Another Detail of University Web Guidelines

The University of Texas at Austin (UT) has a more detail Web Guidelines. They have specific protocols for these items:

• Accessibility
• Browser Versions and Standards
• Cascading Style Sheets
• Colors
• File and Link Naming
• Historical Content
• Metadata
• Page Size and Download Time
• Privacy and Copyright
• Site Architecture and Navigation
• Templates
• Typography and Fonts.

Accessibility

Their university Web site must comply with the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 206.70 Accessibility Standard. They also offers guidance on usability, designing accessible Web site and its quality assurance. All Web pages must have a link to explain the accessibility policy.

Browser Versions and Standards

Preferred secure (graphical) browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) 7.0 or higher for Windows, Firefox 1.05 or higher, and Safari 1.2 or higher for Macintosh. Where is Opera? We did not see it on web accessibility guidelines of MS University also. Lynx 2.8.3 or higher is a choice for the text browser, especially on the testing purposes.

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

Separation of X/HTML and CSS is recommended by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). CSS is for reusability. But, with or without CSS, content must be accessible and logically/semantically structured.

Color

For their internal Web sites, they chose unique color, burnt orange–#cc5500. They also have the palette of ready-made color schemes. Easier for the developer to use the proper color.

File and Link Naming

A logical naming system will help usability. Easier to use–remember, find, type. Some shorter, relative, and consistent URLs are recommended as on their sample of choice. Short and descriptive file names are better option. Anchor texts must be meaningful. Do not use ‘click here’ and useless redundancy.

Historical Content

To provide accurate content, access to historical content should be available for informational purposes.

Pages displaying historical statements are no longer maintained and may contain outdated information:

• may not display correctly in modern Web browsers,
• may contain links to pages that no longer exist,
• may have links removed that were in the original version.

Content which no longer properly maintained should be removed/designated as historical.

Metadata

It is all about data. Metadata is still important. Especially for the library catalog. It can be used to relate Web pages of similar topics or authors. They recommend the Dublin Core elements.

<!−− Dublin Core Metadata (DC) −−>
<!−− use organization name here −−>
<meta name=”DC.Creator” content=”The University of Texas at Austin”>

<!−− for the name of the resource assigned by the publisher −−>
<meta name=”DC.Title” content=”Web Guidelines – Metadata”>

…

Mobile

For mobile devices, they are using dot mobi services. It should validate to XHTML Basic 1.0. Images must be accessible and usable. They realize, some handhelds:

• do not recognize @import or @media,
• have limited client side script,
• have float (use one column layout), margin, padding, frames, table, pop-ups, dynamic effects (mouse/keyboard dependant) problems.

Page Size and Download Time

Less than 100K page size and 10 seconds download time are recommended. Screen resolution is maximized for 800×600 or higher, statistically proven. They strongly discourage creating Web designs that require horizontal scrolling on 800×600 pixel. Web pages should have 720 or 760 pixels wide to avoid the scrolling. Custom elastic or liquid layout if needed.

Privacy and Copyright

As of privacy requirement, refer to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the university has a copyright page. Their internal Web sites should be aware of it.

Site Architecture and Navigation

Usability and readability art. Do not make users think! Choose proper language and terms for selected audience. Use clear task. Give easy to find information and navigate between Web pages.

Using the same term to refer to different pages must be avoided. Links and navigation must be consistent.

Not all users understand those abbreviations/acronyms. Spell out it at their first use.

They and some other guidelines suggested to not link pages back to themselves. But, I think this type of links –eg. in the post title– are still usable while we need to open it in new tab option. What do you think?

Templates

They offer some sets of templates. The complete and minimal one. The last is available to modify by departments and colleges.

Typography and Fonts

Use relative font size. Font color are #333333 (dark grey) and #cc5500 (UT burnt orange). Verdana (sans-serif) is their font type of choice for the readability.

How about your school or university Web sites?

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