Place page elements carefully
The layout of a page can help or hinder reading and navigation. Use of scrolling and non-scrolling areas can keep important information and links in view at all times.
Last modified: 6/1/98
Computer screens need layouts that are different than paper
Pay attention to the fact that the pages will be read on a computer screen. Not all of the page may be visible at once. Take advantage of scrolling and non-scrolling areas.
A computer screen is very limited space compared to what most people are used to on paper. Also, the navigation elements take up space in a mouse/GUI system, while on paper the physical nature of the paper provides some of the navigation (to get to the end, you just flip to the last page on paper, while a computer screen may need a "Last Page" button).
Use a mixture of scrolling and non-scrolling areas
Information that a reader needs no matter where they are in their reading should always be visible. This may include the title and the navigation links to related pages. It is foolish to put "next/previous" buttons at the bottom of a long scrolling page that you know many people will not read in its entirety. The reader would have to search for the buttons, not knowing if they exist, and scroll through the whole thing even after they decided that it wasn't a page they were interested in reading. Conversely, putting it at the top such that it scrolls off when you do read gets in the way, too. More appropriately, the "next/previous" buttons should go in a non-scrolling region.
Information that lends itself to linear reading or skimming, or that not all readers will want to read, could appropriately go in a scrolling region. Often it is better to use a scrolling region with a more readable type size than trying to fit something into a space by reducing the type size.
Non-scrolling is an acceptable use of Frames
Mixing scrolling and non-scrolling in HTML is done through use of the Frames feature of browsers. Many commentators advise against the use of Frames, so why are we recommending them? See the discussion of "Aren't frames bad?" in the "When (and how) to use frames" technique.