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July, 2000 Volume 6, Number 7 Redesigned, improved Web site makes finding what you need easier, faster If you log into the Web with any regularity, you probably know that Mn/DOT's Web site has undergone a major transformation. The newly designed and organized site is user-friendly, offers more navigation choices and has a standard identity applied across all department pages. "The new look helps unify our site and makes it easier for customers to find information," says Lucy Render, director, Communications. "The new site is the result of months of planning and designing. Special thanks go to the Web Redesign Team—Jerry Baldwin, Jed Becher, Marjorie Casey, Kai-Jurgen Huot-Link, Kay Korsgaard, Cristyn Rybak and Megan Lewis—who created the new design and completely reorganized the site, and to the many employees who applied the new templates (designed by Jeff Crandall and Mordechai Dorfman) to their pages," she says. "It was a lot of work, but the Web is a moving target," she adds. "Technology and customer expectations are changing fast and Mn/DOT's Web site needed to keep pace." "In a sense, the work has just begun," adds Render. During the course of the next few months, the Office of Communications and Web developers throughout the agency will continue to modify and improve the site. Employees, friends and family are encouraged to be part of the process. "Come and give it a try," says Kay Rorsgaard, content developer. "We want to know what works and what doesn't work. We're also interested in your ideas for future content. If you look for something and don't find it, let us know. Your comments will help us set priorities for future content development." While much has changed on the outward face of the site, there have also been significant changes to the servers and software that run behind the scenes to keep the Web site up and running. One new feature is a Web development space that has been set up on the Mn/DOT server that hosts the agency's site. Before making pages "live," developers can send new or updated pages to the development space to check their work. The space works like a mirror of Mn/DOT's site and allows users to check links, "The site also makes extensive use of 'server side includes,' " says Jed Becher, Web technical developer. "A ©©0©#®0©O Mn/DOT's new Web home page makes it easier for internet users to find transportation- related information. Kai-Jurgen Huot-Link, Communications, created the design for the home page. scripts, graphics and other elements of the site. Once a site has been checked, it is sent to a "publish" directory and within one minute the page is visible to the public. "This reduces the potential for broken links or graphics because a page can be tested in an environment that closely mimics the live Mn/DOT site," explains Marshall Onsrud, Information Resource Management. WmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmWmWk server side include is a string of programming code that is inserted into every page. This code refers to a file that tells the page how to behave. For example, the standard IN THIS ISSUE template on the left-hand side of every page uses server side includes to add the Mn/DOT logo, the "See Orange" logo and navigation buttons back to the top level pages." "Server side includes make it possible to make changes across an entire Web site with one simple command. For example, if the Mn/DOT logo were to change, we would simply need to update the code in the server side include file to reference the new logo. With one change, the replacement can be made across the entire site," Becher explains. "The new look allows us to develop and maintain a Web site that is unified and can keep up with changes in Mn/DOT and customer expectations. It's one more way we can 'speak with one voice,'" says Render. Steve Baker bids farewell Ed Cohoon ends 25-year Mn/DOT career Telecommuting supports career, educational goals .. SALT'S Lee Schulze endows scholarship fund Legislative funds advance Moving Minnesota Dick Stehr, Metro Division engineer, addresses news reporters at the Capitol to announce projects Metro can advance as the result of $560 million in additional funding approved by the 2000 Minnesota Legislature. The Legislature allocated $438 million of the total amount for highway projects in the Twin Cities metro area and in Greater Minnesota. The announcement at the Capitol was one of several made by Mn/DOT officials in various locations around the state. The allocation includes $177 million for Bottleneck Removal, $177 million for Corridor Connections, $5 million for Advantages for Transit plus $100 million in trunk highway bonds. 'oF tv^ Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Communications Mail Stop 150 Transportation Building 395 John Ireland Boulevard St. Paul, MN 55155-1899 FIRST CLASS U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 171 St. Paul, MN
Object Description
Description
Title | Page 1 |
