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Software Development Specifications

Cross Browser Support

Θ Cross browser support is easily achieved by checking the Document Object Module (DOM) of the user agent or browser. The Document Object Module allows scripts to dynamically access and modify the content, structure, and style of each document.

These web pages can change even after rendering on the browser using the DOM to exhibit a dynamic web site. Every browser such as Netscape, Internet Explorer (IE), and Opera incorporates the DOM from which it functions.

Although these DOMs are different for each browser, the underlying goal remains constant. Checking the DOM of the user agents or browsers does not require any intrusion or unnecessary sniffs, only the functionality is checked. Once the DOM is determined for the client web browser, the code will adjust to accommodate the different DOMs.

The following browsers and operating systems are supported:

Browsers	Windows	Macintosh	Linux	Unix
Netscape 4
Netscape 6 and above
Internet Explorer (IE) 4 and above
Mozilla 1.6 and above
Opera 5 and above

Roll over (or mouse over) menus and other client side dynamic scripts are implemented using DHTML, a hybrid of JavaScript and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). The code will degrade gracefully on really old versions of browsers that do not support the functionality provided by the web site.

Simple, Fast Loading Pages & Graphics

Θ A well thought-out design of the web site will benefit users from all over the world accessing via different medium. Web pages for your web site will be created to render quickly and efficiently over both narrowband and broadband without sacrificing the look and feel.

Search Engine Optimizing

Θ Creating web pages using properly structured meta tags and keywords increase the probability of web hits with web search engines such as Google and Overture. Our Web Engineers take extra care in making sure these pages are created to optimize visibility.

Easy Navigational Tools

Θ There are many different industry wide navigational tools used to create professional web sites. All of these tools have one goal, to provide the users with information quickly and efficiently.

Breadcrumbs
Breadcrumbs are navigational widgets that provide information about the current page with respect to the hierarchy of the web site. That is, at any page on the web site, a trail of hierarchy is displayed for the users to find their way back to the home page.

Breadcrumbs are primarily intended to help users avoid becoming lost by keeping them aware of where they are in the web site. Another purpose of breadcrumbs is to offer shortcut links for users to "jump" to previous categories in sequence.

The term breadcrumbs evolved from the story of "Hansel and Gretel"where a trail of breadcrumbs was dropped behind them as they ventured deeper into the forest, with the hope of following it back home.

Site Search
Site Search is another navigational tool used by many prominent web sites.

Site Search is implemented by first indexing all of the web pages contained within your web site, including PDF and meta files for multimedia.

This indexing process is accomplished using our automated site crawler that was developed by Websulting. No manual intervention is necessary during the site crawling or indexing process. Site Search works by simply adding a search link to your web site. A user can enter any terms and the search engine will find the most relevant pages.

Site Map
Site Map is a listing of all pages on the web site where each listing is an active link, enabling users to click on the link and move directly to that page. This tool allows the users to view the entire web site in one dimension.

Site Map can be presented to the end user in many different ways including alphabetical order of title, by topic, or by URL. Site Maps are very common and are used extensively on web sites given the value that it adds to the web site.

Site Directory
Site Directory differs slightly from a sMap. Site Directory is a listing of taxonomy pertaining to the web site. Site Directory is used very commonly over the internet with sites such as Yahoo and Google.

Site Directory is a listing hierarchically arranged by category from broad to specific.

For instance the following example is a Site Directory taxonomy for Automobiles.

Automobile ⇒ SUVs ⇒ Toyota ⇒ 4-Runner
Categories for Automobiles span from broad (Automobile) to specific (4-Runner).

Well Designed Information Architecture (IA)

Θ Information Architecture (IA), the foundation of great websites is the blue print of the website, the layout, and relationship between the web pages. Our Web Design Engineers and Project Managers will work with you to carefully derive and organize the Information Architecture for your web site.

Initial Concept Planning
Our staff will conduct concept planning meetings with you to determine the layout of the web site. During Concept Planning, details such as incorporation of the logos and visual features will be determined.

The Information Architecture (IA) for the web site will be created as the byproduct of these meetings using the following methodology.

Defining the Goals of the Web site
Although as obvious as it sounds, defining the goals of the web site is the most important part of IA. The outcome of this process establishes a clear, well documented idea of the goals and issues of the web site.

This also ensures that the most important people are involved in determining the goals of the web site. This list of goals will become the core of the Design Document.

Understanding the Audience
Understanding the audience is the second most important part of IA. A Well thought-out web site targets the different audience world wide to meet their requirements.

Specifying Site Content
In this phase, we will determine the different types of content to incorporate into the web site including static, dynamic, functional, and transactional.

Defining Site Structure
The Site Structure will define how the content will be laid out in a top down design. The outcome of this phase is an organizational chart of the pages starting from the home page.

This will present a better understanding of the web site given the content and taxonomy that we created.

A sample top down design looks as follows:
Top Down Design Flow

Creating A Visual Design
The next step is to create a visual representation of the web site. This diagram is the layout grid, which becomes the template that describes the web pages. Placement of content is decided at this point and a diagram is created as follows:

Mockup Design
Once the site content is approved, our User Interface Engineers will design many different mockups of the Portal and Application including the front page. Mockups of the internal pages are also created to be reviewed by the Design Team.

With minimal iteration, these mockups will be reviewed and revised until the Design Team approves the design to be implemented.

The approved design and implementation will be easily maintainable by the internal staff.

Implementation
Once the Information Architecture is approved, our Web Design Engineers will convert the mockup pages into actual HTML web pages. These web pages will be created using dynamic scripting languages, DHTML, CSS, and JavaScript to optimize on performance and presentation.

The following dynamic scripting languages will be used to create the web site:

PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) - Apache scripting language
ASP (Active Server Pages) - Microsoft IIS using VBScript or Jscript
ADP (AOLServer Dynamic Pages) - AOLServer using TCL
JSP (Java Server Pages) - Jakarta Tomcat using Java
JSP Netscape Enterprise Server

If the web site is hosted in house, then the appropriate scripting language will be used depending on your server and other internal configuration.

For instance, if your web server is Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), then your web pages will be created using ASP using Jscript and VBScript as the underlying programming languages.

All client-side dynamic scripting will be implemented using DHTML, JavaScript, and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).

The following servers and applications will be used:

Operating System	Microsoft Windows	Linux/UNIX
Web Server	Internet Information Services (IIS)	Apache/AOLServer
Full Text	Microsoft Index Server	Internal Full Text
SQL Database	Microsoft SQL Server	MySQL/Postgres/Oracle
HTTP Version	HTTP/1.0	HTTP/1.1

Web Site Benefits

Θ Our innovative approach to web site designing and implementation along with our proactive web site registration helps to drive traffic to your web site. Our technology will provide World Wide Visibility to your web site giving you the ability to sell your products to not just local customers, but also international. This will help to Improve Your Sales of product and services and to Multiply Your Bank Account.