file/webpage is viewed and someone chooses to use the breadcrumbs.

Previously this folder included a large number of files concerning staff directories, policies, lending information, information about various services and programs -- all in the main folder.

-- As an aside, there are existing subfolders in this main folder like /campuses/ or /knowhow/.

To make breadcrumb navigation more fruitful and intuitive, two subfolders will be added to group most of the numerous files within the main folder and the other files will remain in the main folder:

• Dir -- to contain all the staff directories
• Svcs -- to contain the files related to services and programs

The spreadsheet of LS Web files will be updated in the wiki which is linked from this page
(http://acclswiki.austincc.edu/cm/wiki/?id=63168)
to show the grouped files. The base breadcrumb page is indicated in red.

Some pages not to forget

There are some pages that really don't have to be converted -- at least, not right away and only to convert to css and away from tables -- don't really need the standard header and footer. Pages like

• ddeliv.htm
• the textbook pages
• the laptop pages, etc.

Note: These could be renamed temporarily if necessary to the php extension, but only if there might be a link we made to that new extension. We'll find when we have people test the site.

Some pages not to forget to convert: (I'll be adding to this as I think of them.)

• Locations and hours
• no chat versions of
  
• the homepage header
• the topsection4 header
• About the Library
• Mission statement

===============

Home Page changes

As I looked at the homepage, I thought that we might try to dampen warring colors a bit more. So, I amended the link color so that all the links are the same color basically. Then if we feature something, it might stand out a little more.

I saved both the homepage and the stylesheet with different file names so we could compare.

http://library.austincc.edu/mp4-LibHome-X.php (yesterday)

http://library.austincc.edu/mp4-LibHome-XBB.php (today)

Styling changes made

I made some style changes on some converted pages to a standard style that can be used by everyone. examples:

• http://library.austincc.edu/gen-info/lending-about.php
• http://library.austincc.edu/help/remove.php

See the styles that I added to csslayout-page4.css below.

Remember that you can always view the styles pages by putting the url to it in your browser address bar and then using View Source if you can't see it as a web page. (http://library.austincc.edu/scripts/csslayout-page4.css)

Note: I made red styles to fit different occasions. Mostly for title kinds of things, we want to consistently use #800000. However, there are some times when one just wants to make a statement or a phrase plain old red so I made instances of that, too.

If you need for me to add other styles like this, let me know.

................................................

span.Red { color: red;}
span.RedBold { color: red; font-weight: bold;}
.styleRed {color: red;}
.styleRedBold { color: red; font-weight: bold;}

span.Red80 { color: #800000;}
span.RedBold80 { color: #800000; font-weight: bold;}
.styleRed80 {color: #800000;}
.styleRedBold80 { color: #800000; font-weight: bold;}

.indentboth28 {padding-right: 28px; padding-left: 28px;}

hr {color:#ccc; background-color:#ccc;height:.1em; border:1px solid; text-align:left;/*this will align it for IE*/
margin: 0 auto 0 0; /*this will align it left for Mozilla*/
}

#hangright {float: right; margin: 4px 5px 20px 20px;
border: 2px solid #ccc; background-color:#E5ECF4;
padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px ; font-size: 90%;line-height: 1.6em;
}

#hangright h4 {color: #800000;}

Styling checks to do

Some styling things to do:
==============================


span.Red { color: red;}
span.RedBold { color: red; font-weight: bold;}
.styleRed {color: red}
.styleRedBold { color: red; font-weight: bold;}
.styleRed80 {color: #800000}
.styleRed80Bold { color: #800000; font-weight: bold;}

=================================

.indentboth28 {padding-right: 28px; padding-left: 28px;}

=================================


Change the instances that Adrian uses her red styles to one of these.

Check for the "indentboth" in all files to see what's where.

Check Teresa's box to amend "hangright" a little. [i.e., Use some of message-box, but keep to original concept for consistency.]


