Site Maps
by Heather Champ
Whatis.com defines a Web site as being "the same thing as a Web presence--that is, the sum of the HTML pages associated with a single home page of an organization, individual, or other entity. Unfortunately, the word is sometimes misinterpreted to mean a physical 'site' or server. A Web server can and often does hold many Web sites or presences."Peering through my magnifying glass (wishing my computer were searching through a compact disc version), trying to decipher the teeny, tiny type of the Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, I find the following definition of map: "A representation of the earth's surface or a part of it, its physical and political features, etc. Or of the heavens, delineated on a flat surface of paper or other material. Each point in the drawing corresponding to a geographical or celestial position according to a definite scale or projection."
An Alta Vista search on "site map" returns over 300,000 indexed instances of the term. Looking at a few of the results proves that there is a very wide definition of what the two words site and map mean when posited together as a single term.
Some maps are better described as site listings, where all documents hosted within the site are listed from top to bottom, rather like a table of contents.
Other sites have the same listings but choose to spatially organize the information. China Internet Corporation has arranged the information in a large client-side image map. The file name is visible when the user mouses over the information (don't let the ever-present spinning objects hypnotize you!). Casio incorporates a similar site map within their site, which quickly enables a user to zero in on a specific location.
What is a site map for? It can provide a very easy way for users to move directly to the information that they require--springboarding to potentially any section within the site, and bypassing the rigors of the sites' established hierarchy.
If this were the case, why is there a need for navigation? For a small well-designed site, the navigation is essentially the site map. For a large site, it would be impossible for a site map to work on its own. Too many documents, and too much information would be difficult to weed through if it were the sole tool. However, the two working in tandem can provide an all-round navigable site.
GifBuilder 0.5
Yves Piquet has once again made leaps and bounds with the latest version release of GifBuilder 0.5. This new release introduces a number of static and dynamic filters, as well as transitions. After downloading the application over the weekend I had a great time trying out all the effects. Needless to say I created a few animated disasters but discovered just how well rounded GifBuilder is. The best part is that it's free! There is no other package for the Mac that offers so much for such a modest price--just the time it takes to download the software.
