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Site Help

Many links on the Web Guide are available to EPA Intranet users only. If you are an outside contractor working for EPA, please contact your EPA representative for more information. If you are another federal agency or other party interested in EPA's web policies and procedures, please contact EPA through the "Contact Us" page on this site.

Questions?

Web or WebCMS Questions?

Call the EPA Call Center
1-866-411-4EPA (4372).

Computer Questions?

Call CTS
1-866-955-4CTS (4287).

EPA Web Technologies

EPA maintains lists of frequent questions on Internet topics addressed by NTSD and the EPA Call Center. Please check back as new questions and topics are added or updated. You can also check the EPA Listserver or get info on the Working Capital Fund

Common Topics

Here's a list of common topics. Our glossary may provide additional help.

ADP Coordinator

How do I find my ADP coordinator?

Call the EPA Call Center at 1-866-411-4EPA (4372) for assistance.

I am an ADP coordinator and need guidance on how to create accounts and add users.

The NCC Registration Guide for ADP Coordinators, ADP BackUps and Account Managers provides both an overview and detailed instructions on how to create new TSSMS accounts and manage User Accounts.

Animation

I would like to have animation on my site. Is that acceptable?

Animation can be utilized to increase audience engagement to available information. However, overuse of or superfluous animation will distract the viewer.

Animation would definitely be a draw for our audience. What sort of file format should I utilize?

The typical formats for which animation is written and viewed are GIF, QuickTime, Java, JavaScript, and Flash. Each is inherently different and unique in terms of image delivery, quality, and interactive options.

Cascading Style Sheets

What is a style sheet?

A style sheet is a list of rules that can assign various properties to HTML tags and elements. They specify how elements inside an HTML page should be interpreted by a web browser. EPA's master style sheet specifies how pages and HTML elements at EPA.gov should look.

CGI

Can I develop my own CGIs for use on my site?

NCC allows Common Gateway Interface (CGI) programs written in Java, C, C++, and Perl. For more information on CGIs and the EPA servers, refer to CGI Documentation . For more information on Java, refer to the Java Security Best Practices .

ColdFusion

What is ColdFusion?

ColdFusion is a Web rapid application development environment that facilitates the dynamic serving of HTML pages from a content database.

All ColdFusion applications must be approved through the Application Deployment Process . Information concerning the intranet and/or the public access servers and the procedures for developing ColdFusion projects can be found at EPA's ColdFusion Portal .

Cookies

Are "cookies" allowed?

OMB has issued new web measurement and customization guidance (PDF) (103 K, 9 pp.) regarding cookies and has lifted most of the past restrictions. The Web Council will be revising the current Cookies Procedure in March-April 2011. EPA must follow the current cookies procedure until a new one is adopted as there are still many requirements that must be met. Please work with Amanda Sweda (sweda.amanda@epa.gov; 202 566-0678) until the new procedure is in place.

Agency Security Standards also prohibit the use of cookies as a means of storing UserIDs and passwords as:

this mechanism depends on the physical security of the client to limit and control access. Physical security of clients is inconsistent within the Agency, given cubicle office environments, co-located organizational entities, and variable work schedules of employees.
the stored variables do not support a fundamental security objective of uniquely identifying and authenticating users
Agency network access and authentication must be managed within strict guidelines until data sensitivity decisions allow for appropriate compartmentalization of data access and storage, and commensurate security controls are implemented to protect data and limit access explicitly to authorized and authenticated users.

For more information on cookies, refer to Policies, Orders, and Memoranda.

Databases

Which Web-based database will best serve my purpose?

EPA Databases accessible via the Web should be stored in one of two formats: Oracle or Lotus Notes Domino. Oracle is appropriate for tabular, relational data, while Lotus Notes Domino is more appropriate for storing and tracking documents. It is recommended that the Oracle Web server be used to access Oracle databases (as opposed to Netscape Enterprise), and that the Domino Web server be used to access Lotus Notes Domino data. Each of these servers is tightly integrated with its respective data sources, and each provides functional features that should be utilized.

MySQL is in limited use, powering EPA's blog and wiki software.

Flash

What is Flash?

Flash is a browser plugin that can display rich, interactive animations and games. Flash applications are difficult to make accessible, and HTML/CSS/JS support by the newest browsers is improving rapidly, making Flash less necessary.

Frames & iframes

What are frames? How do they work?

Frames are a specification format for displaying multiple, independent, scrollable regions within a display window as seen from your Web browser. Each frame can contain a separate document.

Drawbacks include: printing a framed page is not possible from your browser, HTML readers for the visually impaired do not work well with framed pages, bookmarking and saving the HTML page only records the original framed page, the "back" and "forward" browser buttons will break, and the URL displayed in the browser does not reflect individual pages shown within the frames. Refer to the EPA Web Standards site for the most current information on using frames.

The iframe element allows you to insert an HTML document in the middle of another, they may both be aligned with surrounding text, etc. The information to be inserted inline is designated by the src attribute of this element. These iframes are commonly used for widgets and displaying videos.

GIS

Does the Agency support Web-based interactive mapping and reporting?

The Agency provides several means for publishing geospatial information. Applications built on ESRI's ArcIMS or ArcGIS Server platform may be hosted in the NCC . These technologies support complex Web-based geographic analyses and reports as well as advanced cartography. For more basic maps, the Agency also has enterprise license agreements with Microsoft and Google to utilize their Microsoft Virtual Earth and Google Maps Web APIs . For assistance planning and creating your Web mapping application, please contact the OEI RTP GIS Team .

HTML

What HTML standard should my site follow?

Refer to the EPA Web Design site for the most current information on this.

What HTML editing tools does the EPA require?