=================================


#message-box {
background: #fff;
padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;
font-family: helvetica, sans serif; color:#000;
font-size: 11px;
font-weight: normal;
line-height:18px;
text-align:left;
}

#hangright {float: right; margin: 4px 5px 20px 20px;
/* border-top: thin solid silver;border-right: thin ridge silver;border-bottom: 2px groove silver;border-left: thin solid silver; */
border: 1px dotted silver; background-color:#E5ECF4;
padding: 6px 6px 6px 6px; font-size: 90%;line-height: 1.6em;
}

Latest version Libhome

So as not to have too many warring colors on the page, I've toned it down a little. This may change. Here is the url for this version:

http://library.austincc.edu/mp4-LibHome-box4-bigLTRS.php

Moving on to the rest of the /eresources/ pages

I'll begin/finish the rest of the eresources pages.

• AtoZ.htm -- done >> AtoZ.php (formerly mp4-page4-AtoZ-2.php)
• AtoZ-sans.htm
• ebooks.htm -- done >> ebooks.php (formerly mp4-page4-ebooks-2.php)
• engines.htm
• Findarticles.htm -- done >> findarticles.php (formerly mp4-page3-ERES-x4.php)
  
• index.htm -- ditto above file is this -- will rename index.php when launch
  
• OtherLibs.htm
• pubmed-pop.htm [don't need to change]
  
• searching-tips.htm (linked from engines page)
  
• searchsite.htm
• SubGen.htm -- done >>SubGen.php (formerly mp4-page4-SubGen-2.php)
  

Note: I need to fix the "hangright" Other E-Resources Lists.
-->> Change links to php files
-->> Add engines

Library directories finished

All the new directories are in
http://library.austincc.edu/DirNEW/

They are all linked from the base page at
http://library.austincc.edu/gen-info/DirNEW/LS-Dir.php

Some notes:

-- For the most part, I was able to use the campus library staff photos in the /campuses/ directory. When the photos were too high, I trimmed them to a shorter size when I could. I had to resize the entire NRG photo because I couldn't trim it at all. Perhaps when we have new photos, we need to rethink how we place people.
-- For the Administrative Offices photo, I just linked to the campus photo on the RGC campus web site. That worked pretty well.
-- I used no photo on the FAX number directory.

Adding a Feedback section to the homepage

At Teresa's suggestion, I've added a Feedback section and graphic to the homepage. See the result at
http://library.austincc.edu/mp4-LibHome[white]-box3Feed2.php

I'll work on the preferred Search Box (with the square corners) and play around with the color a little. (Adrian prefers not having a color different from the colors currently on the page.)

I want to have people see it so it shouldn't disappear into the page. However, I don't want it jump out at you so much that students will think that you can find articles by entering information here.

Some thoughts about LS Directory Pages Redesign09

-------------------------------------------------------------
1 LS-DIR
-------------------------------------------------------------
1.1 Page leading to other directories

1.2 Use rotating campus graphics as we do on the current library home page.
1.2.1 See code from current home page
1.2.2 [[a href="http://library.austincc.edu/gen-info/campuses/"][img src="http://library.austincc.edu/graphics/campusPIX/rotate.php" hspace="5" align="center" alt="See our Featured Campus" border="0"/][/a]]


-------------------------------------------------------------
2 OTHER DIRECTORIES -- mostly campus directories
-------------------------------------------------------------

The thought is that the content is OK, but we could use the picture of the staff for each campus library somewhere on the page. We'd get these pictures from the /campuses/ folder which we currently link to from each directory page under the address. Example: More about the RGC Library

