Directories, Site Maps & Site Indexes Vynarack Xaykao INF 385E 9/30/03

Outline Directories Site Maps Site Indexes Comparisons Software Examples of types Design tips Site Maps Site Indexes Example Comparisons Software

Directories: Definition “form of organizing information, in which content appears in categories, usually alphabetically, sequentially, or hierarchically” (Van Duyne, et. al)

Directories: Definition “A search site on the Web that catalogs Web sites by subject and also manually indexes the site, providing a brief description of its content.” (TechEncyclopedia)

Directories: Text-based

Directories: Graphical (LexisNexis) http://www.lexisnexis.com/startree/interactiveview.asp

Directories: Design Tips Talk to users Search log analysis Card Sorting with one group of customers Potential categories and labels Test names with another group Category identification Category description

Directories: Design Tips Use descriptive and distinctive category names Don’t use “other” or “misc.” Include a few examples under each category Use smaller font to set off subcategories from categories

Site Maps Another way to represent organization of content on site “presents broad view of the content in the site and facilitates random access to segmented portions of that content” (Rosenfeld & Morville)

Site Maps: Text-based

Site Maps: Graphical (Negative Ion Generators)

Site Maps: Design Tips “a map should be a map, not a navigational challenge of its own” “main benefit is to give users an overview of the site's areas in a single glance by dedicating an entire page to a visualization of the information architecture” Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox

Site Maps: Design Tips Involve your audience Put the link to the site map in a prominent location on each page. Call it a “site map.”

Site Indexes Another way to represent content on site Alphabetical listing of keywords or phrases Good for sites that are not strongly hierarchical

Site Indexes: Example

Site Indexes: Design Tips Keep users in mind. Make sure each page has links to all the letters of the alphabet. Show number of items behind each topic “molecular biology (20)”

Site Indexes: Design Tips Use term rotation “molecular biology “biology, molecular” Use controlled vocabulary indexing for content management systems

Comparisons Site maps and site indexes are aids that help people use a site by showing its content. Directories are usually front pages of portal sites and can represent content on your site or lead to other sites.

Which to use? Site Map Reinforces hierarchy Encourages exploration Site Index Flat hierarchy Known item searching Directory Reinforces hierarchy Focuses search from broad category

Software Linkno: free site map generator XTREEME: static or DHTML site maps, site indexes, directories SmartDraw: graphical site maps

References Gagnon, G. (2002). Mapping Your Site. PC Magazine [On-line]. Available: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,2992,00.asp Nielsen, J. (2002). Site Map Usability. Alertbox [On-line]. Available: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20020106.html Rosenfeld, L., & Morville, P. (2002). Information Architecture for the World Wide Web (2nd ed.). Cambridge ; Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly.

References TechEncyclopedia. (2003). [On-line]. Available: http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm?term=directory Thomason, L. (2002). Give Visitors a Map. Webmaster Tips. [On-line]. Available: http://www.netmechanic.com/news/vol5/usability_no20.htm Van Duyne, D. K., Landay, J. A., & Hong, J. I. (2002). The Design of Sites. Addison-Wesley.