Kentucky: EWDT F.A.Q.

If you are seeing or hearing this, then either your browser/user agent does not support Cascading Style Sheets, or you have elected to turn them off. You may see and/or hear immediately following this notice alerts regarding national security or the Amber Alert system that do not apply. To see if these alerts apply, follow the links provided. -Commonwealth of Kentucky

The national Homeland Security Advisory System's Threat Condition is currently red, meaning severe. Check your local radio or television stations for up-to-date information. You may also check the National Homeland Security website or the Kentucky Homeland Security website for more information. -Commonwealth of Kentucky

The national Homeland Security Advisory System's Threat Condition is currently orange, meaning high. Check your local radio or television stations for up-to-date information, or you may visit the National Homeland Security website or the Kentucky Homeland Security website for more information. -Commonwealth of Kentucky

An Amber Alert has been issued. Visit the Kentucky Emergency Management website for information. -Commonwealth of Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is the Enterprise Web Design Template (EWDT)?

The EWDT is part of the 7020 - Internet/World Wide Web Design and Publishing Standard. It is required that all new and revised pages meet the new design standards and use the EWDT as their beginning source.

Why do we have to use the EWDT?

Using the EWDT enforce Enterprise wide compliance with design standards, and helps to ensure compliance with the 7025 - Accessibility for Internet/World Wide Web Design and Publishing Standard. How this is accomplished is through the EWDT's use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for position and presentation of the page. All web pages are required to use the same standard CSS file that enforce the design requirements and some of the accessibility requirements. Then, as changes are made to the design standards, those changes would be made at the central CSS file, and all pages would then get the update. Webmasters would not need to update all of their HTML pages to reflect the new changes.

Yeah, right. You mean that CSS can update my HTML pages with a new design?

Yes. Now, will it be 100% foolproof? Probably not. Will you be required to do some work in your HTML pages for the new design? Probably so. However, you should only have to update your existing HTML pages, not start over from scratch for every redesign.

Why would I have to redo my HTML pages for a redesign if I use tables for layout?

Using tables for layout hard-codes structure into your page. If the design forces a new structure, you have to go to each and every HTML page to make that structural change. It'll probably be easier to start over with a new HTML page then to try to jury-rig the existing HTML page to the new design.

Do you have any examples of using CSS to change designs?

The best site that I've found to showcase this concept is CSS Zen Garden []. This site show different designs from people all over the world but with one catch: all designs use the exact same HTML! Really! The only thing that changes is the CSS file. Below are some examples:

This is why the EWDT uses CSS to control the position and presentation of your content. Whenever a new design becomes standard, only the CSS files should change, not your HTML pages.

The HTML

Where are the templates? I thought there was more then one template.: Not really. The "templates" were in reality a single HTML page that used CSS classes to create different layouts and structures. This removes the presention and layout of the page to a few centralized CSS files.

Updated: 07/20/2004 [med]