\n";
// Echo "RootDir: ".$RootDir."
\n";
// We'll need access to the Global Variables:
// include_once("$DOCUMENT_ROOT/include/GlobalVars.php");
// To get rid of: Warning: include_once() [function.include-once]: Unable to access /include/GlobalVars.php in
include_once("$RootDir/include/GlobalVars.php");
// We will be accessing all sorts of functions:
//include_once("$DOCUMENT_ROOT/include/Functs.php");
include_once("$RootDir/include/Functs.php");
// Check to see if the visitor (USER_AGENT) is a spider. If not:
// then do a "session_start"...
// Creates a session or resumes the current one
// based on the current session id that's being passed via a
// request, such as GET, POST, or a COOKIE.
// It's necessary that this be the first PHP command in the file.
If (!ItsASpider())
{
session_start();
// Sets various session variables like ReferringURL and EntryURL
// if they haven't already been set
// include_once("$DOCUMENT_ROOT/include/SetSessionVars.php");
include_once("$RootDir/include/SetSessionVars.php");
}
// This turns on Output Buffering. This seems to be
// necessary because we may be redirecting to a "Thank You" page
// after they submit the form. Speeds things up because
// browser doesn't reload when hitting BACK button.
ob_start();
$PageNameStr="Web Design Principles * US-Webmasters.com";
$PageTitleStr="Web Design Principles, Web Site Design Principles, Authoring Web Pages, Accessible Design, Authoring Web Pages, Cascading Style Sheets" ;
$PageKeywordStr="Web Design Principles, Web Site Design Principles, Authoring Web Pages, Accessible Design, Authoring Web Pages, Cascading Style Sheets, Common Mistakes In Web Design, Good Site Design Practices, HTML Validation, CSS Validation";
$PageDescriptionStr="Web Design Principles * US-Webmasters.com";
$PageCommentStr="Web Design Principle, Web Design Principles, The Principle Of Design, The Principles Of Design, Elements And Principle Of Design, Elements And Principles Of Design, Principle Of Graphic Design, Principles Of Graphic Design, Web Site Design Principle, Web Site Design Principles, Basic Design Principle, Basic Design Principles, Instructional Design Principle, Instructional Design Principles, Design Principle Usability, Design Principles Usability, Design Principle Visual, Design Principles Visual, Web Page Design Principle, Web Page Design Principles, Software Design Principle, Software Design Principles, Accessible Design, Authoring Web Pages, Cascading Style Sheets, Common Mistakes In Web Design, Creating Pages, CSS, CSS Validation, Elements Of Web Design Style, Good Practices, Good Site Design Practices, HTML Syntax, HTML Tags, HTML Validation, Hypertext Markup, Principles Of Web Site Design, Top 10 Mistaeks Web Development, Top Ten Website Design Mistakes, Useability Website Design, Valid HTML For Websites, Web Design Mistakes, Web Design Resources, Web Page Authoring, Web Site Development Information, Web Style Basic Design Principles For Websites, Website Design Practices, Website Design Tools";
$PageRobotsStr="All";
// Notice: Undefined variable: ThisIsDoorway
// IF (!($ThisIsDoorway))
// If not set, then set it to get rid of error message:
If (!IsSet($ThisIsDoorway))
{$ThisIsDoorway=0;}
If ($ThisIsDoorway<>1)
{$PageFirstLineStr="Web Design Principles, Web Site Design Principles, Authoring Web Pages, Accessible Design, Authoring Web Pages, Cascading Style Sheets";}
// Notice: Undefined variable: DOCUMENT_ROOT in:
// include_once("$DOCUMENT_ROOT/include/header.php");
include_once("$RootDir/include/header.php");
?>
Web Design Principles
These principles apply to individual pages as well as
the entire site:
• Page loads quickly, ideal is 8 seconds, but NOT more than 20 seconds (at 28.8K)
• No more than 30K in text
• No more than 30K in total NEW (not previously loaded) graphics
• TITLE tag filled out with the most important search phrases
• TITLE tag is first tag in HEAD
• META tags exist and are filled out properly
• META tags are at the top of the page to have more weight with
search engines
• Most important info is at top of page. Try to avoid LONG pages. Try to design page to fit everything in one screenful--(almost impossible!--but allows user to see everything at once)
• If styles are used, they should be in a separate .CSS file, so that
the search engines can ignore them, and they are duplcated on each page.
• Simple arrangement of items on page, but not amateurish.
• Proper size fonts--not too big--not too small (Baby Boomers need bigger fonts now!)
• Valid HTML
• No FRAMES used
• Text on every page
• No JavaScript, Flash, Animated GIFs, unless absolutely necessary
• Clear, easy to use site navigation
• Navigation menus preferably on the right side of page for the
following reasons:
• Vision impaired visitors 'read' pertinent text first; menus last.
• Page text is more prominent. Menus that lead elsewhere, less so.
• Search engines rank text 'closer to the top of page' higher.
• 90% of people are right handed. Menus are shorter distance.
• Visited links should change to another color so user easily
knows which page has been viewed.
• No Scrolling Text, Marquees, and Constantly Running Animations
• Easy to understand URLs--Not complex--No special chars like '~'
• Standard color and easy to see link colors
• No Text, background, or table colors that are difficult to read, or are startling.
• Many fonts, italics, wide size variation or inconsistent fonts
• Current, accurate information
• Consistent look and feel across site
• No dead links
• Site map page
• Necessary information for each page:
• Company Name
• Address
• Email
• Phone
• Copyright notice
• Links to customer service/Contact Us
• Link to site map
• Company Logo
• Correct spelling, punctuation & grammar
• Graphics have an ALT tag
• Pages look almost identical in all browsers
• Clear, easy to read titles, headings, text, images--pleasant page layout, easy to view
• Marketing text should emphasize how the product or service BENEFITS THE
READER/USER
• Testimonials with complete names
• Owner's photo
• Search box *IF* is a large site. Searches should show links so that they can be bookmarked, i.e.: http://www.Google.com/search?q=us+webmasters
• Tables do not extend beyond a 640 pixel width, so scrolling left or right is not necessary
• Tables are not a set size, but rather expand to the full size of the monitor screen