Web Site Development Methodologies - High Level Models and Methodologies for Information Systems - page 62

the modeling of highly structured, database-like information-domains, and con-
ventional hypertext. Thus, it facilitates the process of developing both structured
and unstructured Web pages, supporting static and dynamic content alike. It also
facilitates the creation of uni

ed Web sites, by utilizing submodels for each loca-
tion, making it an ideal methodology for large-scale Web sites (Bichler and Nusser
1996 ).
The W3DT methodology comprises an intuitive graphical model suitable for the
use of Web pages, which describes design components such as sites, pages, index,
forms, menus, links, dynamic links, etc. (Enguix and Davis 1999 ).
According to Bichler and Nusser ( 1996 ), the process of developing a Web site
within this framework is divided into two stages:
First, the developers outline a graphical representation of the Web site and
respective pages, which will account not just for the aesthetic presentation of the
Web site but also its navigational structure. This is accomplished by building one or
more diagrams. These diagrams consist of at least one page, with optional links,
and a layout, which will de cations for each page. The

underlying structure of each page is composed of three elements: form, index, and
menu (Bichler and Nusser 1996 ). These components are the basic design primitives
of the W3DT model, as outlined in Fig. 4.1 .
Second, the developers produce and run prototypes using a computer-based
environment. This stage utilizes a computer-based design environment that the
authors called WebDesigner, giving the developer the opportunity to create a
running prototype of the Web site. WebDesigner is W3DT

ne formatting speci

is CASE tool, providing
this methodology with an intuitive browser that allows the developers to graphically
represent the Web site as it is being developed, and to draw and edit all features of
its constructs (Bichler and Nusser 1996 ).
W3DT combines a modeling technique with a computer-based design envi-
ronment. It was primarily created to support the requirements of unstructured,
hierarchical domains. It is a visual, high-level methodology that harnesses the
functionality of HTML, its fundamental language (Burner 2002 ).

'

Fig. 4.1 A model of WSDM (adapted from Plessers et al. 2005 )