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Header and Footer Upgrades

Header and Footer Upgrades

This page is intended for Smart Sites customers currently using an older header or footer, and looking to upgrade to a new header or footer. Please take the time to review these notes carefully so you know exactly what to expect during the transition.
 

Learn More About the New HeadersLearn More About the New Footer

If You Have This Header Style...

If your current website header looks like this, these are the things you will want to consider when moving to a new header.

Website header for Cedar Wren Schools, featuring a logo with a tree and sun, and navigation links for Home, Our School, Counseling, Resources, Student Life, Cafeteria, Calendar, Contact Us, Staff Directory, and I Want To.

 

  • Solid Header 1, Bottom Aligned Navigation Bar is the closest match to this old header
  • Your header links (you may have up to 4) will move into a Popular Links dropdown, or you can choose to move them elsewhere, such as your main navigation bar or an Icon Matrix component below the header or lower on the page.
  • If you have any navigation links with more than 15 sections in the dropdown, the section dropdown will no longer appear. The new headers have a max of 15 pages/sections per dropdown, so users will be directed to an alphabetized section landing page instead of seeing a lengthy dropdown.
  • If your old header featured a house icon rather than the word “Home,” the icon will go away and you will see the word Home instead.
  • The appearance of section landing pages will go from a one column look to a three column look to utilize more of the available screen real estate.
  • Page Names on subpages no longer display (these showed in a small font in the upper left corner of the page).

If You Have This Header Style...

If your current website header looks like this, these are the things you will want to consider when moving to a new header.
 

The Hillview School District website with a green and white color scheme.

 

  • Solid Header 4 is the closest match to this old header
  • If you have any navigation links with more than 15 sections in the dropdown, the section dropdown will no longer appear. The new headers have a max of 15 pages/sections per dropdown, so users will be directed to an alphabetized section landing page instead of seeing a lengthy dropdown.
  • If your old header featured a house icon rather than the word “Home,” the icon will go away and you will see the word Home instead.
  • The arrows next to each section name (that point down) will no logger appear.
  • The appearance of section landing pages will go from a one column look to a three column look to utilize more of the available screen real estate.
  • Page Names on subpages no longer display (these showed in a small font in the upper left corner of the page).

If You Have an Older Footer Style...

If your current website footer does not look like this, these are the things you will want to consider when moving to a new footer.
 

Website footer for Smart Sites School District with contact information, social media links, and a non-discrimination statement.

 

  • If you have a tagline, mission, or vision statement in your current footer, that will not carry over to the new footer.
    • In this case, we recommend utilizing a Columns component to display your tagline, mission or vision statement above the footer.
  • If you have more than one phone number or address displayed in your footer, that will not carry over to the new footer.
    • In this case, we recommend utilizing a footer link to direct users to a Contact Us page where you can display multiple addresses/phone numbers.

Ready to Make the Move?

If you are ready to upgrade from an older header or footer to a new one, please contact support and share the following information:

  • Which header style?
    Please specify which of the 5 header styles you would like, or make note that you would like the header closest to what you currently have.
  • Which Sites?
    If you have more than one site, do you want the new header/footer applied to all sites at once? Or would you prefer to see it applied to one specific site first?
  • Timing
    Is it ok for the design team to make the update as soon as they are able? Do you need to communicate this change to any users or stakeholders first?
  • Setting Expectations
    Please acknowledge that you have read the notes listed here and understand the expected changes.