Workgroup Web
What is a Workgroup Web?
The power of the web technology and Mosaic software can allow
you to create useful and flexible information services without
additional software.
A "Workgroup Web" refers to the use of the workgroup's file service
instead of hypertext servers used
in the World Wide Web to construct
a hypertext web.
Because Universal Resource Locators
(URLs) can link
information stored in hypertext servers and information stored in
local or shared files, creating your own Workgroup Web is as easy!
The following steps outline how to create one:
- Create a set of Hypertext Markup Language
(HTML)
files with a text editor such as Microsoft Notepad.
- Allow access to the files through your preferred filesharing
software such as PATHWORKS, Windows for Workgroups, Novell NetWare,
and so on.
- Announce the URL to whomever you want to participate in the
Workgroup Web.
For an example of what kinds of information you can provide through
a Workgroup Web, please visit our fictitious company,
The Widget Company (manufacturers of
quality widgets since 1834!).
Workgroup Web versus World Wide Web
In comparison to the use of World Wide Web, Workgroup Web offers the following
benefits:
- Whatever file services
you use today can be used to transport data over the Workgroup Web.
It does not require using the TCP/IP
protocols.
- The file service security, which does not require additional learning,
can be used to protect the information stored in the Workgroup Web.
- You already have all the pieces you need to get you going!
There is no server installation and configuration required to get
you going.
- Your investment in the Workgroup Web is preserved.
If you decide to use a hypertext server in the future, and you've
followed all the rules, the data
stored in your Workgroup Web can be reused on the server with no
modifications.
On the other hand, there are also some limitations:
- To access information on a file share, you must
connect the file share to a local drive.
- The URL needed to connect to the Workgroup Web is relative to the
local machine so it can vary from computer to computer. Adopting
a common letter for the drive where the Workgroup Web files reside
can make it easier for people to share URLs.
- As there is no hypertext server in a Workgroup Web, some interactive
uses found in the World Wide Web cannot be supported.
For example, indexing and forms processing are unsupported in the
Workgroup Web.
How to Create a Workgroup Web
The easiest way to start a Workgroup Web is to copy the Widget Company
files to another directory (using the File Manager) and modify them using
your organization's information.
If you look at the Widget Company example's HTML files, you will notice
that they all have the file extension of .HTM. Note that the hypertext
links (also known as "anchors") have a special format called
relative links. The URLs that point to information within the
Workgroup Web must use this relative link format. This will ensure
that they are independent of a drive letter they eventually are
assigned. The relative link also permits the files within the Workgroup Web
to be reused in a hypertext server without modification.
To view the workgroup Web you can use one of two methods:
- The easiest way to begin is to pull down the "Open Local..." option
on the File menu. Locate and open the initial .HTM you want to view.
- A more advanced way is to use the "Open URL..." option on the File
menu and type in the URL for the file. URLs for files have the
following format:file:///C|/directory/file.htm, where
"C" is the drive letter where the files reside, directory is
the directory path on the drive to the file, and file.htm is
the file you want to view. Mosaic always displays the current
URL in the toolbar.
Experimentation and examining other HTML files is the easiest way to
build up your web. The "View Source" option on the Edit menu is invaluable
for learning how something you see on the screen was achieved.
Summary
Although there are some limitations to a Workgroup Web, it is a very
useful tool for sharing a variety of information often found in a workgroup
(or small enterprise) setting. As shown by the "Widget Company" example,
a wide variety of information can be linked together
in new and exciting ways. Taking advantage of Mosaic's multimedia
capabilities can further enhance the value of information stored throughout
your enterprise.