2.1 ls-dir-admin
2.1.1 no image to use here

2.2 ls-dir-cyp
2.2.1 Use campus staff image

2.3 ls-dir-evc
2.3.1 Use campus staff image

2.4 ls-dir-nrg
2.4.1 Use campus staff image

2.5 ls-dir-pin
2.5.1 Use campus staff image

2.6 ls-dir-rgc
2.6.1 Use campus staff image

2.7 ls-dir-rvs
2.7.1 Use campus staff image

2.8 ls-dir-sac
2.8.1 Use campus staff image

2.9 ls-dir-tsa
2.9.1 Use campus staff image

2.10 ls-dir-fax
2.10.1 no image to use here

2.11 Probably content is pretty much transferable


-------------------------------------------------------------
3 Alphabetic List of all staff
-------------------------------------------------------------

3.1 Use rotating campus graphics
3.1.1 See code from current home page
3.1.2 [[a href="http://library.austincc.edu/gen-info/campuses/"][img src="http://library.austincc.edu/graphics/campusPIX/rotate.php" hspace="5" align="center" alt="See our Featured Campus" border="0"/][/a]]

3.2 Probably content is pretty much transferable

Sunday - 12 July - htm to php links cleanup FAQs

I'm cleaning up the ".htm" links on the FAQs this morning.

There are some pages with that extension that probably don't need to be changed at this time since they are what I term end pages. That is, they are a group of pages that don't need the banner or php includes of any kind. They are mostly informative about a specific thing like wireless laptops, or maybe even the textbook collection.

There are a few links that I am not sure will be finished by the time we go live, like the reserves pages. I've left those links alone, too.

Progress on the homepage

After our conference call yesterday, I've implemented some of the changes we talked about. Since Pam Spooner needed something for an orientation for the fall, I put together this page. [I did warn her that it might not end up looking exactly like this; but she was satisfied that it would do.] Two of the links are live for her purposes -- online tutorials and Get Help.

The first example -- the one Pam used -- uses a rounded corner box that uses images. ( I got the original box code and style from Ryan Thrash.) The color is set because of the images colors. I can play around a bit with the size. See this example at
http://library.austincc.edu/mp4-LibHome[white]-box.php

The second example isn't as pretty but I can change the color and play around a lot with this one.
http://library.austincc.edu/mp4-LibHome[white]-box3.php

Converting links to php extension

When converting pages to the new look, many if not most pages will have a "php" extension. These pages will probably have the same filename but the new extension. For example,

• faq-ACC-contact.htm will now be faq-ACC-contact.php
• ask.htm >>>>> ask.php
• studyguides.htm >>>>> studyguides.php

We will need to check all the links to library web pages within our new look pages for links to the old "htm" pages.

Note: The template we must use when we are doing most of the remaining pages -- especially, pages that have links to anchors -- is m4-page4.php which resides in the root directory.
(http://library.austincc.edu/mp4-page4.php)

Progress on Help Pages & E-Resources pages

General Note: Any time "link to anchors" is needed on a page, we have to use the page 4 template even if it is what we might think of as a page 3 level.

I've done the major HELP pages:

• Ask a Librarian
• Library FAQs (not sure of progress on individual FAQs)
• Research Shortcuts [Note: working on general subject list to shortcuts; need to revise SubGen with new links when finished.]
• Documentation guides
• Study Guides
  
• Online Tutorials
• Off-Campus/Distance Learners
• Research/Reference Help [Note: will be the index page for the breadcrumbs.]
  
• Library Widgets & Tools

Have been working on a general template for ERESOURCES pages. Have completed

• AtoZ [Note: I've created an alternate list emulating the navigation left sidebar to look at. We need to decide if this is the way to go. I don't favor it but I am open.]
• SubGen
• Find Articles & Research Info [Note: index page for breadcrumbs.]
• e-Books

Problem with anchor links on level 3 pages

Level three pages use a particular styling mechanism to make all the columns on the page appear equal in height. The method involves using a bottom padding and a negative margin for the columns and an overflow style. After pondering this for two or three days and researching on the web, I realized that most methods suggested would not solve the problem for our level three pages. However, I could solve the problem for our one column pages (level 4) by simply removing the padding and negative margin. See below an example.