MDL Identifier | mhs75355 |
Transcript | July, 2000 Volume 6, Number 7 Redesigned, improved Web site makes finding what you need easier, faster If you log into the Web with any regularity, you probably know that Mn/DOT's Web site has undergone a major transformation. The newly designed and organized site is user-friendly, offers more navigation choices and has a standard identity applied across all department pages. "The new look helps unify our site and makes it easier for customers to find information," says Lucy Render, director, Communications. "The new site is the result of months of planning and designing. Special thanks go to the Web Redesign Team—Jerry Baldwin, Jed Becher, Marjorie Casey, Kai-Jurgen Huot-Link, Kay Korsgaard, Cristyn Rybak and Megan Lewis—who created the new design and completely reorganized the site, and to the many employees who applied the new templates (designed by Jeff Crandall and Mordechai Dorfman) to their pages," she says. "It was a lot of work, but the Web is a moving target," she adds. "Technology and customer expectations are changing fast and Mn/DOT's Web site needed to keep pace." "In a sense, the work has just begun," adds Render. During the course of the next few months, the Office of Communications and Web developers throughout the agency will continue to modify and improve the site. Employees, friends and family are encouraged to be part of the process. "Come and give it a try," says Kay Rorsgaard, content developer. "We want to know what works and what doesn't work. We're also interested in your ideas for future content. If you look for something and don't find it, let us know. Your comments will help us set priorities for future content development." While much has changed on the outward face of the site, there have also been significant changes to the servers and software that run behind the scenes to keep the Web site up and running. One new feature is a Web development space that has been set up on the Mn/DOT server that hosts the agency's site. Before making pages "live," developers can send new or updated pages to the development space to check their work. The space works like a mirror of Mn/DOT's site and allows users to check links, "The site also makes extensive use of 'server side includes,' " says Jed Becher, Web technical developer. "A ©©0©#®0©O Mn/DOT's new Web home page makes it easier for internet users to find transportation- related information. Kai-Jurgen Huot-Link, Communications, created the design for the home page. scripts, graphics and other elements of the site. Once a site has been checked, it is sent to a "publish" directory and within one minute the page is visible to the public. "This reduces the potential for broken links or graphics because a page can be tested in an environment that closely mimics the live Mn/DOT site," explains Marshall Onsrud, Information Resource Management. WmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmWmWk server side include is a string of programming code that is inserted into every page. This code refers to a file that tells the page how to behave. For example, the standard IN THIS ISSUE template on the left-hand side of every page uses server side includes to add the Mn/DOT logo, the "See Orange" logo and navigation buttons back to the top level pages." "Server side includes make it possible to make changes across an entire Web site with one simple command. For example, if the Mn/DOT logo were to change, we would simply need to update the code in the server side include file to reference the new logo. With one change, the replacement can be made across the entire site," Becher explains. "The new look allows us to develop and maintain a Web site that is unified and can keep up with changes in Mn/DOT and customer expectations. It's one more way we can 'speak with one voice,'" says Render. Steve Baker bids farewell Ed Cohoon ends 25-year Mn/DOT career Telecommuting supports career, educational goals .. SALT'S Lee Schulze endows scholarship fund Legislative funds advance Moving Minnesota Dick Stehr, Metro Division engineer, addresses news reporters at the Capitol to announce projects Metro can advance as the result of $560 million in additional funding approved by the 2000 Minnesota Legislature. The Legislature allocated $438 million of the total amount for highway projects in the Twin Cities metro area and in Greater Minnesota. The announcement at the Capitol was one of several made by Mn/DOT officials in various locations around the state. The allocation includes $177 million for Bottleneck Removal, $177 million for Corridor Connections, $5 million for Advantages for Transit plus $100 million in trunk highway bonds. 'oF tv^ Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Communications Mail Stop 150 Transportation Building 395 John Ireland Boulevard St. Paul, MN 55155-1899 FIRST CLASS U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 171 St. Paul, MN |
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