University Identity

Templates

Download the Cal Poly Web Template

The Cal Poly Template is now more powerful and flexible than ever. Version 3.4 has been developed with Web site upgrades in mind. The template is now liquid, fully accessible, and gives you the choice of one, two, or three column layouts. Extensive sample content is also provided.

Template System Features

  • Meets Section 508 guidelines and current Web accessibility best practices
  • Meets campus standards for minimum identity and communications elements
  • Uses current Web standards for XHTML 1.0 Transitional and CSS 2.1
  • Includes 1-column, 2-column, and 3-column layouts to meet the needs of various campus web sites
  • Included sample content pages provide extensive content examples for text and images, data tables, and forms.
  • The design is fully liquid, a best practice for Web accessibility (the web page layout flows when the browser window is re-sized)
  • Content and code are completely separate from look and feel (this makes future updates easier)
  • Users can keep their site specific CSS and images separate from the template system files (this makes future updates easier)
  • Includes Dreamweaver library items for the left and right navigation menus making site-wide menu updates easier and faster

Information is AvailableKnowledge of Dreamweaver Templates and Libraries, and how to correctly apply CSS styles is necessary in order to use the updated Cal Poly Web template 3.4. Options for obtaining Dreamweaver training can be found through the ITS Training Web site. Use of Dreamweaver 8.0 or higher is recommended in order to work with the template. Obtain Dreamweaver as site licensed software through the KeyServer Web site.

Information is AvailableIn order to retain the accessibility of these templates, do not modify the template structure (XHTML), layout, or original design (artwork and CSS). In addition, Web sites that use a modified template structure cannot be supported by Information Technology Services. Web sites in which the template has been fundamentally changed will not be linked from the Cal Poly Web site.

Cal Poly Template Download

Download Now
If you're a Cal Poly member and you plan to use this template, please drop a note to srutland at calpoly.edu, and let us hear from you!

Version 3.4.1 (see change status below)

  1. Download the ZIP archive file to your desktop.
  2. Locate the file on your desktop and double-click on the file.
  3. If a new File Explorer window opens...
    1. then simply drag the file named cp_template_3.4 into your web folder. Then close the new File Explorer window.
  4. If a File extract window pops up...
    1. Choose Action > Extract...
    2. In "Extract to:" type a period "." (This will extract the package to your current folder. If you want to extract to a specific folder on your computer, then browse to that folder to extract the package. )
    3. Click Extract. The site will extract with a folder named cp_template_v3.4 which contains the template files
    4. Drag the extracted folder to your Web folder.
  5. Use Dreamweaver "Manage Sites" to configure your Web site by pointing to the cp_template_v3.4 folder.
  6. Use the template instructions to help you get started creating your Web site and to put accessible content into your pages.

Section 508 Compliance and Web Accessibility Best Practices:

The Cal Poly Web Template v3.4 framework and sample content has been reviewed for Web Accessibility best practices as described in the Web accessibility Compliance Process Guide. The template passes both the automated checks and the manual checks, meeting both Section 508 and best practices for Web site accessibility.

Though the template and its sample content meets current Web accessibility standards, the content that you place into the template must also be made to comply with Section 508 standards and Web accessibility best practices; and your content must also comply with standards for XHTML 1.0 Transitional and CSS 2.1. The template instructions will assist you with producing accessible content.

Package Contents:

  • instructions.html - links to online instructions for working with the template
  • Sample Content Pages
    • sample_content.html
    • sample_forms.html
    • sample_tables.html
  • Templates folder
    • master_template.dwt
    • 1col_template.dwt
    • 2col_template.dwt
    • 3col_template.dwt
  • Library folder
    • leftnav.lbi - Dreamweaver Library Item for the left-hand navigation
    • rightcol.lbi - Dreamweaver Library Item for the right-hand navigation
  • css folder
    • screen.css - Custom Web stylesheet
    • print.css - Custom print style sheet
  • images folder - use this to store your department's images and graphics
  • common folder - includes files that retain the layout and design of the template

Change Status:

A note about updates and version changes

Using our three digit versioning system you can determine if the template you've used can be upgraded with more current CSS.

This is how to interpret a version number such as 3.3.1:

  • First digit - indicates a major change in the template architecture or design. This will typically stay pretty constant for the foreseeable future.
  • Second digit - indicates XHTML code additions or fixes that affect layout or function. The fundamental code architecture of the template has not been changed.
  • Third digit - primarily used to indicate a change to the CSS such as style additions or fixes. May also include minor code changes that don't affect layout or function.

