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Creating a Website. Part Two Navigation. Creating Usable Navigation. Provide enough location information to let the user answer the following navigation questions:. Where am I? Where can I go? How do I get there? How do I get back to where I started?. Creating Usable Navigation.
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Creating a Website Part Two Navigation
Creating Usable Navigation Provide enough location information to let the user answer the following navigation questions: • Where am I? • Where can I go? • How do I get there? • How do I get back to where I started?
Creating Usable Navigation To answer these questions, provide the following information: • Let users know what page they are on, and what type of content they are viewing • Let users know where they are in relation to the rest of the site
Creating Usable Navigation • Provide consistent, easy-to-understand links • Provide alternatives to the browser’s Back button that lets users return to their starting point
Limit Information Overload • Create manageable information segments • Control page length • Use hypertext to connect facts, relationships, and concepts
Using Text-Based Navigation • Text-based linking is often the most effective way to provide navigation on your site • It can work in both text-only and graphical browsers • Always provide a text-based set of links as an alternate means of navigation
Sample Text Navigation • To main pages (home, table of contents, index) • To the top of each chapter • Within the table of contents page to chapter descriptions • From table of contents page to specific topics within each chapter The following screens demonstrate a variety of text-based navigation options:
Sample Text Navigation • Between the previous and next chapter • Within chapter pages to each topic • To related information by using contextual links The following screens demonstrate a variety of text-based navigation options:
Graphics for Navigation • Standardize your navigation graphics • Provide predictable navigation cues for the user • Repeat graphics to minimize download time • Use consistent placement and design of navigation graphics to reassure the user • Use easily understandable graphics
Navigation Summary • Work from the user's point of view. Think about where users want to go within your site, and make it easy for them to get there. • Add plenty of links so it's easy to get around your site. Link to fragments as well as whole pages. Make it easy to get back to your navigation options. • In addition to providing links, make sure you provide plenty of location cues to let the user know where they are
Navigation Summary continued • Do you have to use graphics for linking? Rethink the objectives of your site and determine whether text will do as well. Every additional graphic adds to download time. • Don't forget to provide ALT values to your <img> tags to provide alternate navigation options for the user
Step Six Actual Building the Pages • Tables • Forms • Graphics • Typography
Using Table Elements • To build effective page templates, you must be familiar with the HTML table elements and attributes • The <table> element contains the table information, which consists of table row elements <tr>, and individual table data cells <td>. These are the three elements you will use most frequently when you are building tables.
Basic Table Code <TABLE BORDER> <TR><TD>Stock Number</TD><TD>Description</TD><TD>List Price</TD></TR> <TR><TD>3476-AB</TD><TD>76mm Socket</TD><TD>45.00</TD></TR> <TR><TD>3478-AB</TD><TD>78mm Socket</TD><TD>47.50</TD></TR> <TR><TD>3480-AB</TD><TD>80mm Socket</TD><TD>50.00</TD></TR> </TABLE>