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Website Guidelines
Don't change URLs
Avoid changing the URL of web pages
Rationale - Changing
URLs will break any bookmarks and external links to the site
Methods - If a URL
must change, inform the webmaster so that accomodations can
be made.
URLs must be valid and always linked
All links must include the http://
part in the URL. If a URL is ever written out in a document,
it must be a link.
Rationale - some browsers
cannot handle links which do not append http://
to the beginning of the URL. Having a URL written out, but
not making it a link forces an extra step on the user unnecessarily.
Methods - Examples:
http://library.usm.maine.edu/Instruction/databasesearching.html
is incorrect.
Use http://library.usm.maine.edu/Instruction/databasesearching.html
or preferably database
searching instead.
Don't use recursive links
Pages should not have links to themselves.
Rationale - Users expect
to go to a different page when they follow a link.
Methods - Do not link
to the current page.
Give Links Context
Ensure that each link's text corresponds
directly to the location it brings you to. Avoid the use of
"click here", "this link", or "here
are links".
Rationale - When the
word "here" is used as a link, the style is awkward,
and does not indicate what is to come. Giving context to a
link allows the user to determine whether they are interested
in following a link at a glance.
Using the verb "to click"
assumes that the user will be using a mouse. People using
wireless devices, or those with a disability that requires
assistive technology will not be "clicking" anything.
Methods - Examples:
Use "Further explanation
of portable
database searching skills is available."
Instead of "For
further explanation of portable database searching skills,
click
here."
It is also helpful to remain
consistent between the link's text and the title
or heading of the page it brings you to.
Example: a link whose
text is portable database searching skills should bring you
to a page whose title/heading is "Portable Database
Searching Skills" otherwise, the user may think
they have clicked on the wrong link.
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