1. USF Web Guidelines
All official USF web sites must adhere to the USF Web guidelines. One of the most important elements of any official USF site is the use of the Official USF logo. Please feel free to use the official USF logos found on this page for your web pages. If you have any questions about the USF Web Guidelines, please contact the University Webmaster.
2. Using FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name)
To prevent any potential issues, concerns, or questions regarding the authenticity of USF web content, please ensure all links utilize the fully qualified DNS name associated with the web server hosting the content. Doing so will ensure no questions regarding the origin of content, correct crawler reporting, and prevent potential SSL (HTTPS) errors when browsing secure content.
- Examples of incorrect linking:
- http://usf.edu/career
Why? “usf.edu” is not a server. There is a redirect from “usf.edu” to www.usf.edu and a redirect from www.usf.edu to the CORRECT server “usfweb2.usf.edu” so this link will appear to work, but it will require multiple redirects and will create multiple entries in the search index. The correct link is http://usfweb2.usf.edu/career
- http://www.usf.edu/career
Why? The site /career is not located on the www.usf.edu server. Thus your browser must follow a redirect and this link will create an erroneous search entry. The correct link is http://usfweb2.usf.edu/career
- http://isis.fastmail.usf.edu/career
Why? This is the actual name of the server where the career site is located, but it is considered bad form to use a server name in a public url, both because it does nothing to associate the site to the institution’s branding (like usfweb2) and it exposes a server name for hackers to prey upon server vulnerabilities. The correct link is http://usfweb2.usf.edu/career
- Examples of correct linking:
- http://usfweb2.usf.edu/career
3. Calendar Application Upgrade
USF recently purchased an upgrade to the existing calendar application. This new upgrade, which allows our visitors to search for events, subscribe to calendars, and get an RSS feed, is now found at http://calendars.usf.edu. These instructions will provide more details about the login process, as well as instructions for submitting events to the USF Calendar of Events. For more information or to request a new calendar, please email University Webmaster.
Calendar Administrators should use this URL when linking to their calendar(s)
http://calendars.usf.edu/cgi-bin/webevent.cgi?userid=guest&calID=?&cmd=?
- What’s my CalID? Calendar administrators will be receiving an email informing them of their new calID.
- What’s are my options for cmd=? You may use
- listday to list today’s events
- listmonth to list this month’s events
- listyear to list events for the current year
The following example lists all of today’s events for the USF Calendar of Events
http://calendars.usf.edu/cgi-bin/webevent.cgi?userid=guest&calID=1280&cmd=listday
4. About Web Statistics
Recently we’ve experienced problems with our current web statistical package Deepmetrix. We are in the process of evaluating new web statistical software. We will notify you via email in the event we decide on and recommend a replacement for Deepmetrix. If you currently use Deepmetrix and would like to discuss this further, contact the University Webmaster.
5. CMS (Content Management System)
The webmaster continues to work with IT in hopes of gathering enough information for a replacement of our CMS.
6. Need Templates?
The University Webmaster provides 2 templates for you to download. Template #1 is the exact look and feel of the USF site. Template #2 uses the official logo and colors but has a different look and feel. You are encouraged to add/delete/change your own links in the header/footer navigation of the templates. Please click here to download a zip file of the templates. If you should have any questions please feel free to email the University Webmaster.
7. Search Engine Improvements:
12/3/2007 - The USF search has been improved and now allows us to create "best bet" pages that will always display at the top when certain keywords are entered.
2/11/2008 USF has recently purchased a Google Search Appliance and license. Read More
8. Keeping USFWEB2 Information Current
It is of utmost importance that webmasters who maintain a site on USFWEB2 review their site folders and purge any outdated data (DOC, PDF, HTML, etc) in order for search engines to produce correct results. If you need assistance with this process or if you have any questions please feel free to contact the University Webmaster.
9. If you are creating or moving a website to a new server, please contact IT at ecampus@admin.usf.edu or (813) 974-9000.
10. Not a member of the Webmasters listserv? Want to be kept up-to-date on usf.edu related issues? Please email the University Webmaster.
Related Links -
:: USF Web Guidelines
:: Web Administration
:: USF Logos
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