WWWeb Hypertext Style

by Jerry Tutsch, Copyright © 1996

Document = Content + Structure + User Interface

All documents consist of content, structure and a user interface.1 The main task of the author is to provide the content, however, depending on the availability of support staff and the author's skills, the author may be called upon to help develop the document structure and user interface.

In the case of a traditional paper-based book, structure and user interface conventions have been established over the past hundred years. Thus the author can rely on help from editors, publishers and printers with these details of document production.

For hypertext documents the situation is more complex. A linear structure is generally not appropriate, hence the author must deal with the structural aspects of the document.2 Furthermore, the structure of a hypertext document impacts both the content and the user interface of the document so the author must deal with all aspects of document design.

Structure and user interface standards for hypertext documents are just now evolving. This means that hypertext authors are faced with considerable more work than authors of the past. As an aid to hypertext authors, this document proposes some structure and user interface standards. I will begin by considering the hypertext features of books.

NOTES
1. By "document" I mean written documents such as books or papers but the statement could also be applied to other forms of expression such as: music, art, dance or theater.
2. If a linear structure is used, the document is just a book on the screen. Books are best read on paper.
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Created using HyperText ToolÝ, at 11:53 AM, on 4/3/96. The document is located at: http://www.execpc.com/~tutsch/HTT-W3HTS/top.html.