RWD Elements #2: Navigation & Information Sidebars
There are two more tabs in the RWD Page Builder Form that will help you with design elements on your web page, the Navigaton Sidebar and Information Sidebar. You don't need to add these elements, but each one has the ability to greatly enhance the experience of the user visiting your site.
The Navigation Sidebar
Easy navigation between pages in a web site is the hallmark of good design. Even the most sophisticated material is almost useless if nobody can find it. There are two ways to create links in RWD - directly on the page body, or on the navigation sidebar. Look to the left side of this page to see the navigation sidebar elements for the training site.
Some of the links on the navigation sidebar are created by the system administrator, and they serve to help users find common areas on the school web site. If you create more than one web page, you'll want to add a link on the navigation sidebar. You can add headlines to the sidebar (in gold on the example) and direct links. When you click the tab you'll see the window listed below:
If you want to create a headline, click the checkbox and type in the text. To create a link, type a logical link name in the display text box, then type the path to the link in the Link to box. You can either type in a full Internet address, or if you want to link to a page in your site, type a backslash followed by the page name. See the example for the page you are currently reading listed below:
You can use the buttons to add or remove links. It's best to keep the link text short. Think back to naming your pages - using a short, easy to remember page name will make linking a much easier process. You can also click the checkbox to have your link open in a new window, a design element you'll want to use if you want your own page to remain open in the background.
The Information Sidebar
The information sidebar will create a callout box that will locate on the right side of your web page. It is particularly good for news items or information that changes often. One drawback of using the information sidebar is that it takes space away from your central body content and it will likely "squish" the page a bit. The information sidebar will be as wide as the widest single word in any of the entries. The picture below shows the tab window, and how to manipulate it. The picture below that shows an example of an information sidebar.
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