Home Page Template

Last Updated 10.10.02

General Description

The home page template is the first page of the application a user typically sees. It is used to provide the user an overall picture of the functionality and contents of an application. It can provide content status and be a page that informs a user which items or tasks need attention. There are also several template options available for a home page of an application. This guideline contains the following information regarding home page templates:

Home Page Template Components
General Home Page Usage Principles
Typical Content Used In Various Columns Within a Home Page
Content Matrix for Home Pages - Intranet Home Pages vs. Internet Home Pages
Content Flow for Home Pages
Home Page Templates

Other page templates, like the Overview Page Template, may be used in place of one of the home page templates listed above. This type of "home" page is a typical starting point for step by step processes.

Guideline Attributes

Spec Version # - 3.1
Spec Contributors - Betsy Nute
UI Models - all models
Example Products - all products
Related Guidelines - Tabs, Page Footer Options, Content Templates, Search Templates, Help Methods, Messaging Dialogs (Errors, Info, Warning)

Interaction and Usage Specifications

Home Page Template Components
Below lists the components that are used in a Home Page Template.

Branding Area
Global Buttons
Tabs/Navigation
Page Contents Area
- Level 3/Side Navigation
- Headers/Lines
- Welcome Text and "Quick" Login Area (as necessary)
- Content Container - used for ancillary information as necessary.
- Instruction Text (as necessary)
- Field/Data Layout (as necessary)
- Tables (View Only and Interaction) (as necessary)
- Action/Navigation Buttons (as necessary)
Footer

General Home Page Template Usage Principles

The home page contains aggregated information from throughout the application. The type of information that should appear on a home page are frequently or recently used items and/or current status information.
It is recommended that all applications have some type of "home" page or start page to give the users an overall picture of the functionality and contents of the application. The layout of the home page template may vary among applications. (See rest of this guideline for more details.)

The common home page templates are:


1 Column Home Page	2 Column Home Page (with Ancillary Information)	2 Column Home Page (without Ancillary Information)	3 Column Home Page

Other templates with similar purposes as a "home" page may also substitute layouts shown above. Below lists another valid template that can be used in place of a "home" page:
- Overview Page Template - This is typically used as the "home page" for step by step processes.
The appropriate home page template should be chosen based on the content, hierarchical structure and amount of information needed to be surfaced at the top level of the application.
An intranet application and an internet application should both have a home page.
A home page may contain 1 to 3 columns. Each column has specific types of contents. Below lists the columns and the specific types of contents they may have:
- 1st Column (Side Navigation Bar) - Search within Product only, Navigation links to deeper within application (do not repeat tab bar links), Browsing or Catalog list of links.
- 2nd/Middle Column (on white background) - Welcome text (as needed), important information, Summary Data regarding application, quick login area (if applicable)
- 3rd Column (Place in Content Container) - Ancillary Information (i.e., tips for application, "how to" hints for application, product specific news, marketing/communications type information, Related Links), status information.

Typical Content Used in Various Columns Within a Home Page

NOTE: Some home pages with very dense information may have containers with further application information, related links or status information in the third column. The third column should never contain critical information, since it may not bee seen as quickly as the first or middle columns.

Search on Home Page
Search gives users the ability to get to the object(s) or section of the application that is most important to them. The search field is typically found at the top area of the side navigation within the home page.

See Search and Query Template and Search Flow Guidelines for further detials.

Welcome Text and "Quick" Login Area on Home Page
Welcome text is typically text that identifies the user and informs the user of the application being logged in as a "registered user". When it is used on the home page, the text should appear above all content and below the navigation elements at the top of the page (tab navigation, breadcrumbs, etc). "Quick" Login area is used in internet home pages to allow the user to quickly "login" to the application. It usually includes user login access intructions and tip information.

Welcome Text - If welcome text is needed, a simple line of text will suffice (see image at right). This text should be used only if absolutely necessary, potentially in an infrequently used application or application used infrequently by third-party companies.

"Quick" Login Area - Used in internet applications only, a quick login area may be used on a home page to allow the user to quickly login from "guest user" status to "registered user".

