IWMW 1998 Server Management (2) Promoting Access to Resources

Institutional Web Management Workshop September 1998

Computing Service

Providing Access to Resources

Helen Varley Sargan


Computing ServiceProviding Access to Resources• Indexing tools• Metadata• Link checking


Computing ServiceIndexing tools• Perhaps single most useful tool for a website• Helps navigation but does not substitute for good

organisation• Really useful for webmasters !• Some web server software now includes indexing

software. If your server software needs upgrading look into that first.

• Free vs. commercial: assess what you need and whether there is any money first


Computing ServiceFree indexing tools• Often UNIX based• Often little or no support (although email or mailing

list support is sometimes available) • Usually need technical skills to install and configure• Stop-start upgrades• May be cut-down version of commercial package


Computing ServiceCommercial indexing tools• Some small-scale packages are low cost but the

‘serious’ packages cost £many thousands• Spending money may not be the more expensive

option if the tool is supported and works straight out of the box.

• Comparisons are very difficult as features vary so widely

• Information may be difficult to obtain without initiating a personal contact


Computing ServiceRecommendations• Free tools: wait for the new version of htdig due out

anytime. Swish-E would be an alternative. If non-technical answer needed, look for server software incorporating search facility

• Commercial: very dependent on what your requirements are. We chose Ultraseek from Infoseek to index 190+ servers on site.


Computing ServiceMetadata for indexing• Some indexing tools use a robot or spider, so you

may want to think about how search engines see your information

• Don’t assume metadata is a universal answer - not all search engines use it

• Do keep it simple


Computing ServiceAdding metadata• Tags go into <head> part of file as

<meta name=“description” content=“…text…”• Name=“description” adds text that is shown in

search results instead of the first few lines of the file

• Name=“keywords” adds keywords not in the file that might be suitable matches

• Should not contain HTML formatting


Computing ServiceLink checking software• Dead links are an embarrassment• Link checking software can help maintain a lot of

links painlessly• Available as a service or you can install your own

software• Services are only intended for a few pages• Self-installed software can run on web server or on

remote computer

Education

IWMW 1998 Server Management (2) Promoting Access to Resources