There isn't a required HTML editor. Any editor can be used provided that it produces pages that conform to both the HTML and the EPA standards recommended by the EPA Web Design team. This site provides both HTML and Dreamweaver (.dwt) templates for developer use.

What HTML validation products are available/recommended?

The W3C HTML Validation Service is very good.

What about HTML5?

It's ready, and EPA's look-and-feel templates will move towards it in due time.

Java

What is Java?

Java is a development language that provides a potential solution to the ever-present problems of software portability and integration. Java applications can be used both on and/or off the Web.

When consumers purchase software or download it from the Internet, they have to know the operating system for which it is designed, the model of computer, and whether it conflicts with any software currently on the machine. Java remedies these potential incompatibilities by enabling developers to create an "applet" that can run on any platform, even ones that have not been built yet.

What are the other advantages to Java?

It is distributed, portable, and interpreted; it is also relatively secure and offers multi-threading.

What are the disadvantages to Java?

Java is a complex language and requires programmers familiar with it. Also, while Java has enhanced security, programmers can code "insecurely" and create vulnerabilities in their code. For this reason, a code review is required of all Java code before it is moved into production. Finally, while Java is incredibly flexible and portable, it is not the only solution for all problems. Rather than develop an application top to bottom in Java, a developer might find that ColdFusion, Lotus Domino, Oracle or mapping products may meet needs much more easily and more cost effectively.

Does the Agency recommend the use of Java?

Due to its functionality, portability and security model, the EPA supports the use of Java. Individuals wishing to deploy Java Applications should fill out an Application Deployment Checklist (ADC) . Prior to deployment, all Java code must pass a security review. More information on this process is available at Java Security Best Practices .

JavaScript

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is an easy-to-use scripting language for Web developers to enhance their HTML pages. It is separate from more traditional programming languages used on the Internet, such as Java and C++, that require extensive programming experience. However, to move beyond the "cool" page embellishments for which JavaScript is typically used, some programming skills are required. JavaScript's relatively simple syntax is similar to C. Contrary to popular opinion, JavaScript is not a "lite" version of Java.

Why would I, as a developer, use JavaScript?

Using JavaScript, developers can direct responses from a variety of events, objects, and actions. JavaScript allows you to enhanced your HTML and content. You can also validate client-side forms.

Is the EPA supporting server-side JavaScript?

The Agency is not currently allowing server-side JavaScript due to security problems with early implementations of the software. The Internet Support Group is currently researching the use of servlets on the intranet to perform some of the more common CGI-based tasks. Server-side includes are currently not allowed for performance reasons.

LDAP

Why do we need LDAP (Light Directory Access Protocol)? Why don't we just use X.500?

LDAP does not require the upper layers OSI stack, it is a simpler protocol to implement (especially in clients), and LDAP is under IETF change control and so can more easily evolve to meet Internet requirements.

What can I store in an LDAP directory?

The LDAP information model is based on the entry, which contains information about some object (e.g., a person). Entries are composed of attributes, which have a type and one or move values. Each attribute has a syntax that determines what kind of values are allowed in the attribute and how those values behave during directory operations. Examples of attribute syntaxes are for IA5 (ASCII) strings, JPEG photographs, u-law encoded sounds, URLs and PGP keys.

What are some related protocols or alternatives to LDAP?

WHOIS++ is a simple text-based query protocol which can be used to construct a distributed directory for white pages information.

Can I remove multiple entries at once?

No, the Delete operation will only remove a single entry, and it does not remove non-leaf entries which have subordinates.

Does an LDAP-to-X.500 gateway exist?

LDAP is included in the Umich release.

PHP

PHP is a popular scripting language. Why is it not in use at the EPA?

It is in limited use, powering EPA's blog (WordPress) and wiki (MediaWiki) software.

Plug-ins

Can my site utilize PowerPoint or Adobe plug-ins?

Development requiring client-side plug-ins, such as Microsoft PowerPoint presentations and Adobe PDF documents, is acceptable on the Agency's public access servers. Server-side plug-ins are restricted to a separate instance and userid.

Push Technology

What is "push" technology?

Push technology means a system that automatically delivers information to a user. Email is the most successful form of push technology, although other forms exist, such as personalized Web pages, PubSubHubbub, and RSS Cloud.

RSS and Feeds

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It's an easy way for you to keep up with news and information that's important to you, and helps you avoid the conventional methods of browsing or searching for information on websites. Now the content you want can be delivered directly to you without cluttering your inbox with e-mail messages. This content is called a "feed."

RSS is written in the Internet coding language known as XML (eXtensible Markup Language). More information about RSS is available from USA.gov.

Social Media (Blogs/Wikis)

Social Media tools and Web 2.0 applications enable government agencies to engage and openly collaborate with their internal and external customers in a transparent manner. In a nutshell, Social Media and Web 2.0 refer to technologies that enhance creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users and their respective communities.

Web Servers

What Web Servers does the Agency support?

The Agency currently supports a heterogeneous environment of web and application servers. If your application requires a specific web and/or application server, contact your ADC coordinator. For questions in general, contact Internet Support (internet_support@epa.gov)

XHTML

What is XHTML?

XHTML is an XML document type developed by the World Wide Web Consortium as the successor to HTML. XHTML consists of the elements of HTML, restricted such that documents conform to the rules of XML. XHTML tags are assigned the same meaning by browsers as the corresponding HTML tags, hence XHTML documents, unlike ordinary XML documents, can be formatted for display without external formatting information.

XML

What is XML?

XML is the Extensible Markup Language. It is writen in Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), the international standard metalanguage for text markup systems (ISO 8879). XML can be used to describe customized markups for any type of document because, unlike other SGML-derived markup languages, such as HTML, it is not comprised of a fixed vocabulary of document elements. XML itself is a meta-language used to develop markup languages that describe the content and structure, but not the presentation, of documents.

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