Direct HTML code in ComWeb
Does ComWeb support direct HTML code ?
HTML can be used in ComWeb and a specific component is provided specifically for this.
To understand why HTML components are supported in ComWeb, an effective Instance Manager (IA) must understand the ComWeb philosophy is based on "Managing the Web Presence" as a whole as distinct from just publishing individual sites.
HTML components in ComWeb provide a stop-gap measure between ComWeb versions for HTML or JavaScript constructs that are required but not (or not yet) supported directly in ComWeb. By using HTML, IAs and CMs accept that it is their responsibility (and not ComWeb's) to ensure the various Aust Govt, Defence, W3C and Accessibility standards are satisfied both at time of publishing and for the life of the component.
A management query is provided to lists all sites and pages that use HTML components. IAs may then monitor and manage this process and trends can be examined. This will determine when it is appropriate to provide either additional ComWeb functionality or HTML advice.
This query also allows IAs to identify pages with HTML components to manually check for compliancy, effeciency, broken links, etc.
Code added via the HTML component has surrounding comments generated to assist with identifying ComWeb generated code vs user defined HTML. Please ensure user gererated HTML meets the document type standards in force by validation it using a site like the W3C Markup Validation Service.
When to remove HTML Components
ComWeb's goal is to facilitate a maintainable, accessible, efficient web presence by administrators and subject matter experts who are typically mere mortals (non database and web masters). To this end CMs need to concentrate on content and allow ComWeb to produce (X)HTML code according to the above standards.
If HTML components are not used, ComWeb can generate compliant, accessible code, conforming to corporate business rules defined using the various ComWeb configuration options.
Of course the ultimate destination for HTML components is the bit-bucket: as successive versions of ComWeb provide new functionality and compliant code, HTML components should be converted to new ComWeb components.