A visual Web site analysis program, implemented as a collection of software components, provides a variety of features for facilitating the analysis and management of Web sites and Web site content. A mapping component scans a Web site over a network connection and builds a site map which graphically depicts the URLs and links of the site. Site maps are generated using a unique layout and display methodology which allows the user to visualize the overall architecture of the Web site. Various map navigation and URL filtering features are provided to facilitate the task of identifying and repairing common Web site problems, such as links to missing URLs. A dynamic page scan feature enables the user to include dynamically-generated Web pages within the site map by capturing the output of a standard Web browser when a form is submitted by the user, and then automatically resubmitting this output during subsequent mappings of the site. The Web site analysis program is implemented using an extensible architecture which includes an API that allows plug-in applications to manipulate the display of the site map. Various plug-ins are provided which utilize the API to extend the functionality of the analysis program, including an action tracking plug-in which detects user activity and behavioral data (link activity levels, common site entry and exit points, etc.) from server log files and then superimposes such data onto the site map.
PRIORITY CLAIM
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/028,474 titled SOFTWARE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODS FOR FACILITATING THE ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF WEB SITES, filed Oct. 15, 1996, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
A system is disclosed for providing synchronized presentation of slides over a computer network. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the system includes a plurality of computer workstations disposed in electrical communication across the computer network, each workstation running a Web browser application (e.g. Netscape's Navigator, Microsoft's Explorer, etc.). An instructor applet is executed under a browser application at a first of the plurality of computer workstations, and at least one student applet is executed under a browser application at a second of the plurality of computer workstations. Finally, a network server is provided and, in response to an initial request from the instructor applet, starts an auxiliary server, which runs a synchronization application that is responsive to the instructor applet for managing a plurality of URLs that define the totality of the presentation. The synchronization application includes a code segment to direct each of the student applets to retrieve and display the presentation slides located at the URLs designated by the instructor and displayed via the Web browser. The display is synchronized in that the same presentation URL is displayed at the instructor workstation and each of the plurality of student workstations.
A method for testing a web site includes formulating a test configuration file including a series of test inquiries for a web site to be tested, initiating a HTTP communication to form a connection with the web site, and repetitively communicating with the web site to test for a variety of errors. The repetitive communication preferably includes receiving HTML from the web site, analyzing the HTML for errors and storing results in the database, and formulating a new HTTP communication based upon the received HTML and the test configuration file. Preferably, the test configuration file is created by sending HTML comprising a blank testing form to a web browser, receiving HTTP from the web browser as a submission from the HTML testing form, and developing the test configuration file from the HTTP.
The present invention is a system and method for providing and displaying information collected from a variety of information providers such as an electronic mail server or an information content server. Each of the variety of information providers provides information updates which are captured and rendered in a variety of status images which are provided to a user via a Web page or similar facility. The display of information on the Web page is robust against displays from one or more of the information providers since each of the status images and the remainder of the Web page content are rendered independently.
A system is disclosed for displaying information pertaining to the usage of Web pages. The system comprises first and second Web sites. The first Web site comprises plural Web-component files, each having a name in a Web-site directory. The second Web site comprises plural statistics files, each containing usage information about a corresponding Web-component file or sub-directory of Web-component files. The system further comprises a computing device that has a display screen, is operable by a user, and is in communication with the first and second Web sites. The computing device is operated under the control of Web-browser software effective for displaying, on the screen, Web components of the respective Web sites. Significantly, the computing device is effective for requesting and retrieving, from either of the Web sites, data that correspond to user-designated Web components, and it is effective for directing a data request to either of the Web sites in response to user-designation of a Web component from the other Web site.
A method for testing a web site includes formulating a test configuration file including a series of test inquiries for a web site to be tested, initiating a HTTP communication to form a connection with the web site, and repetitively communicating with the web site to test for a variety of errors. The repetitive communication preferably includes receiving HTML from the web site, analyzing the HTML for errors and storing results in the database, and formulating a new HTTP communication based upon the received HTML and the test configuration file. Preferably, the test configuration file is created by sending HTML comprising a blank testing form to a web browser, receiving HTTP from the web browser as a submission from the HTML testing form, and developing the test configuration file from the HTTP.