/* Note: removing the column adjustment 700px will allow linking to anchors.
#MidBox {top: 0; margin:0; padding: 0; width:897px; float:left; background-color:#fff; border-right: 0px solid #000; padding-bottom: 700px; margin-bottom: -700px; list-style-position: outside; color: #000;} */

The end result of this discovery means that some of our /eresources/ pages like AtoZ and the Subject List to E-Resources, will need to be one column level four pages. This is my next area to work on.

Get Help pages near final draft

Level Three pages [ GET HELP ]

We've been playing around with level three pages and what is possible with the styling at this level. For the most part, the styling adapted from ACC Web works fairly well for this level page. We have reached a near final draft of these pages:

• Ask a Librarian (http://library.austincc.edu/help/mp4-page3-ask-x4.php)
• Library FAQs list page (http://library.austincc.edu/help/FAQs/mp4-page3-FAQs-x4.php)
• Research Shortcuts (http://library.austincc.edu/help/mp4-page3-shortcuts-x4.php)
• Documentation (http://library.austincc.edu/help/mp4-page3-documentation-x4.php)
• Study Guides (http://library.austincc.edu/help/mp4-page3-studyguides-x4Plus.php)
• Online Tutorials (http://library.austincc.edu/help/mp4-page3-tutorials-x4.php)
• OffCampus initial help (http://library.austincc.edu/help/mp4-page3-offCampus-x4.php)
• Research/Reference Help (http://library.austincc.edu/help/mp4-page3-refSvcs-x4.php)

Steve is working on the individual FAQs using the level 4 template which has only one column. We are putting these in a separate FAQs folder called NEW until we launch the pages. You can view some examples at

• http://library.austincc.edu/help/FAQs/NEW/faq-renew.php
• http://library.austincc.edu/help/FAQs/NEW/faq-books.php
• http://library.austincc.edu/help/FAQs/NEW/faq-other-lib.php
  

Problems that have popped up:

• avoiding using tables (faqs were full of them)
• unable to link to anchors on level 3 pages (see separate blog entry)

Footer-Other file

I realized that now that I am using PHP includes for the topsection and for the footer, I needed to delete the "last revision" date from the footer. Otherwise, the date would not get changed for revisions of individual pages.

I removed the line from footer-other.htm and added a space at the bottom.

This means that I need to go into the currently created new files and add a revision statement at the bottom of each.

[div align="right" style="font-size: 0.9em;"][br]
last revision: 6/19/09[/div] Note: using square brackets instead of angled ones so code will show.

Page 4 level info

Page 4 level pages are usually the level at which we have much content, e.g., ILL information, textbook information, laptop guidelines, etc. To make this work better, it is best to have pages wider than the ACC standard of 760px. Although many web designers are designing for resolution 1024, I decided to make our pages a little less wide and we are using 900px as a compromise. The transition from our 760px home page is not as surprising. (Note: Using 760px for the library homepage because we are a direct link (tier two) from the ACC homepage.)

After working with this 900px width, it became apparent that we needed to make our level 3 pages (and maybe those few level 2 pages, too) wider as well. This would help solve some of the problems we are having when our level 3 pages are too long and break.

See the test level 3 page (Library FAQs) at
http://library.austincc.edu/help/faqs/mp4-page3-FAQs-x4x2.php

See the generic template for level 4 at
http://library.austincc.edu/mp4-page4.php

See the FAQ template for individual FAQs at
http://library.austincc.edu/help/faqs/mp4-page4-FAQ-temp.php

Tracking files to be managed in the redesign

I have created a spreadsheet to track the current pages related to the LS Website that need to be either:

• converted
• deleted
• archived

I've attached the spreadsheet to the wiki page:

Progress on the Redesign

Find on Page

I've been trying to find a good script for a "Find on Page" option for pages with long lists. [For those people who don't know about CTRL F or the browser Find option]

I did find one that works very well in IE but doesn't jump to the word in Firefox.

