[Sigia-l] SUMMARY: Samples of Site Maps & Site Indexes

[Karuna Venter]

Hi folks,

At the end of March I sent this note -

"A couple of years ago we discussed the differences between Site Maps & Site
Indexes (http://www.info-arch.org/lists/sigia-l/0201/0294.html), and since I
am trying to decide what direction to pursue for my current project, I
thought I'd ask the list for any current examples they really like (or
really dislike) for info retrieval one-pagers on websites (aka "site map" or
"site index").

I'd be happy to collect & summarize to reduce the noise level on the list."

I got two responses, the content of both of which is listed below.  Lyle
Kantrovich had a huge collection of site map/site index resources, which I
am sure will be useful for many of us, and Leslie Owens sent along another
example that I like very much.  I also added a collection of index links
from the 2002 discussion for anyone's reference.

Thanks to Leslie and Lyle for responding.  I am always interested in hearing
experience & opinions about the site map/index challenge, so if you feel
like adding your $.02 feel free to drop me a line.  The issue of maintenance
in lieu of a well-implemented CMS is one topic I'm especially curious about.

Cheers,

Karuna

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FYI:

Samples from our previous discussion (in 01/2004) that are still live today
(note that these also include different types of indices, not just site
index examples):

http://www.aussi.org/indexer.htm
http://www.asindexing.org/site/backndx.htm
http://www.sun.com/siteindex/
http://my.webmd.com/medical_information/condition_centers/default.htm
http://www.adobe.com/products/main.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/home/all-stores.html/104-3468701-819
5133
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/508510/104-3468701-8195133


Jakob Nielsen's AlertBox about site maps that got me inquiring in the first
place:
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20020106.html

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Leslie Owens:

I think the fda has done a good job, with many alternative ways of grouping
the content and sub-sites. 
http://www.fda.gov 

=============================

Lyle Kantrovich:

I just happened to have a big honkin' list of examples and resources on
sitemaps and indices.  Hope this is helpful!


Site Index examples:
Good:
http://www.peoplesoft.com/corp/en/indices/site_index.jsp
http://www.w3.org/Help/siteindex
http://www.montaguelab.com/Public/indexes.htm
http://www.census.gov/main/www/subjects.html
http://www.consumerreports.org/main/detailv2.jsp?CONTENT<>cnt_id=3171&FOLDER
<>folder_id=3167
http://www.writersblock.ca/common/index.htm

Not so good:
http://www.asindexing.org/site/backndx.htm

Different style / purpose:
http://unixhelp.ed.ac.uk/index/index.html


Product Index examples:
Good:
http://www.ibm.com/products/az/
http://www.peoplesoft.com/corp/en/indices/prod_index.jsp

Not so good:
http://www.3m.com/product/index.jhtml


Sitemap examples:
Good:
http://www.apple.com/find/sitemap.html
http://www.google.com/sitemap.html
http://pages.ebay.com/sitemap.html?ssPageName=h:h:smap:US
http://www.multimap.com/static/sitemap.htm
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/sitemap/

Not so good:
http://www.novuspetroleum.com/cmsaxs/site/1/5.asp?secID=18
http://www.miami.muohio.edu/sitemap/

Bad:
http://www.chaminade.edu/sitemap/content/sitemap.html (bad visual
representation)
http://www.chaminade.edu/sitemap/index.php (not much better - text w/
visuals once you click on a high-level section)
http://www.tamu.edu/00/sitemap.html?mode=d (too detailed, bad layout, no
logical order) http://www.raffed75.isgreat.tv/Sitemap.htm (yuck!)


The IBM Site Map Gallery:
Fascinating study of a big company dealing with lack of standards...map,
map, who's got THE site map?
http://www-1.ibm.com/businesscenter/us/sitemap/ (simple)
http://www.ibm.com/investor/tools/iritsm.phtml (good use of bullets &
indention)
http://www-5.ibm.com/de/mittelstand/sitemap/ (interesting layout)
http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/sitemap.html (jump nav at top good,
indention and level of detail bad) http://www.ibm.com/ar/sitemap/ (bad
windows explorer style layout) http://www.almaden.ibm.com/st/sitemap.shtml
(what's a link?)
http://www-306.ibm.com/e-business/doc/content/sitemap/sitemap.html (too
detailed)


Related Articles & Info:
http://taxonomist.tripod.com/indexing/design_checklist.html
http://www.asindexing.org/site/checklist.shtml

http://www.boxesandarrows.com/archives/sitemaps_and_site_indexes_what_they_a
re_and_why_you_should_have_them.php

http://davidcrow.ca/2003/01/20/trends_in_sitemap_design.html

http://www.iaslash.org/node.php?id=2535#comment

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20020106.html

http://www.evolt.org/article/evolt/4090/710/


Tools:
http://www.brown-inc.com/indexer/FAQ.htm

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