A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk QA For Web Sites: Introduction To QA Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath UKOLN is supported by: Talk 4

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 2 Recap We have learnt: Why checking is important Tools which can be used for checking Findings from using tools across communities in benchmarking surveys Limitations of the tools

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 3 About Quality Assurance Quality Control: Spot an error and then fix it Fire-fighting Failure to learn Quality Assurance: Documented policies (you know what you are seeking to achieve) Systematic compliance checking procedures Audit trails Learning from experiences

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 4 Simple QA For Web An example of QA policy and procedures for Web standards is given below Policy: Web Standards Standard: XHTML 1.0 and CSS 2.0 Architecture: Use of SSIs and text editor Exceptions: Automatically-derived files Checking: Use,validate after update Audit Trail: Use,rvalidate monthly and document findings QA example Please note that this is a template – you can add additional headings

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 5 Need For Usable Testing Tools You should aim to ensure that checking compliance with your policies is simple to achieve We recommend the,tools approach for: HTML & CSS compliance Link checking Recursive checking … This approach is: Simple to implement (redirect in Apache conf. file) Requires no additional software Can be used by anyone

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 6 Fitness For Purpose Aim for fitness for purpose and not perfection: It would be nice to have compliant HTML version of PowerPoint slides But MS's HTML conversion creates dodgy HTML Rather than (a) not having resources available or (b) wasting time fixing errors we can define our policy accordingly Note that: We do ensure that the HTML version is acceptable to all browsers If a better conversion tool becomes available we can tighten up our policy

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 7 Example 2 – Link Checking What should we do when links on our Web site start to break (remember Web sites rot) Policy Area: Linking Policy: Internal links should always work and external links when link created. Periodic checking of links and broken links to significant resources fixed. Architecture: Links are embedded in Web pages Exceptions: If external Web site reorganised and links break, we cant guarantee to fix. Checking: Use,checklink after update Audit Trail: Use,rchecklink monthly and document findings. Proportion of broken links monitored over time.

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 8 Document Architecture, Not Aspirations When documenting the architecture you may become aware of better ways of doing things (e.g. manage links in external database to make management easier) However your policy should document what you do, not what you should have done or would like to do The aspirations (based on an understanding of current policies, possibly found through checking and audit trails) can be implemented in new services (or upgrades to existing services)

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 9 Conclusions This approach to QA: Can be easily understood Benefits should be apparent May complement existing approaches Should help to minimise firefighting For further details see the QA Focus briefing document on Summary of the QA Focus Methodology, briefing 30 at

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 10 Accompanying Resources QA Methodology Summary of the QA Focus Methodology, QA Focus, Briefing Document No. 30 Quality Assurance Tips Top 10 Quality Assurance Tips, QA Focus, Briefing Document No. 37 A URI Interface To Web Testing Tools A URI Interface To Web Testing Tools, QA Focus, Briefing Document No. 59