Templates

The Online Media team offers a complete template-based website package to the University community.

Not only does this website package include a Template Management System (TMS) to manage content on the University's websites, it also includes the set-up and maintenance of one of the University approved templates.

Customisation of Template Design
All University websites must be created by the Online Media team using one of the University approved templates. Design customisation of the templates can be negotiated based on individual site and branding requirements, however this must be done in consultation with the Online Media team.

Types of Templates available
Online Media have produced a range of templates consisting of the Academic template, Research Institute template, Research centre template and the Promotional template. Each template is set out to meet the needs of their target audience and clientele, whilst keeping the website accessible, and maintaining synchronisation in appearance.

The University Homepage
The University homepage is the primary entry point into the University of Adelaide website and as such the styling on the homepage is different from all other pages in the site, while still conforming to the online branding guidelines for the University. Please note that this style is not permitted to be used on any other page within the University website.

The Research Institute template, Centre template and Promotional template feature a more customised homepage with dynamic content, however we realise that many websites that use the Academic template (Faculty/School websites) are in need of dynamic content also. That is why we have, and are always creating additional features that can be included within the academic template where necessary.

New Faculty Template (Academic)

Figures 1 - 2 (below) show the new academic template available for all faculties, schools and disciplines within the University. Using this template has a number of benefits for you and your website:

• Fixed width content area -  to ensure your pages fall within typographical guidelines to maximise readability.
• Fluid header and footer -  proficiently uses the browser's real estate to make sure the template displays in a visually pleasing manner across all size monitors.
• User friendly - removes any difficulty the user has when reading content using a large screen.
• The menu on the left-hand side (navigation list style) is created and updated from a single 'nav.html' file.
• The template allows for the breadcrumb trail (e.g. You are here: MSC Home > About University Websites > Templates) to be created automatically when you have updated your menu navigation.
• The promotional image(s) above the menu navigation can be selected by you in order to reinforce your local identity. If you choose to have more than one image, these promo images rotate when the page is refreshed/revisited.
• The text situated within the search field can be chosen by you, the web maintainer. The search parameters can also be customised.
• A blue/grey promotional 'widgets' column can be included on the right-hand side of a page.
  Widgets add customised content to a page and may load randomly from a collection of files when a page is refreshed/revisited.

Figure 1 (below) shows the new Academic template. The below homepage image is using the optional widget column.  It consists of the new fluid header and footer. There is no 10px spacing in between the content zone and the navigation, nor in between the widget and the content zone. By removing the previous 10px spacing, it has allowed us to add an extra 20px to the content zone.

Fig.1

Homepage with Widget

Figure 2 (below) shows the content page of the Academic template. It consists of the fluid header and footer. The content area also has a slight gradient background. The main fluid background now has a very pale blue to white gradient instead of the old grey gradient which was considered to be too harsh.

Fig. 2

Content Page without Widget

New Research Templates

Figure 3 (below) shows the new Research Institute Homepage template. This consists of the mandatory widget column, the left aligned slideshow and encorporates tabnav which is available on all templates where deemed approptiate. It also uses the new fluid header and footer.

Fig. 3

Research Institute Homepage with Mandatory Widget (with tabnav)

These TAB navigations are recommended for complex sites that contain a few subsites.

If you feel your website requires these TAB navigations, please contact the Online Media team for advice and assistance.

Figure 4 (below) shows the Research Centre Homepage template. This consists of the mandatory widget column, the branding image with overlayed text and encorporates tabnav which is available on all templates where deemed approptiate. It also uses the new fluid header and footer.

Fig. 4

Research Centre Homepage (with mandatory widget)

Figure 5 (below) shows a general Research Content page template. This template is used for all pages (excluding the homepage), on both the Research Institute and Research Centre websites. It is almost visually the same as the standard academic content page template, however it maintains the 10px padding in between the navigation and the content zone. If there is a widget, it also maintains the 10px padding on the right of the content in between the content and the widget. By maintaining the 10px padding it decreases the 'jumpiness' in between the homepage and content page of the research templates.

Fig. 5

General Research Content Page (with tabnav)

Promotional Template

Figure 6 (below) shows the new Promotional template homepage. This consists of the right hand side slideshow layout and uses the new fluid header and footer. The homepage does not encorporate a widget, nor the 'promo_image.html'. As this is a promotional website, it needs to look good visually, and encorporating the promo image and widget does not work aesthetically or create any value visually.

Fig. 6

Promotional Homepage

Figure 7 (below) shows the Promotional template content page. It uses the new fluid header and footer and can encorporate widgets. The promo image is also included on all content page templates. Because the slideshow is only used on the homepage and is not included in the content page template, the promo image can now provide a visually pleasing presence to the template as it has nothing to clash with.

Fig. 7

Promotional Content Page

Standards Compliance Statement
The University of Adelaide website is best viewed using a browser that complies with web standards. Every effort is made to keep all layout/content available within such browsers, but it is possible that such layout/content may cause some pages to not conform. Users of Netscape 4.x will have trouble viewing the site as intended because this browser does not comply with web standards. It is not singled out for any other reason.

Supported Web Browsers
The University of Adelaide website supports any version of the below browsers released in the last three years:

• Mozilla (Firefox)
• Safari
• Internet Explorer
• Google Chrome