NDSU custom Web template service

The Web and Technology Education Center (WTEC) of ITS has created a new tool for NDSU Web developers that allows them to enter choices into a Web form, and within 3 working days, receive a prototype of their new site by e-mail. Once the prototype is accepted, WTEC staff will create a site of pages, ready to accept your content.

Please visit the NDSU custom template example Web page.

By visiting the Web form at its.ndsu.nodak.edu/web_forms/templates.shtml NDSU faculty and staff can choose from two page layouts, 42 header graphics, eight header fonts and three header font treatments. The form also allows for up to two sets of navigational links and other necessary information. Upon submittal of the web form, a WTEC staff member receives the choices from the form and creates a prototype of what the site would look like. The prototype is e-mailed to the requestor, who is encouraged to show the prototype to others, and after receiving feedback, request any needed changes. If changes are requested, a new prototype is e-mailed for approval.

Once the prototype is approved, the WTEC staff member creates a page for each navigational link that was requested. An example would be a "Contacts" link with a corresponding "contacts" Web page as part of the whole site. The site (minus content) is completed within one work week and delivered to the person who requested it.

Upon delivery, a WTEC staff member meets with the requestor to get the new site set up in Contribute or Dreamweaver. During this meeting, the requestor receives instruction on the upkeep of the new site and how to keep the site accessible to people with disabilities. (The new site is accessible upon delivery.) If the requestor is not familiar with Dreamweaver, we strongly suggest that he/she uses Contribute, which is an easy-to-use Web editor that is available for under $60 from the ITS software licensing program. (http://its.ndsu.nodak.edu/software_licensing/software.html) All the custom sites work around a Dreamweaver template, which both Contribute and Dreamweaver support.

Through the offering of this new Web service, we expect that the NDSU Web site will become more consistent as a whole and more accessible to people with disabilities. Interested parties should visit the "Custom Templates" Web form at http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/webhelp to get started.

Please call or e-mail Nancy Lilleberg (1-7140, nancy.lilleberg@ndsu.edu) with questions or comments.