PMGG web site version 3

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This web site is running on a dual G5 Apple XServe, Apache and PHP. It was constructed using BBEdit to modify version 1, which was created almost entirely in Adobe Pagemill. The source code is a mixture of HTML, Apache SSI #include statements and PHP scripts. I found useful instruction on the use of the latter at Jans Guide to HTML and more, the Zend.com PHP site (there were some very useful code examples there), and from Julie C. Meloni's book PHP essentials.

Changes

Version 3

The changes in version 3 are quite drastic:

Moved to XServe
Restructured template/content model
Switched to css formatting where possible
some mySQL-driven dynamic content

Version 3

The changes in version 2 are:

Changed from a frames site to a non-frames site. Personally, I like having the navigaton links stay on top as I scroll the page, but it was clear that for some users with different browsers and monitors the sizing of the banners was a problem.
New banners. The old ones were based on putting text and tables in front of a background color in a frame, so new ones were needed.
Changed the contact page to be forms-based. This allows me to control the subject line for the messages.
Changed the dynamic display of faculty info in the Faculty and Interests subpages. These are now generated dynamically by pulling information off of the websites for the home departments. The formatting from the home departments still dominates, because this is not XML-based. However, note that I was able to get rid of some inappropriate links, and I changed the format for biochem faculty from 2-column to 1-column. Since the pages are dynamically generated, it doesn't make sense to have a last modified on the footer, so it was omitted for these pages (and php doesn't seem to execute included apache SSI code although the reverse works).
Much more extensive use of global info like headers, footers and menus...but it could still be better.
Added some under construction pages where we can put links related to microbiology education. I hope that this part of the web site will grow a lot.
Added this "About.." page.

Graphics

Many of the graphics used for the title banners were found by surfing the web. I was so pleased with what I found that I forgot to note where they came from. I'm hoping that the modifications I did are OK to use for a non-profit educational site like this. If you recognize any of the graphics as copyrighted material, please let me know who holds the reproduction rights so I can either get the right to use them or replace them with other things. Of course, you can also suggest alternatives if you have pictures that you just like better.

This program is funded through a grant from the Life Sciences Task Force at Texas A&M. Admission to Texas A&M University and any of its sponsored programs is open to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or educationally unrelated handicaps. Texas A&M University is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer. Last modified: July 31 2004 13:23 PM