Validate Everything

An Overview of Online Web Validation ToolsApril 14, 2009 1

What is Validation?

Validation• Verification that something is correct • Checking that documents conform to a standard

Validation Organizations• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

2

Why Validation is Important

• Helps reduce unexplained errors and debugging• Eases the burdens related to site maintenance• Valid pages are a sign of professionalism• Helps Search Engine Optimization (SEO)• Ensures that pages are standards compliant• Helps ensure pages will run on most browsers• Helps ensure compatibility with future versions of

HTML and web browsers 3

Validate your Sitemap

Search Engine Sitemap Validation Tool• Use to check Sitemap syntax• Use to notify search engines of Sitemap location• Google• Bing• Yahoo• Ask.com

• http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/validate-xml-sitemap.html

4

Validate Robots.txt file

Robots.txt Checker• Analyzes the syntax of the robots.txt file• Verifies format against Robot Exclusion Standard• http://tool.motoricerca.info/robots-checker.phtml

5

Validate CSS files

CSS Validation Service• Can specify media, CSS level, and warning level• Checks compliance against CSS 2.1 by default• http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/

Three ways to accomplish validation• Enter URL address of external style sheet• Upload external CSS style sheet file• Paste style sheet content in text box 6

Validate All Links

W3C Link Checker• Check for broken links and anchors• Checks single Web page or full Web site• You can specify recursion depth• http://validator.w3.org/checklink/

7

Validate All Markup

Web Design Group HTML Validator• Check for invalid HTML syntax• Checks single Web page or full Web site• http://www.htmlhelp.com/tools/validator/

8

Validate All Other Items

UITest.com Validator Listing• Lists twenty-seven (27) validation tools• Also lists Analysis, SEO, and Accessibility tools• http://uitest.com/en/analysis/

9

Validation Guidelines

Google Webmaster Toolshttp://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/

Use the W3C Quality Assurance Toolshttp://www.w3.org/QA/Tools/

Use UITest.com: Web Development Toolshttp://uitest.com/

10

In Summary

• There are a number of things to validate on sites• Start by determining your validation needs• Determine what you need to validate• CSS• HTML• XHTML• XML

• Use the Google Webmaster Tools and the W3C Quality Assurance Tools

11

Caveat Emptor

There are many ways to manage validation for web sites• Skilled developers can provide other solutions• Review your validation needs with your agency• Review proposed changes with all stakeholders• Implement new configurations on a test system firstThis presentation is intended to be academic• To enhance public knowledge of validation issues• To promote a better understanding of site validationAuthor cannot guarantee accuracy or fitness for your site• Author makes no representations or warranties• Author disclaims any liability if you act on this information

12

More Topics from TICAll Sitecore-related SlideShares from TIChttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/presentations

How to Assure Success for a New Sitecore Site (full slide deck)http://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/creating-new-sitecore-sites-full

Implementing Routine Sitecore Maintenancehttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-maintenance-tips

Performance Tips for Sitecore Mobile Usershttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-mobile-performance-tips

Sitecore 7 – New Features for Usershttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-7-new-features

Sitecore Performance Tips for Visitor Engagementhttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-performance-tips

Troubleshooting Sitecore Performancehttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/troubleshooting-sitecore-performance

13

The Inside Corner, Inc.

• The Inside Corner, Inc. (TIC) is owned by Craig Nelson• TIC is a Sitecore partner & web consultancy• A U.S. point of contact for teams of Sitecore specialists • We create new Sitecore sites & enhance existing ones

14

Primary Developer - Craig Nelson

• Sitecore Specialist certified for Sitecore 7• 10 years of system administration experience• 10 years as a Microsoft Certified Trainer• 5 years of ASP.NET web development experience• 4 years of Sitecore development experience• 3 years as a Sitecore technical instructor• Sitecore architecture & configuration expert• Performance & SEO optimization specialist• Workflow configuration specialist 15

Get Help with your Sitecore Site

Follow TIC on LinkedIn• http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-inside-corner-inc.

Add TIC to your Circles on Google Plus• http://google.com/+Theinsidecorner

Follow TIC on Twitter • https://twitter.com/TheInsideCorner

Contact Craig Directly• Craig Nelson - Certified 7.0 Developer and Sitecore Partner• cwnelson[at]ticdevs.com• Mobile - 707.319.7446

Visit the TIC website• http://ticdevs.com

16

Bibliography

• Markup Validation Service - Why Validate• Why is Validation Important• Why Validate Your HTML

17Download slide presentation to view URLs

Thank you for taking the timeto view this presentation on

Validate Everything

Please share with others and add a comment if you think it is useful

ThanksApril 14, 2009

18