Updating Old Template Code
What's changed?
In order to rework the code so that bullets would automatically appear in the body of the page, a great deal of recoding was necessary to make sure bullets didn't appear in other areas, like the template header and footer. The following files have been updated.
- reset.css: removed the styles for <ul> and <ol>, removed hack code for IE7.
- text.css: removed the "default_list" styles for <ul> and <ol>.
- template.css: completely changed coding for the template header, campus links, and search area, adjusted coding for the left navigation styles, adjusted "copyright" style.
- optional.css: made adjustments in the horizontal navigation styles
- print.css: slight adjustments to make print style sheet work for all templates.
- IE6.css and IE7.css: added these style sheets with "if" statements in the html. Template code now has only 1 css validation error for the horizontal navigation.
- all html docs: coding changes throughout the top of the documents, beginning just below the style sheets links down through the left navigation.
How can I update my code?
There is no "one size fits all" instruction for updating old template code to new. The changes you make and the way you make them will depend on how you've altered the original template code while building your site.
Updating the code for an entire site is a step-by-step process. Outlined below are the basics for updating a standard site. You may need to make additional changes based on your own code and/or your use of content management.
- Make a copy of your site on your hard drive.
- Replace all the original css docs with the new css docs from the download.
- Copy and replace small pieces of your pages. For example, start with the <!--BEGIN CAMPUS LINKS--> section. Copy the old code for that section and replace it with the new. Do the same for the <!--BEGIN UofM TEMPLATE HEADER --> section, the <!-- BEGIN Unit Graphic Header for home page --> section, and the <!-- BEGIN Unit Graphic Header for secondary pages --> section.
- Add the #main_wrapper style and "if" statements for the IE style sheets found directly below the style sheet links in the new code.
- If you're using the print style sheet, be sure that the <!--BEGIN WORDMARK AND UNIT IDENTIFICATION FOR PRINT --> section is directly under the <body> tag.
- Add the new <!-- * Skip Links * --> section directly below the print section.
- Rework your left navigation, if necessary. The new code will not properly display the stylized <hr> in the left navigation. The <hr> has been removed and the main left navigation and related links are now all in one <ul>.
After making these changes, test your pages. Compare your code with the template code to make adjustments if something isn't working. If you run into problems, let us know.
Change meta and alt tags
Don't forget to change meta and alt tags! The description and meta tags in the HTML at the beginning of all templates should be changed to reflect what is on the page.
See more about meta tag information on the eCommunication Standards site.
When you change or add images, remember to change the alt tag! For example, the alt tag for the graphic heading on this page reads "Go to unit's home page." That should be updated to spell out the name of your unit.
