CLF for the Internet - Navigation and Format
All GoC Web pages must
incorporate an institutional menu similar in design and placement to the
common menu bar. The number of buttons and choice of terminology should
represent plain language descriptors of the organization's program and
services. Department,
Branch / Sector,
Division
Rationale
Establishing a standard format and location for the primary institutional menu
facilitates attainment of CLF
navigation objectives and further enhances communication and identification
objectives.
Interpretation
The institutional menu is a key feature in providing service delivery within an individual
site. Each GoC site and sub-site will need to adopt terminology on the menu buttons that reflects
its specific programs and services, yet some degree of standardization should be applied to
enhance over CLF objectives. As it can be
anticipated that some similarity in the content of institutional menus will occur from site
to site, CLF suggests Web developers should consider including the following standard elements:
What's New, Publications / Catalogue, Menu / Contents, Home / Previous / Next, Programs
& Services, Index, Submit / Order.
The standard requires a consistent look and placement for the primary
institutional menu. While institutions are free to choose the colour, number of
buttons (up to 10) and content of their primary institutional menu, the size and design must match that of the Common Menu.
In addition, the primary institutional menu must be placed directly below the Common Menu.
The terminology used on menu buttons should be selected carefully to ensure choices are clear to
end-users that may or may not understand the phrases or terminology used internally
to reflect programs or services.
GoC institutions are free to
develop additional secondary menu systems as required. Institutions with many Web
sites or many levels of content may need this additional navigation assistance. Such
secondary menus should be located in the left column of Content Pages. They may
incorporate a more graphic or visually thematic approach to displaying navigation
options than is used in the mandatory menu. Secondary menus should be designed with
the appropriate attention to accessibility concerns and should visually complement
overall Web page layout.
While the primary institutional menu should contain links to major subject areas
that are institution-wide or major functions not included in the Common Menu, the
secondary menu may contain links that are more content specific, such as
institutional sub-sites, program and service areas, or lengthy content files.
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Standard 6.2