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so you need to build a web site? | the design process | about web services
Everyone needs a web site, but how do you get started creating your own? You can start by asking yourself these questions:
  • "What kind of capabilities does the web site need?"
  • "Where will the pages be stored? (hosted)"
  • "Who will update the site?"
Here are some of the possible answers to the "WHAT ?" question:
1. Descriptive information about your department, research group, class, or organization.

2. Dynamic information or data drawn from another source (Rice events calendar, Faculty Information System).

3. Web applications including access to online departmental databases, completion of forms, online data entry, etc.

The kind of capabilities you need will also help you decide where to have your web pages "hosted."


Here are some of the "WHERE?" options you have at Rice:
1. Use web-editing software like Dreamweaver or FrontPage to design and build your own web pages. Faculty, staff, and departments can publish web sites through their personal accounts on the RUF (www.ruf.rice.edu) or on departmental servers. Students can use their Owlnet accounts. Most course web pages are hosted on Owlnet or through the new course web environment, OwlSpace.

To create and maintain a site you may need some basic understanding of HTML and learn a web-editing program. Resources for learning HTML are bountiful on the web and are also provided by Educational Technology Services, the Library's Electronic Resource Center, and Information Technology.

2. Use the Rice Web Services team to design and host your pages for you. Our fee-based services are intended for Rice departments that need a combination of professionally designed pages, ease of maintenance, and access to supporting databases. We provide both design and development services as well as application-rich hosting environments for sites already designed. We also offer a Web Content Management system that gives you an easy way to maintain your own web content without learning HTML. Our services are detailed here.

3. Hire a web-hosting and design company. These companies will host your site for a monthly fee and often provide a menu of simple site designs for you to use. Complex designs, added features, additional storage, email accounts, or web applications will cost more.
"WHO?" and "HOW?":
Finally, you should think about the "who?" and "how?" of web site maintenance. Web sites are judged on how well they are maintained. Choose a design and set-up that makes it easy for you to keep your information up-to-date, regardless of your level of technical expertise.
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