Obtaining and Using the EMU Templates

PLEASE NOTE: As of fall 2007, EMU is revising its web site and web standards. The templates discussed on this web page are outdated, in that they use standards that will no longer be supported when EMU completes its site redevelopment and standards revision.

If you are developing a new site or redeveloping an existing web site, we recommend you contact us to schedule a meeting, so we can ensure your new site will meet EMU's new web standards. webcomm@emich.edu, or 487-5376.

You are still permitted to use the old templates, but be aware that your site will be outdated by the Fall of 2008.

The (old) EMU templates for official EMU web site development are located at webstage.emich.edu/emutemplates.

Instructions for using the templates | The EMU stylesheet | A note about links in the templates | Using the templates to create text graphics | Web training

Instructions for using the templates

The EMU templates are designed to be used for official EMU sites. All the content on this page assumes that your site is an official EMU site. Please note that student organization web sites are NOT official sites and are not permitted to use the EMU templates.

First, download the appropriate template(s) for your use by clicking on the relevant link(s). The file(s) will download to your computer's desktop. You may then use the Dreamweaver file(s) and associated .psd, .jpg and .gif files to create your site.

You should use the appropriate landing page as a home page for your department, program or area site. Then, use the options for content pages to create the additional pages within your site. If you wish to customize your site's look beyond the template specifications, you should consult with the director of Web Communications about your plans. At a minimum, you must use the "top bar" of the template and include the constituent navigation (either as the standard "secondary bar" or as a pulldown menu) on your site's home page.

The template text area contains additional information and tips for creating your web site. There is a range of available options for creative development within the structure of the templates. Following the page structure, stylesheet and the image/graphics specifications are the most important factors.

The EMU stylesheet

The templates are based on the stylesheet located at http://www.emich.edu/emu.css. It is important that you use and retain the stylesheet link within the templates, or the web pages you create using the templates will not work properly. You may review the elements of the stylesheet here. A link is included in the templates to a copy of the stylesheet that you may use in developing your site. We recommend that you link to the official EMU stylesheet, so any future style updates will automatically load to your site.

A note about links in the template

The "live" links that are included in the template include the constituent and standard navigation. These have been established as relative links, and they should function properly no matter where you set up the pages in your site. We strongly recommend that you use relative links throughout your site to refer to pages on the www.emich.edu server.

(There are also link "placeholders" in the templates that are not live links. Use these link placeholders and link lists to create your site's customized content.)

Using the template files to create text graphics for your site

If you need to create additional customized text graphics (graphics based on text, including buttons, rollovers, etc.) for your pages, it is important that you use the same fonts that were used to create the original graphics. The main text graphics use standard system fonts with particular attributes (Times Roman, Palatino). Use the provided .psd (Photoshop) files to create customized text graphics for your site.

The navigational text graphics (the constituent links, etc.) use additional, non-system fonts (Swiss 721, Zurich). If you wish to create additional text graphics based on these images, .psd files and a limited number of font licenses will be available from the director of Web Communications.

Web training

If you need assistance in using the templates and graphics files, we recommend that you participate in the ICT training, Web Solutions Track, which includes a 3-part Dreamweaver workshop, a ditigal imaging workshop, and a workshop on creating PDF files for the web. If you have some familiarity with Dreamweaver, you might choose to take Part III of the Dreamweaver course. The digital imaging workshop is very helpful if you have limited experience with imaging for the web.