Creating Pages
Height and Width:
Never force your reader to scroll more than 2 1/2 times what they can view on their screen. Pages that scroll extensively tend to deter users. If visitors are scrolling more than 2 1/2 times, you should continue your information on another page or condense your information.
Characters:
For primary navigation (main links that appear on each page), no word should be longer than 11 characters. For secondary or sub-level navigation, no word should be longer than 15 characters. Maximum limit of 95 characters on all navigational items. The page title will wrap, so multiple lines are acceptable.
Page Titles and Page Links:
|All page titles should be the same name as its link in the navigation bar. If a page has a long title such as Frequently Asked Questions, then it is ok to abbreviate the link. In this case, FAQ.
Alt Tags:
All graphic elements must employ the ALT tag to provide a textual replacement for the image. ALT tags allow for readers who have turned off the image-capability of their browser, those using a text-only browser, and audio browsers as used by the visually impaired. The content of the ALT tag should adequately describe the image depicted on the graphic without being too verbose. For example, an image of a group of students on campus can just read “students.”
Meta tags:
Meta tags are lines of code placed between the and the tags in the HTML code on a web page. The Meta tags are used by search engines to index our site. The tags are not visible to site visitors. Meta tags are required for official pages posted on the Mount Ida College Web site. The Content Management System will automatically format the Meta tags. When creating your page, be sure to click on the section labeled “Search Engine Information” and include the necessary information.
Images:
Photos should be saved in .jpg format at 72 dpi. Make certain you have permission from subjects of photographs before posting them on your web site. Most graphics such as buttons, banners, and logos are saved in a .gif format, as are most background patterns. A .gif format is used primarily when there is line art.
Faculty/staff directory images should not be narrower than 200-250 pixels. If you require you specific dimensions for template and homepage images, the style table below has the appropriate information.
Template Image Sizes
Main Image Sidebar
Template 1 n/a n/a
Template 2 400px wide n/a
Template 3 n/a n/a
Template 4 n/a 218px wide
Template 5 208px wide 218px wide
Template 6 110px wide
Template 7 400px wide
Fonts:
The Mount Ida College Web site uses the Verdana font style, which is the default in the Content Management System. Specific information about sizing and font colors can be found on the style table Colors The following colors are to be used when constructing Mount Ida Web pages. For more detailed information, please refer to this table.
Content:
References to any Mount Ida program or school should use the formal, complete name, with appropriate capitalization. The formal names for each school are:
- School of Animal Science
- School of Arts and Sciences
- School of Business
- School of Design
- The New England Institute
Duplication of Information:
To ensure accuracy, do not copy material published by other departments; instead, create a link to such documents.
Writing for the Web:
Keep in mind when users access a Web site, they tend to skim rather than read more line-for-line or word-for-word, as one might if reading a printed piece. Users also tend to skip from one Web page to another, from one link to another, rather than reading a page from top to bottom. Therefore, short paragraphs and sentences are better. When writing, speak directly to the user since the Web is perceived as more personal and informal than a book or printed magazine. Spell out abbreviations and acronyms. Numbers one through nine should be spelled out. For more information about writing for the Web, please refer to the Yale Style Guide.