Skip to the content of the web site.

Web Operational Management Group

Minutes of the Meeting of February 5, 2003
1:00 p.m., Dana Porter Room (428)

Present: Chris Gray, Linda Hastings, Esther Millar, Bill Oldfield, Paul St-Pierre (Recorder), Marina Wan (Facilitator)
Regrets: Charles Woods

  1. Minutes of meeting January 8, 2003 - approved without change

  2. Business Arising January 8
    • #2 (#2) Business Arising: OLITA innovation award - Bill submitted article to OLA Access
    • #2(#4) Business Arising: TRELLIS redirect - When TRELLIS is down, patrons are now redirected from the TRELLIS Quick Search AND Full Search, to an explanatory page including a link to the backup catalogue.
    • #5 uwdir Authentication - Charles discovered a method to avoid the need to change .htaccess files.
      - Currently the library server is the proxy server. Bill is looking into converting the PILOT server into a proxy server, which will require 1) reconfiguring the server, and 2) the public workstation browsers. Some planning will be required. A loose target date is early March.
    • #6 Dreamweaver Survey - Marina emailed survey results to webmaint staff
    • #7 Floor Plans on the Web - Linda is still preparing the demonstration. When this is ready, Paul will also present examples of Flash created by other libraries

  3. Agenda Review
    • Add #8 - Site Index (Marina)
    • Add #9 - PHP for Data Catalogue Project for GIS/UMD (Marina)

  4. Browser Support (Chris)
    See notes: http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/~cpgray/browsers.html
    • Standards include support for features such as CSS, XHTML, Javascript DOM (permits crossbrowser compatibility of javascript)
    • Dreamweaver is standards compliant
    • UWINFO considering withdrawing support for Netscape 4.7. NN6.x/IE5.x preferred - http://www.web.uwaterloo.ca/webguide.html
    • VDX is considering withdrawing support for all Netscape browsers, Fretwell-Downing seeking feedback on the idea. (aside: Paul spoke with Carol Stephenson about this issue, and will forward her the web standards site. Recommended that they design to the standards rather than for a particular browser)
    • ACTION: Chris to discuss with Systems Workstation group the implications of withdrawing design support for NN4.7 before making this announcement to webmaint staff. To investigate designing to HTML 4.01 (transitional) standard.

  5. Text Navbars: procedures & training (Esther)
    • Created page of staffweb navbar maintenance instructions (location?)
    • Esther will test the conversion of the graphic version of the staff navbar to text
    • There appears to be a conflict when using 2 different active navigation bars (top & side)
    • Recommend: Train Marian, Rose, Cheryl to convert navbars (both the top-level menu & SSI for secondary pages) - this will apply to Staffweb, TUGWeb, CISTI Source tutorial
    • Training Issues: Because changes to the navbars are made only infrequently, staff get rusty at using Fireworks. Esther suggested creating a publicly inaccessible practice site (accessible only to specific subnets (DC & DP) or staff) to keep skills sharp. Would be accessible to webmaint staff (but not Google indexing)
    • ACTION: Charles to add Cheryl, Marian & Paul to webmaint so they can access practice site

  6. Projects & Priorities - Deferred due to Charles' absence
    - Bill recommends: Think about implementing Cascading Style Sheets, inserting HTML compliance flags on site pages

  7. Web Accessibility Issues (Marina) - (See handout)
    • Ontarians with Disabilities Act (Bill 125) - http://www.gov.on.ca/citizenship/accessibility/
      english/act2001.htm
    • ODA Schedule 15 includes requirements for educational institutions & hospitals - http://www.gov.on.ca/citizenship/accessibility/
      english/act2001.htm#15
    • Not clear what the UW plan for adherence is or how the Library will be involved in the mandatory annual accessibility plan. ACTION: Marina will discuss this with Jesse Rodgers.
    • Current Library site provides link to site index before presentation of the navbar, because JAWS software reads dropdowns & tables very awkwardly.
    • ACTION: Marina will ask Janet to have demo sessions of JAWS for WebOps & webmaint staff in order to gain understanding of how it reads web pages.
    • ACTION: form WebOps Accessibility subgroup to investigate - Marina, Linda, Esther

  8. Site Index Maintenance
    • Susan Routliffe observed that the index is not up to date
    • ACTION: WebOps to assume ownership of the page rather than ISMC
    • ACTION: Esther to notify ISR & WebMaint staff to check index for errors and report back to Esther, who will then communicate needed changes to Rose.
    • Suggestion: Update site index every term

  9. PHP for TDR data catalogue
    • Currently resides on and Environmental Studies server @UW
    • Richard Pinnell would like to know if it is acceptable to use PHP to maintain the database, as this is what the new student would like to do
    • The Library does not support PHP (or ZOPE), but ColdFusion (also @UG & WLU), so PHP is not recommended
    • ACTION: Bill to discuss PHP/ColdFusion with Richard.

  10. Around the table
    • Bill: Will discuss web development at next meeting
    • Linda: LINC is discussing the creation of a searchable index of "How do I...?" pages modelled on Queens University http://library.queensu.ca/webisi/survivalguide/ . This is still in the idea phase. Chris indicated that LINC should consult Web Ops before implementing the idea, as there are technical considerations.
If you have any queries or concerns about this page, please contact .

June 23, 2010