Customer Service
UF/IFAS Web Site Templates & Training
This page provides more specific information about the UF/IFAS templates and training. For general information about SFYL, please see our main Customer Service page.
If you have questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact the SFYL Web Team.
Overview
To help visitors navigate IFAS Web sites more easily, we are working on IFAS Web site templates that resemble the SFYL look and feel. A consistent IFAS Web design will assist visitors in finding the content they need. Continuity will help with search engine rankings. These new templates are also Section 508 compliant (accessible to those with disabilities, according to federal guidelines).
The templates will be tailored to your site, allowing each area to express individuality, but also allowing our site visitors to navigate our sites more easily. We hope these templates will help the general public better understand what IFAS is and does.
Templates are being made available to interested offices. If you are interested in using the templates and have not yet asked for them, please contact the SFYL Web Team. We will set up a meeting with you to get the process started.
Templates can be edited with Contribute, Dreamweaver, and FrontPage 2003, so there is no need to purchase additional software. A copy of Contribute will be provided to each office that requests the program, but you do not have to switch to Contribute unless you wish to do so. We will work with your office and give you feedback to help you make your site as effective as possible.
With hundreds of sites throughout IFAS, this process will take some time, but we hope you will find the wait worthwhile! We are aware that some offices have design restrictions and will try to accommodate these to make sure the templates work for you.
Template Preparation & Delivery
There is a lot of work to do in the months ahead! Here are the next steps to take if you would like to use the templates.
- Bring your content up to date! Check our Web style guides and policies for help with editing text and images.
- Send us feedback--constructive criticism is always welcome.
- Help us to make sure the information on the site is relevant:
- Send us your success stories.
- Contribute frequently asked questions (and answers) for our FAQs.
- Pass on any relevant or useful information.
- Add your events to the IFAS calendar.
- Please be patient--with over 600 Web sites, it will take time for us to give you the quality service we hope to deliver.
Production & Training Schedules
Production
Before templates are delivered, all sites need to have all their Web content up-to-date in electronic format. Please update your site’s content and images. If that is not possible, you can instead make sure that all updates are in electronic format. Photos should be JPGs, and text should be in Microsoft Word or Notepad.
To expedite the process and make the update as seamless as possible, templates will only be released to areas with up-to-date content. To avoid delays, please make sure all your Web content has been reviewed and is current, and that you have gathered or written any content that you want to add to your site.
To see how the IFAS site migration is progressing and to check the status of your Web site, visit our Updates Archive page.
Training
For those receiving templates and migrating their sites themselves, we will conduct training on how to migrate your site to the new look and feel. For those who are having their entire site migrated, we will provide training on updating your Web sites after they have been migrated. We will hold training sessions on campus, online, and throughout the state using video conferencing technology.
If none of these options are convenient for you, don't worry. We will be setting up an online course that will walk you through performing Web updates at your own pace. We will also be available to answer questions and provide assistance.
Upcoming Training Sessions
More training sessions coming soon!
Template Tutorials & Tips
Download our tutorials for editing the SFYL templates with Contribute, Dreamweaver, and FrontPage.
To view pdf files, download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free. See our Web Resources section for a list of image manipulation software that you can download and use for free.
General Information
- Getting Started (pdf)
- Tips & Tricks (pdf)
- Web Policy & Style Guides
- Screen Capture and Printing Tutorial (pdf)
Contribute
Dreamweaver
FrontPage
- Main Template Tutorial (pdf)
Sample Template Pages
Here are some examples of our template styles.
Blue & Gray Version
Main Page Template
Secondary Page Templates
- Standard
- Wide
- Wide, no left-navigation
- Expanded (intended for spreadsheets only; not recommended for general use)
Orange & Blue Version
Main Page Template
Secondary Page Templates
- Standard
- Wide
- Wide, no left-navigation
- Expanded (intended for spreadsheets only; not recommended for general use)
- Return to Customer Service
