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Streamlining multiple websites with XHTML/CSS templates
Newspaper publisher Archant chose Digital Overload to create templates for their regional newspaper sites, helping to standardise layout, streamline workflows and save time.
Client aims
Archant is the UK's largest independently owned regional media business, publishing four daily regional newspapers as well as a wide range of weekly papers and magazines.
Having evolved independently, Archant's regional newspaper websites were varied in both layout and coding standards. The aim was to create a range of standardised, re-usable templates that could be visually rebranded for use across the board, working closely with Archant's internal technical team.
Our approach
First, we created a set of definitive coding standards for all Archant sites, so our templates would still work no matter what future development might take place. Next, we considered the best compromise between coding best practice and the restrictions of the existing content management system.
The templates themselves were developed in a modular way, allowing elements of the layout to be moved around easily. We created a single CSS file so that visual branding could be altered site-wide.
An administrator interface allows Archant's web authors to see how each element should look on screen and the correct source code, so they could easily cross-reference their code with our original examples.
The final step was a full browser check to ensure universal compatibility, plus user acceptance testing that helped us to improve some form layouts. At the close of the project we provided full documentation covering methods, template specifications and testing results.
Results
With the templates up and running, Archant could roll out multiple websites with minimum effort. Because of the modular way in which the templates had been developed, Archant's development team could re-use large portions of code to create a range of different sites with minor style variations.
The clear content definitions integrated into the templates saved ongoing maintenance time, so Archant's technical team could put more time into researching new technologies and site features.
The templates give Archant's development team a stable and consistent development platform that is easily updatable and scalable to support future development.