Welcome Text and "Quick" Login Area

A home page may have horizontal (level 2) navigation as needed. Subsections to a home page are typically seen in outward facing or internet applications with a heavy marketing/comminucations push. Common subsections may be:

About [Product Name]
Press Releases
News
etc.

"Quick" Tables on a Home Page
A "quick" table provides read-only, overview information of objects in a tabular format within the home page. The number of objects within "quick" tables should be fairly light. Below are more heuristics for quick tables:

It is recommnended to not include actions within a quick table.
If actions must exist, then there should be a maximum of 2 to 3 icons within the quick table. These actions are to be represented as functional icons only. These icons perform a specific action and then navigates use to an object list.
A quick table should not have a control bar.
The full object list should "live" elsewhere in the application hierarchy. To navigate to the full object list, use a "Full List" button.

Home Page containing Quick Tables

Content Containers with Ancillary Information
A home page may have content containers with related links, recent news or other ancillary content. It should be used as needed and is placed on the rightmost column of the homepage.

See Content Containers and Related Links Guidelines for information.

Content Matrix for Home Pages - Intranet Home Pages vs. Internet Home Pages
Below are common types of content seen in an application home page. This content should not be cross product, but product specific. The Oracle Applications Portal is the location for cross product content. Below lists common content that is seen in intranet vs. intranet applications. The third column displays typical Portal content. The portal content should be used as reference only.

Intranet Home Page Content	Internet Home Page Content	Typical Portal Content Content within portal should typically not be repeated in a home page.
Notifications - Product notifications only. Search - Search functionality for within product only. News - Product specific news displayed only. Overview of Tasks and Content - Subheader sections used to logically group content. Summary Data regarding application - May be a summary table, or shortened table with access to full list, like "Most Recent Expense Reports." May also contain status info. High level navigation structure for application - Tab/Navigation that is persistant through application is present. Common Navigation Links to deeper into product - to common tasks/flows below the level 1 tab bar. Categories or Catalog of Items/Objects - If a catalog is applicable to application. Welcome information/High Level Application Instructions	Notifications - Product notifications only. Search - Search functionality for within product only. News - Product specific news displayed only. Login/Logout Information - Internet applications typically have notion of "guest user" vs. "registered user." When logged in, the registered user typically has more functionality exposed within application and more priveledges. Summary Data regarding application - May be a summary table, or shortened table with access to full list, like "Most Recent Purchase Orders. " May also contain status info. High level navigation structure for application - Tab/Navigation that is persistant through application is present. Common Navigation Links to deeper into product - to common tasks/flows below the level 1 tab bar. Categories or Catalog of Items/Objects - If a catalog is applicable to application. Welcome information/High Level Application Instructions	Notifications - all products notification, not product specific. Search - Search functionality for portal. News - News from all products/industries/domains. Calendar - Calendar applicable to all corporate events, product events, etc. List of all Applications Application specific content - Portlets surfaced at portal level with application content or links to specific tasks within an application. The portlet does not have functionality, just content. [This information is customizable by the user.] Current Documents Business Intelligence Information Favorites - customizable list of favorite links See Oracle Application Portal specifications for greater details.

Content Flow for Home Pages

Follow a vertical columnar layout, with content displayed from top to bottom of a page in columns. Horizontal layout is not recommended since the contents of sections/containers within the page may not line up, and there may be excessive vertical white space.

Visual Specifications

Home Page Templates

3 Column Home Page

2 Column Home Page (with Ancillary Information)

2 Column Home Page (without Ancillary Information)

1 Column Home Page Example

Standard Content Layouts Used on Home Pages

Notifications (at a glance) List - Intranet and Internet Home Pages
A shortened list of notifications can be seen on a home page. Below is a schematic example.

Open/Closed Issues

Open Issues

Closed Issues

09.11.00 - duplication of portals functionality should be avoided.
09.11.00 - Terminology of "Home" may be reevaluated. Currently "home" is also a tab in portal. May want to change applications "home" tab so user does not get confused with 2 homes. Update:Jan 2002 - portal does not have a "home" tab.