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Industry Guide

Production Planning, Continued

Creating HTML Templates
If I had to build each HTML page from scratch, it would probably take a year to finish a site. Creating and modifying templates is the fastest way to develop your site. The tricky part is making sure that each template is absolutely perfect before you start pouring content into it.

I can't tell you how many times I've begun adding content and then realized after I had built half the site that there was something wrong with the template. For example, I might forget to add text links at the bottom of every page. Or I might realize that one of my tables is ten pixels too wide. Some of these mistakes are easy to fix, but others may require that I go back and manually change a hundred pages or more.

To avoid this, always make sure you have everything in the template before you begin pouring in the content. Communicate with the project manager and the designer to make sure all required navigation elements are included in the page. Ensure that all text and link color settings are correct as well as font sizes and faces. If you are including JavaScript in your pages, check that it works correctly before using it in your templates. In short, double check everything.

T is for Template
Tips from Webmonkey on using templates to speed production.

Modular Web Design
Article on designing with "modules," design templates created for different site sections.

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Introduction
Gathering Materials and Resources
Organizing the Directory Structure
Working with Design Source Files
Creating HTML Templates
Testing the Finished Site


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