Navigation

Most navigation is built into the system. Manual navigation is possible.  However, its use should be limited to links directing users to areas of the COE web site which

  • Reside outside the top-down navigation path of the page and/or directory;
  • Are not maintained by the COE publishing system 
  • Are unofficial COE web sites.

Navigation can be designed to support associative learning by describing the related content in that section. The labeling of that content should be kept to one or two words.

Instead of denoting a link by the words "Click here" or similar phrase, be descriptive when providing links — for example: "further information from the College of Engineering." Consider allowing such links to stand on their own line or provide an ordered or unordered list of links in HTML.

Links to all documents, large images, charts, tables or Web sites outside of the College of Engineering should be opened up in a new window. If you are linking to a document, let the user know what kind of document it is you are linking too (PDF, MS Word, etc.).

Contextual links are hyperlinks that link to other information on other pages or  to another location on the same page. These links naturally occur in the descriptive context of there surroundings.  This type of linking is encouraged.