Web Site Design Project: Biznet Organization John J. Mackin MSCE 620 10/18/01

Web Site Design Project:Biznet Organization

John J. MackinMSCE 62010/18/01

Background Organization – Military Service

Academy alumni networking group Web site provides contact

information, schedule and other information of common interest to membership

Voluntary participation Web hosting provided free

Business Problem/Case Current web site not as functional

as it could be: Schedule information is not kept up to

date. Membership information is kept

separately Traffic?

Design Goals Improve ease of updating

membership information Improve web site utilization Maintain schedule information up

to date Improve navigation Improve “look and feel”

‘Customer’ Profile Currently about 150 members Military Service Academy

graduates Similar backgrounds

About 3000 total population in Colorado

Site Demonstration www.users.qwest.net/~jjmackin

/home.html

Lessons Learned Successes:

Javascript rollovers GIF techniques Database success limited Many Javascripts available: counters,

form validators

Lessons Learned Challenges:

Which scripting technology best? ASP, Javascript, CGI/Perl, SSI

Perl/CGI/Hosting dilemma Not all hosts support Most references assume access to Unix

shell Host support non-standard

Project Management Standards

DB Functionality Climbing down the technology

tree: Front Page/MS Access – ASP

Required SW Apps not allowed CGI/DBI::ODBC to MS Access DBI::CSV to text delimited file E-mail data as attached file E-mail data formatted in mail

Unique Features/Improvements

Navigation improved: More consistent Use of rollovers

Improved interface design Limited DB improvement

Future Enhancements Schedule maintenance? / Training Improved DB functionality –pursue

MS ASP technology Form validation Traffic counter Random graphics generator

Conclusion Site improved overall Improved use of technology DB access/updating improved but

not as successful as desired