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National Library of Medicine - Main Web Site - Coding Instructions

Printable pdf version of these requirements.

  1. XHTML <head> tag elements
    1. Style Sheets
    2. Scripts
  2. XHTML  <body> tag elements
    1. Overall body tag elements including page width
    2. The Standard NLM Header body tag element
      1. Header Left
      2. Seach Under
    3. Dropdown Navigation body tag element
    4. "main-body" body tag element
      1. Divisional Branding Bar
        1. Standard Empty NLM Divisional Branding Bar
        2. Divisional Branding Bar Color Schemes
          1. Divisional Branding Bar - Example HMD
        3. Divisional Branding Bar - Navigation
      2. Breadcrumb Bar
      3. Body content
      4. Footer

XHTML head elements

Style Sheets

  • About the Style Sheets
    • The National Library of Medicine (NLM) header requires the use of three stylesheets (reset.css, master.css, and ie.css)
    • The print.css style sheet is recommended.
    • Links to all the Styles except for print.css are required.
  • reset.css
    • Requirements Note: reset.css is required.
    • A CSS Main Reset to help with consistent view across browsers.
    • reset.css should be linked to using the following html code:
      <link href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/styles/reset.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" />
  • master.css
    • Requirements Note: main.css is required.
    • The main styles for the entire site.
    • main.css should be linked to using the following html code:
      <link href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/styles/master.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen" />
  • ie.css
    • Requirements Note: ie.css is required.
    • An IE8 and below stylesheet, that fixes some display issues.
    • ie.css should be linked to using the following html code:
      <!--[if lte IE 8]>
      <link href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/styles/ie.css" rel="stylesheet" media="screen">
      <![endif]-->
  • print.css
    • Requirement Note: print.css is recommended.
    • Style used when a page is printed. NLM Header and background colors are not printed. ]
    • Side bars are moved to the bottom of the page
    • print.css should be linked to using the following html code:
      <link rel="stylesheet" href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/styles/print.css" type="text/css" media="print" />

Scripts

  • Requirement Note: All scripts are required.
  • These scripts should be linked to so that the drop-down menu works correctly.
  • The scripts also enable the display of rounded page corners in IE8 and below.
    <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/scripts/jquery-min.js"></script>

    <!--[if lte IE 8]>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/scripts/PIE.js"></script>
    <![endif]-->

    <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/scripts/masterfull.js"></script>
  • These scripts should be linked so the "add this" button works correctly.
    <script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};</script>

    <script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=nationallibraryofmedicine"></script>

    NOTE: The "addthis_widget.js" script can also be placed right before the ending "body" tag. Placing the script in this location will increase page performance.

XHTML <body> tag elements

  • Requirements Note: The <body> tag is required.

Overall body tag elements including page width

  • Requirement Note: One set of page width div tags is required.
  • Note: everything on the page resides inside one of these two options.
    • Fluid width option. Inside the body tag, add the following code:
      <div id="wrapper-fluid">
      <div id="container-fluid">
    • Fixed width option. Inside the body tag, add the following code:
      <div id="wrapper">
      <div id="container">

The Standard NLM Header body tag element

  • Requirement Note: The “NLM Header” body tag element is required.
  • The entire header resides in its own div called <div id="header-sub">
  • Each section of the header is broken up into two sections.
  • The left side <div id="header-left">
  • The right side <div class="search-under">
    Image of standard NLM header.

Header Left

  • Requirement Note: The “Header Left” body tag element is required.
  • HTML Markup:
    <div id="header-sub">
    <div id="header-left">
    <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov">
    <img height="51" width="50" class="logo" alt="National Library of Medicine" src="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/images/nlm-logo-white.png" />
    </a>

    <div class="slug">
    <div class="slug-title"><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov">U.S. National Library of Medicine</a></div>
    <div class="slug-int"><a href="http://www.nih.gov">National Institutes of Health</a></div>
    </div>
    </div>

Search Under

  • Requirement Note: The “Search Under” body tag element is required.
  • HTML Markup:
    <div class="search-under">
    <p class="contact-us"><a href="http://apps.nlm.nih.gov/mainweb/siebel/nlm/index.cfm">Contact NLM</a></p>

    <div class="social-home">
    <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
    <a style="text-decoration: none;" class="addthis_button_compact" href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&amp;username=nationallibraryofmedicine">
    <img height="16" border="0" class="social-home-item" title="Add This" alt="Add This" src="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/images/addthis.png" /></a>
    <!-- AddThis Button END -->