More recent versions of the CSS can be used with template implementations which have the same second digit. For example, the CSS from the 3.3.1 template can be used with the 3.3.0 version. And likewise, the CSS from the 3.2.3 template can be used with the 3.2.1 template. However, you cannot use the CSS from the 3.3.1 template with earlier versions of the template XHTML such as 3.2.1.

In general , you can not interchange template components with different first digits. For example, components from the 3.x.x version cannot be used with components from the 2.x template. Hope this make sense.

Determine Your Template Version

You can determine your template XHTML version by looking for the version number in the comments at the top of the code of any web page in your site. Load a page and view the code (in Firefox: View > Page source. In IE: View > Source). Look for the version number in the comments. It will only be the first two digits.

Version 3.4.1 posted 7/18/08

  • Minor change to search code parameter
  • Added styles to create gold-highlight content area for use with the left and right columns, to bring attention to small but significant content (minimal use of this is suggested)
  • Compatibility fixes for Internet Explorer 8 (beta) in anticipation of support for the upcoming release of this browser

Version 3.4.0 posted 6/19/08 (no longer available)

  • Search code updated to point to the CSU Google appliance
  • Moved editable regions to be inside of content areas so as to prevent content from being mistakenly added outside of these areas
  • Header elements changed from classes to IDs to prevent use of their styles in the content area
  • Added styles for creating captions under images
  • Fixed ordered and unordered list styles to align properly when next to a floated image
  • Fixed the split column layout table so text would align to the top

Version 3.3.1 posted 6/5/08 (no longer available)

  • Added styles for text that represents code
  • Added a style for an outlined inset box with no background color
  • Fixed "back to top" style display issues

Version 3.3.0 posted 5/23/08 (no longer available)

  • Created additional sample content pages for tables and forms
  • Added styles to left, center, or right justify tables and text in tables
  • Fixed browser compatibility problem in codeset that caused tables not to center across all browsers (made DOCTYPE the first element in code instead of an HTML comment)

Version 3.2.3 posted 5/13/08 (no longer available)

  • Added background color to top gold bar to fix color contrast
  • Changed alt text to white on department logo and the search "go" button to fix color contrast.
  • Left justified horizontal navigation text

Version 3.2.2 posted 4/18/08 (no longer available)

  • Fixed bread crumb spacing
  • Added horizontal navigation styles for use within the top gold bar
  • Added a non-outlined inset box style
  • Added style for centering text

Version 3.2.1 posted 4/10/08 (no longer available)

  • Fixed split content layout by using a minor layout table within the main content column

Version 3.2 posted 3/20/08 (no longer available)

  • XHTML 1.0 Transitional markup
  • Uses a master template (master_template.dwt) to control repeating department information such as header and footer information
  • Uses three templates from which to create Web pages (1col_template.dwt, 2col_template.dwt, and 3col_template.dwt)
  • Implementation of a right column on the 3-column layout can be used for additional navigation and content
  • Uses a similar design as the version 2.0 template, with updated graphics and CSS
  • The search feature was relocated to the header
  • Liquid center column (content flows when browser window is resized)
  • Provides extensive sample content that is fully Web accessible

Version 2.0 (no longer available)

  • Uses a similar design layout as previous Cal Poly Web templates
  • Uses best practices for:
  • Conforms with Cal Poly's University Identity and Minimum Communication Elements
  • Uses ONLY a Dreamweaver Template called "cp_template.dwt". (An "HTML only" template is no longer provided. This was done to preserve the manageability of a site)
  • Uses a Dreamweaver Library Item for the left-hand navigation menu
  • Provides CSS styles for main body content such as headings, default text, bulleted items and other styles
  • Provides sample content within the template that is Section 508 Web Accessible

Version 1.1 (no longer available)

  • Renamed the HTML page "template.html" to "cp_template.html"
  • Created a Dreamweaver template called "cp_dwtemplate.dwt"
  • Changed default link colors to be ADA compliant
  • Added two Cascading Style Sheet styles locally to the cp_template.html file :
    • Class name ".menu" controls the text-decoration of links to which said class is applied
    • Class name ".footer-white" is used only for the CP links within the lower footer area with the green background
  • Edited the "Home" link on the bread-crumb to read "Department Name Home"

Version 1.0 (no longer available)

  • Initial release of the University template.