See http://library.austincc.edu/help/mp4-page3-shortcuts[1].php

Footer after home page

Note to self:

Make Get Help more apparent in the footer, i.e., footer2.htm.
It blends in too much to be helpful.

Page 3 Level Ponderings

Starting work on page 3 level design. (5/31/09) Progress noted in green. (6/4/09) Further progress noted in blue. (6/7/09)

Use as base http://library.austincc.edu/mp4-page3-tutorials.htm [Note: nothing there yet has changed (5/31/09) except underlying stylesheet.] Changes reflected in page named, mp4-page3-tutorials.php.

• Style sheet = csslayout-page3.css
• Have changed "topsection" to correlate to smaller graphic 756x50. Now named topsection3.
  
• Removed height style for "topmenubar." [Note: should do this across the board.]
• Page renamed with extension "php" so that we can use php command lines in the file.
• Have used "php includes" for the topsection and the footer so that the constant top part and footer part do not have to be hardcoded into the level 3 pages. {Includes allow the inclusion of external files in the body of the page; in this case, included are topsection3.htm and footer-other.htm.}
  
• Maybe use LEFTNAV style instead of main-content1 on left sidebar on this level page and ff. (See left-navigation.txt.) Created a new "navlist" for left sidebar. Includes code for indication of current page.
  
• Include javascript for breadcrumbs on this level page and ff. Make into a division instead of table.
• Put in columnhead for main-content3 (right large column)
  
• Added embedded styles and modified from original:
  
• #control, .breadcrumb
• Actually, used a new style class "crumbs".

Have created two test pages to illustrate function of lefnav menu:
-- Tutorials (http://library.austincc.edu/help/mp4-page3-tutorials.php)
-- Research Shortcuts (http://library.austincc.edu/help/mp4-page3-shortcuts.php)

Help by Subject

I rather like the way that Boston College does its Help by Subject page. Perhaps we could adapt our page to emulate this approach.
http://www.bc.edu/libraries/help/subject.html

Possibly we can anticipate that Red (and some others) might want a simple listing of databases by subject. This will be possible when Adrian finishes her CASE input. That will result in a generated page of e-resources A-Z and a subject list of e-resources. See, for example, the database listing at Texas State (http://catalog.library.txstate.edu/search/y)

Subtle Color chart

I've started a chart reflecting some subtle colors. (Well, maybe some aren't so subtle.)

Anyone can add possibilities to this chart.

http://irtstaff.austincc.edu/peloquin/09Redesign/redesign09-maybe-colors.xls

Tier Two Thoughts

This page will have the same topsection and topmenubar as Home.

See the document
http://irtstaff.austincc.edu/peloquin/09Redesign/TierTwo-Divs-classes.doc

Possible Changes:

• Smaller footer (?? footer2)
• Sidebar menu -- Should it remain the same? [[probably]]
  
• Currently the large content area uses style div main-content3 with an inline style changing the width to 565 px. Should probably be given it it's own style name -- ?? "right-content" -- with similar styles and that added to the main style sheet (now called csslayout_homepage[2].css)
• Note: We will eventually call the stylesheet something like "csslayout-library.css"
• Should we have a separate stylesheet for tier two? Probably not, but we should for other following pages -- e.g., list of tutorials or AtoZ list -- because they will have a smaller topsection and possibly a breadcrumb trail.
  

09Redesign Pages CSS Divs/Classes

In organizing my thoughts for the redesign, I've created a graphic which outlines the major CSS Divisions and Classes. The stylesheet is adapted to fit our needs from Edward Terry's master stylesheet so as to maintain the look of the ACC website while enabling our content to fit the needs of the students and faculty.

The document with the descriptive outlines can be found at
http://irtstaff.austincc.edu/peloquin/09Redesign/Home-Divs-classes.doc

As the second tier and following pages firm out, I'll create a similar document to guide the persons who convert the pages.

The intention is that templates be created for those second and ff pages so people don't really have to know the names of divisions and classes, but it may help with troubleshooting.

