http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/webmaster-jul1997/

1. 1
UCISA-SG WebTools Forum
An Evaluation Exercise
David Lomas
University of Salford

2. 2
The Need
Clear need for:
• Evaluation of various types of web-related
software
• To stand back and decide what we need
• Recommendations for CHEST deals
Why?
• Prevent wasted effort in HE community
through re-invention of the wheel
• Need to monitor both web developments and
existing web applications
• Individual purchases are costly
• Community benefits of/from standardisation

3. 3
Issues
Evaluation process more complex than for
most UCISA-SG working groups:
• Rapid growth of the web
• Developments to existing web protocols (HTML
-> Cougar, CSS) and new protocols (PICS,
XML)
• Uncertainty in the marketplace (Netscape v
Microsoft battles)
• Variety of models of institutional web provision
• Danger of taking on too much

4. 4
Areas
Areas:
• Browsers and other end user tools
• Authoring and graphics tools
• Web page management tools
• Server software and server management tools
• Database integration
• Programming and application development
environment tools
Other areas:?
Raise them at tomorrow’s discussion group

5. 5
Browsers & Other End User Tools
Browsers
• Netscape and Internet Explorer
• Specialist browsers (e.g. for visually impaired,
SGML / XML browsers, foreign language support)
• Architectural issues - support for plugins, ActiveX
and Java
• Security
Other End User Tools
• Key plugins
• Bookmark managers
• Client management software (filters, …)
• Tuners to support push technologies
• What else?

6. 6
Browsers: Issues
Institutional Issues
• Platform issues (PC, Mac, Unix) and Windows
(Win 3.x, 95 and NT)
• Importance of Network Computers (NC)
• Security - are Java and ActiveX permitted?
• Policies on "push" technologies
Architectural Issues
• Browser architecture may change with modular
browsers, open browser APIs
• Browser may become part of the (MS Windows)
desktop
• Java support for 486 PCs

7. 7
Authoring & Graphics Tools
Authoring Tools
• File based authoring tools (many available)
• Conversion tools (from RTF, DTP formats, etc)
• Word processor based tools
Graphics Tools
• Image manipulation tools (e.g. Photoshop Pro)
• Graphical libraries (e.g. gd) Needed for
dynamic generation of images

8. 8
Authoring Tools: Issues
Institutional Issues
• Existing policies on word processing software
• Existing policies on graphical software (if they
exist)
Architectural Issues
• Importance of Cascading Style Sheets
• Development of collaborative authoring tools
(e.g. work of IETF WebDAV group)
• Importance of PNG as replacement for GIF
Other Issues
• Overlap with Workstations WG, AGOCG

9. 9
Web Page Management Tools
Web Page Management Tools
• Software for managing web sites or collections of
related pages (e.g. NetObjects Fusion, MS
FrontPage)
• Software for assisting information provider (e.g.
link checkers, HTML validators, ...)

10. 10
Management Tools: Issues
Institutional Issues
• Software currently in use
Architectural Issues
• Development of Web Collections protocols
• Overlap with metadata management tools
Other Issues
• Possible overlap with Authoring Tools
• We operate in a “real” world
• Adapting tools not designed for the Web

11. 11
Server Software & Management Tools
Server Software
• NCSA, Apache, Netscape, CERN
• Unix v Windows NT v NetWare
• Other platforms? (Mac, personal Windows 95)
Server Management Tools
• Usage report generators
• Search engine support

12. 12
Server Software: Issues
Institutional Issues
• Software currently in use
• Do institutions need commercial secure software
for use with sensitive data?
Architectural Issues
• Support for HTTP/1.1
• Security e.g. includes 128 bit security
Other Issues?
• Raise them at tomorrow’s discussion group

13. 13
Database Integration
Database Integration
• Software to provide dynamic access to
database
• Software to provide updating of database from
web forms
• Example include Cold Fusion, Microsoft
dbWeb?

14. 14
Database Integration: Issues
Institutional Issues
• Platform issues (Unix v Windows NT servers)
• Do institutions need commercial secure
software for use with sensitive data?
Architectural Issues
• ODBC
• JDBC
Other Issues?
• Raise them at tomorrow’s discussion group

15. 15
Programming Tools
Programming Tools
• Java development environments (e.g. Visual
Café, MS Visual J++, Jamba)
• ActiveX development environments (e.g. MS
Interdev Studio)
• Client scripting environment (e.g. Arcadia)

16. 16
Programming Tools: Issues
Institutional Issues
• Policies on Java and ActiveX
• What is the demand?
Architectural Issues
• Java, ActiveX and Javascript standardisation
Other Issues
• Overlap with CBL authoring tools (e.g. Director)?

17. 17
What Won't Be Covered
WebTools group does not intend to cover
the following:
• VRML
• Filtering software
• Conferencing software
• Copyright management software
• ...
Comments?

18. 18
Where To From Here?
Evaluation Criteria and Case Studies
Other Sources of Information
• Reviews in Internet magazines
• Various web sites
Other Groups
• Dutch evaluation group
Your Involvement