IT & MCIS

DEFINITION OF STANDARD:
Web authoring software creates HyperText Markup Language (HTML) documents for electronic presentation (i.e., publishing) on the World Wide Web. It is considered a "presentation language," rather than a programming language. HTML is a non-proprietary format and can be created and processed by a wide range of tools, from simple plain text editors to sophisticated authoring tools. Full-featured HTML authoring software assists in building web pages and managing links, images and update functions.

PUBLICATION DATE: May 10, 1999
REVIEW DATE: May 28, 2003
REVIEW CYCLE: 6 months
RESPONSIBLE CONTACT:
Kathy Hamperian

TIMELINE:
Revision date: May 28, 2003
Effective date: July 1, 2000

Recommended Standard(s):
HTML 3.2 and 4.0; http://www.uky.edu/providers

Recommended Product(s):

Macromedia Products:
3D Studio Max
Flash
Elastic Reality
Dreamweaver
Fireworks

Microsoft Products:
FrontPage

Justification:
In addition to the text, multimedia, and hyperlink features of the previous versions of HTML, HTML 4.0 supports more multimedia options, scripting languages, style sheets, and better printing facilities. In addition, HTML 4.0 is capable of creating documents that are more accessible to users with disabilities and takes great strides towards the internationalization of documents.

Technical Considerations:
HTML is a very dynamic software environment and many functions are unstable. Departments should consider web-authoring software that integrates well with existing desktop software applications and does not implement proprietary features used by a specific browser. Departments are reminded to assess the impact of presenting new features, elements and attributes to users working with older versions of browsers.

For more information:
Contact Kathy Hamperian, Director of Information Management, 257-2218