    <a href="/listserv/rss_podcasts.html">
    <img height="16" class="social-home-item" alt="RSS Icon" src="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/images/rss-social.png" />
    </a>
    <a href="http://twitter.com/nlm_news">
    <img height="16" class="social-home-item" alt="Twitter Icon" src="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/images/twitter-social.png" />
    </a>
    <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationallibraryofmedicine">
    <img height="16" class="social-home-item" alt="Facebook Icon" src="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/images/facebook-social.png" />
    </a>
    </div>

    <form method="get" action="http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta" target="_self" name="searchForm" id="searchForm"> <label for="search" class="hidden">Search</label> <input type="text" name="query" value="Search" class="search-input" id="search"/> <input type="hidden" name="v:project" value="nlm-main-website" /> </form>
    </div>
    <div class="clearer"></div>
    </div>


Dropdown Navigation body tag element

  • Requirement Note: The “Dropdown Navigation” body tag element is required.
  • The dropdown navigation is generated by an XML file and javascript. The XML file is http://www.nlm.nih.gov/sitenav.xml. Everything is inside #nav.
    Dropdown
  • Since the Dropdown Navigation is created on the fly, it's very important that you have the noscript section.
  • Note: The text “The World’s Largest Medical Library” is controlled by the child div <div id="wlml">
  • The <div class="clearer"> </div> is important to allow the code after this section to format properly.
  • HTML Markup:
    <div id="nav">
    <!--Open Nav-->
    <div id="nojs">
    <noscript>
    <ul id="no-script-nav">
    <li><a href="/noscript-nav.html">Site Navigation</a></li>
    </ul>
    </noscript>
    </div>

    <!--Open drop-->
    <ul class="topnav">
    <li>></li>
    </ul>
    <!--Close drop-->
    <div id="wlml">The World's Largest Medical Library</div>
    </div>
    <div class="clearer"></div>
    <!--Close Nav-->


"main-body" body tag element

  • Requirement Note: The “main-body” body tag element is required.
  • All the HTML markup from this point until the end of the page is contained in:
     <div id="main-body" class="nlm-blue"> 
  • There are different classes for different color schemes

Divisional Branding Bar

  • Requirement Note: The “Divisional Branding Bar” body tag element is required.
    • You must use either the Standard Empty NLM Divisional Branding Bar or a specific Divisional Branding Bar.
  • The Divisional Branding bar is placed between <div id="barbranding"> and it's associated closing </div> tag.
  • Note: The Divisional Branding bar should be on every page. Empty or not
Standard Empty NLM Divisional Branding Bar
  • Requirement Note: The Standard Empty NLM Divisional Branding Bar is only required if a specific Divisional Branding Bar is not used. (See specific Divisional Branding Bar instructions below).
    Standard Empty NLM Divisional Branding Bar
  • HTML Markup:
    <div id="barbranding"></div>
Divisional Branding Bar Color Schemes
  • Requirement Note: The Divisional Branding Bar is required if the Standard Empty NLM Divisional Branding Bar is not used.
  • There are a number of different colors for the Divisional Branding Bar.
  • The color is controlled by adding a class to #main-body which opens prior to #barbranding.
  • Divisional Branding color class options are, .nlm-blue (default), .hmd-red, .gold, .dpPurple, .ltPurple, .navy, .green, .gray, .grape, .deepPurple, .orange, .teal, .white, .brown, .black, .goldenrod
  • HMD HTML Markup example:
    <div id="main-body" class="hmd-red">
Divisional Branding Bar - Example HMD
  • Requirement Note: The Divisional Branding Bar is required if the Standard Empty NLM Divisional Branding Bar is not used.
    HMD Divisional Branding Bar
  • HTML Markup:
    <!--Start Branding Bar-->
    <div id="barbranding">
    <h3>History of Medicine</h3>
    <div class="breadcrumb-brand">
    <p>
    <a href="/hmd/index.html" title="History of Medicine Home"><strong>History Home</strong></a> |
    <a href="/hmd/about/index.html" title="About HMD"><strong>About Us</strong></a> |
    <a href="/hmd/about/visitus.html" title="Visit HMD"><strong>Visit Us</strong></a> |
    <a href="/hmd/about/contactus.html" title="Contact HMD"><strong>Contact Us</strong></a> |
    <a href="/hmd/happening/tours.html" title="HMD Tours"><strong>Tours</strong></a> |
    <a href="/hmd/about/faqs/index.html" title="Frequently Asked Questions"><strong>FAQs</strong></a> |
    <a href="/hmd/help/reference/copyright.html" title="Copyright"><strong>Copyright</strong></a> |
    <a href="/hmd/sitemap/index.html" title="History of Medicine Site Map"><strong>HMD Site Map</strong></a>
    </p>
    </div>
    </div>