All stylesheets created will be made known to all persons who will be working on the conversion. Changes to stylesheets will affect many pages, so any variations should be coordinated with the persons working on pages. If only one page is affected, then the change should be reflected in the embedded style on the page and documented by comments.

More surveys - Student Quick (Can't Find It?)

Put a link under KNOW HOW to get information about things that student can't find on the website.


.. to do research ONLINE! Online Tutorials
can't find it? ... Help us help you!

More surveys - LS staff specifics

email (4/30/09) to staff ---

New Look Survey 2 -- Your invitation from the Web Committee -- Deadline 11 May 2009

The Web Committee is looking for more of your ideas about the Library Home Page. We encourage thinking outside the box! (... as much as the design allows.)

Since we have to stick with the design suggested by the mockup presented at the All-LS meeting in January, we are seeking more specific information from you about What Goes Where on the home page.

We are asking for your ideas in the survey at
http://researchguides.austincc.edu/survey-newlook

[Note: This survey is not public and can be seen only through the link above.]

The survey format asks for you to respond with your ideas about certain areas of the home page by using the 'Comment' function.
[Although the system will ask for your name and email address, you can remain anonymous by using the generic library email address "library@austincc.edu" but you must enter a valid email address.]

You can view others' comments and then add your own comments. You will be able to use the toggle function and show and hide comments for each survey option. (For an example of how to do this, see the link to a help video in the instructions on the first tab.)

Each area is listed on a separate tab. The final tab gives you the opportunity to offer ideas about the home page not covered elsewhere and the library web site in general.

Note: If you think of something else after you have already given comments, you can return to the survey and add more comments.

General Ideas regardless of anything else

==============================
Steps Independent of other Actions
==============================

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although group decisions will affect content and sometimes layout, we need to start somewhere.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------
1 - Create draft example pages
-------------------------------------------------------------

1.1 Home
1.2 Major second tier

-------------------------------------------------------------
2 - Create draft templates
-------------------------------------------------------------

2.1 Use php includes

example:

2.1.1 header
2.1.2 sidebar
2.1.3 footer

By using includes, we can create files that can be used when we need recurring exceptions:

For example, during breaks, we need to remove the LivePerson chat link (which I assume will remain on the top nav bar).
We can create a "header" include and a "headerSansChat" include for

• homepage
• next tier pages

2.2 Caveat: Will have to strip current content pages of their embedded styles.

-------------------------------------------------------------
3 - Create appropriate styles for tier pages if necessary
-------------------------------------------------------------

3.1 Caveat: Will have to strip current content pages of their embedded styles.

Thoughts on further surveys

We need to begin to do more about getting ideas from both staff and students about specifics.

http://irtstaff.austincc.edu/peloquin/09Redesign/survey-thoughts-030509.doc

LS Staff Survey Results

Here are two compilations of the survey results:

• http://irtstaff.austincc.edu/peloquin/09Redesign/staffSurvey-home(sorted1).xls
• http://irtstaff.austincc.edu/peloquin/09Redesign/survey1-results-supergrouped.doc

LS Staff Survey

Email to Staff (2/20/09):
The Web Committee is working towards a redesign of the Library Web Site to look more like the ACC Web Site. (Anticipated completion date is mid-July.)

The first thing we want your opinion on is the look of the Library Home Page. [Note: You will be asked about other library web pages later.]

Please go to this LS Staff Survey to give us your ideas about how we can redesign our home page. Your opinions are very valuable to us and we would like you to give us as much information as you can. In
particular, we want to know what content or links you feel should be on the home page. So, think about this before you begin the survey.

The deadline for completing this survey is next Saturday, 28 February.
http://library.austincc.edu/survey/surveyStaffMail.htm

Any questions should be directed to me. Thanks for your participation. --mp

09 Redesign

Here is a mind map of the process for redesigning.

http://irtstaff.austincc.edu/peloquin/09Redesign/09RedesignFl.pdf