Boxes and Arrows: Comments by Gordon Withers

Gordon Withers — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:26 GMT

After years of trying to create the world’s greatest site map, I’ve found that the excel spreadsheet, all by itself, as displayed in step one – the input tab – does the trick. While lacking some of the visual appeal of a visio diagram, it provides many other benefits:
1. No issues with file formats – every client I’ve worked with has Excel, while only a few have Visio
2. Allows clients to edit the site map or insert comments and questions.
3. Conveys the depth and breadth of a site at a glance.
4. Easily add additional notes, such as references to a requirements document
5. Easy to add other navigation oriented notation, such as footer links versus primary navigation.
6. No space limitations – no more “oh no, my boxes are too big, this won’t fit on a letter sized piece of paper, does our printer have any legal paper?”
7. Major time saver: more time architecting, less time diagramming; allows information architects to focus on information architecture.

Gordon Withers — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:29 GMT

A few other points. First, I don’t want to take away from the value and power of a visual – I think there’s a need for simplifying the site mapping process, and I definitely want to try out these ideas. I find site maps especially useful in reports and presentations.
One thing I’ve found useful, refering back to the original excel spreadsheet – I like to label “Level 1” “Level 2” as “1-Click” and “2-Click”. Even though this doesn’t account for all paths to a page, such as home page call-outs, or for the fact that many people don’t start at the home page, it does make explicit the answer to a question that every client will ask.
Also, I use a lot of columns. So, for example, I’ll have a column for page summary, a column for recommended words of copy, a column for author, etc. Then, when I need to print, depending on the audience, I’ll hide various columns. So, for authors, I’ll focus on the ‘number of words’, ‘author’, etc; whereas for a developer, I’d show a column indicating any modules (if the site is being built on a CMS or other platform). That way, the Excel file serves a lot of purposes. So, if it can feed some visio diagrams too – all the better!

Gordon Withers — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:30 GMT

Jon – can I get a copy too. While I’m a fan of simply using Excel, I have to say that mine are a bit utilitarian looking. Would be nice to see what you’ve done…

gjwithers at yahoo dot com. Thanks.