ebXML Business Process Web Site and Web Page Guidelines

PRELIMINARY DRAFT

These are a set of guidelines for the ebXML Business Process Project Team web site and web pages.

Consructive contributions and feedback welcomed: send email to Brian Hayes or to the ebXML-BP mailing list.

[Web Site Structure]  [Posting Documents]  [Page Structure]  [Style Sheets]  [FAQ]

Web Site Structure

Posting Documents

You can post documents to the web site by ftp'ing them yourself or by asking Brian Hayes to post them for you.

If you post them yourself, it is generally desirable to post them in a common file format such as HTML or PDF. You can post the native format of the document as well. In some cases it may be most appropriate to just post the native format. For example, the metamodel is typically provided in just Rational Rose format (.mdl) until it reaches a point where it is ready for wider distribution and review. At that point, it is then converted into another format.

Be mindful of the directory structure when you post documents and other files. Work-in-progress documents and files belong in the wip directory. Do not hesitate to create a subdirectory if approrpriate.

You can also ftp the file into the incoming directory and then send email to Brian Hayes with general description of the file and what page should link to it.

Page Structure

Overview...CCS used to create page layout rather than HTML tables, etc.

General structure

Style Sheets

Cascading style sheets (CSS) are leveraged to make it easier to author web pages. The CSS approach gives us the web page look as if it was created using HTML tables without the complexities of HTML tables. Unfortunately, some versions of web browser do not understand CSS. In this case, the user will still get the information without the pretty layout.

FAQ

Why do the pages look different in different browsers? The pages have a nicer layout when viewed using Micrsoft's Internet Explorer 5 than when viewed using Netscape Navigator 4.7.
Many web browsers have poor support for Cascading Style Sheets. Internet Explorer seems to be on the cutting edge of implementation. More information on upcoming CCS support in Netscape Navigator can be found at the Netscape web site.