As far as i know - Most people use "Templates" in one format or another. Either its a DWT in Dreamweaver or a Notepad edited page - If not you should, your mad not to !
I would recommend validating
all pages
during development of each page type. Here is my recommendation...
- Build and Test the Site Template (if you use templates - if not test a page with no "main content").
Once you have a valid template you can be fairly sure your Basic Pages will validate.
- Build and Test the Basic Page (About Us, Resources etc)
As these pages tend to have more text than anything else, it makes sense to validate these pages next.
- Build and Test the Product/Services Detail page
Once your basic page is up to scratch, i would suggest building one product/service detail page and then test it. Once this page has passed, you can go ahead and build the other detail pages. This helps fix your code before you replicate the page to build other detail pages.
- Build and Test the Product/Services Main pages
These pages tend to have more varying elements, and require a little bit of additional work. Again build one and test. Once it meets the standards, use this to build the other main pages.
- Build and Test the Home page
The homepage is the cover on the book - always leave it to last !
The homepage always requires more work in terms of graphics, text, layout etc, and therefor the markup is likely to be extensive. For this reason i would do the homepage last.
Basically, consider the structure of your site. Look at pages that will be similar (template, product or service details pages, product or service main pages, unique pages like the homepage, contact page, special offers pages, news page etc).
I have developed many sites to W3C standards and Accessibility standards, and over time have found the production shortcuts that work for me.
The last thing you should do is build a wall and then check to see if it is level when you are finished. It is easier to fix a problem at the "source" (excuse the pun, ....no ....DONT
) then when the site is polished !
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If your client intends to edit the content and keep the site up to the markup standards, i would look into the Dreamweaver + Contribute combo. DW8 writes fairly clean markup (and some extentions clean up any missed by DW), and contribute SHOULD do likewise. I have recommended Contribute in the past to clients, but not for a while and have no idea where it stands on compliance to W3C standards. - worth a look all the same.
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I decided to make a bit of a contribution as i have started 2 threads looking for advice, and feel its time to give a little bit back....
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- Meanö