Divisional Branding Bar - Navigation
  • Requirement Note: The “Divisional Branding Bar – Navigation” is required in this format if Division-wide links are needed.
    • This component should be used consistently across all pages used by the Divisional Branding Bar.
    • Note: Navigation elements are separated by a “|” (pipe) character.
  • The navigation component of the Divisional Branding bar is placed between <div class="breadcrumb-brand"> and it's associated closing </div> tag.
    HMD Divisional Branding Bar
  • HTML Markup:
    <div class="breadcrumb-brand">
    <p>br /> <a href="/hmd/index.html" title="History of Medicine Home"><strong>History Home</strong></a> | href="/hmd/about/visitus.html" title="Visit HMD"><strong>Visit Us</strong></a> |
    <a href="/hmd/about/contactus.html" title="Contact HMD"><strong>Contact Us</strong></a> |br /> <a href="/hmd/happening/tours.html" title="HMD Tours"><strong>Tours</strong></a> |
    <a href="/hmd/about/faqs/index.html" title="Frequently Asked Questions"><strong>FAQs</strong></a> |
    <a href="/hmd/help/reference/copyright.html" title="Copyright"><strong>Copyright</strong></a> |
    <a href="/hmd/sitemap/index.html" title="History of Medicine Site Map"><strong>HMD Site Map</strong></a>
    </p>
    </div>


Breadcrumb Bar

  • Requirement Note: The “Breadcrumb Bar is required in this format if breadcrumbs are used on the page.
    • Breadcrumb use is strongly encouraged for usabilty.
    • Note: Navigation elements are separated by a “>” (greater than) character
    • Using breadcrumbs to refer to current page is optional.
    • Recommendation – Breadcrumb on current page. 
      • If a “crumb” is to be used for the current page it is recommended not to make the “crumb” hyperlinked. 
      • By excluding the link, the style of the “crumb” will use the emphasis style as defined in the master.css  
  • Breadcrumbs are placed between <div id= "breadcrumb-div"> and it's associated closing </div> tag. Image of bread crumb bar.
  • HTML Markup:
    <div id="breadcrumb-div">
    <p><a title="NLM Home" href="/">Home</a>;
    </div>


Body content

  •  Requirement Note: The “Body Content” div tags are required.
    • In order for body elements to display properly, elements must be in a semantic tag (e.g. <p>, <th>, <table>, <ul>, etc.
    • Elements must not be in just a container tag - e.g. <div> text </div>
  • After the closing breadcrumbs </div> tag, place your content between <div id= "body"> and it's associated closing </div> tag.
  • HTML Markup:
    <div id="body">
    <!--Your information goes here-->br /><div class="clearer"></div>
    </div>

Footer

  • Requirement Note: The left and center footer elements are required.
    • Use the “Footer Review” section to best indicate the currency of the content.
    • Some types of content will require all of the date fields. Other types of content will not require any of the date fields.
    • If in doubt, please ask for guidance using the Contact NLM form. In the Subject field of the form, use the term “Question Regarding Main Web Site - Coding Instructions.”
  • The standard footer can be seen at the bottom of this page.
  • It is made up of 3 parts
    • Footer Info (left side)
    • Footer USA (middle section)
    • Footer Review (right side)
  • HTML Markup:
    <div id="footer-sub">
    <p id="footer-info">
    <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/copyright.html">Copyright</a>,
    <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/privacy.html">Privacy</a>,
    <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/accessibility.html">Accessibility</a>,
    <a href="/sitemap.html">Site Map</a>,
    <a href="/plugins.html">Viewers and Players</a>

    <br />
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894
    <br />
    <a href="http://www.nih.gov/">National Institutes of Health</a>,
    <a href="http://www.hhs.gov/">Health &amp; Human Services</a>
    <br />
    <a href="http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/foia/index.htm">Freedom of Information Act</a>,
    <a href="http://apps.nlm.nih.gov/mainweb/siebel/nlm/index.cfm">Contact Us</a></p>

    <div id="footer-usa">
    <a href="http://www.usa.gov/">
    <img height="30" width="109" alt="USA.gov logo" src="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/images/usagov_logo.gif" />
    </a>
    </div>
    <p id="footer-review">
    <strong>Last reviewed:</strong> 11 January 2011<br />
    <strong>Last updated:</strong> 11 January 2011<br />
    <strong>First published:</strong> 21 April 2004<br />
    </p>
    </div>

Examples