Website Navigation Map

I occasionally create a website navigation map using a hierarchical box diagram for the website of the nonprofit association where I work at. My boss says, isn't this something IT should do? And I smartalecky say, tell me about it!

The reason why I create the navigation diagram is because people call me or email me ALL THE TIME (members or coworkers) with questions about where is such and such, or how can I get such and such [insert here product/service/workshop/information], or what programs can you talk to me that will help me send you my money quicker....you get the idea. So I *really* don't have time to get ticked off at our IT/marketing/membership departments for having changed something again and not having told us. Which by the way, happens all the time and it sucks.

So by having a high-level website navigation diagram up on my office wall, and updating it regularly, I don't waste my time when it's down to the wire. Imagine telling someone: I'm sorry, I know you want to send us your money for one of our awesome products/services/education offerings/conference but because I don't know where anything is on the website I can't help you.

That's for suckas my friends, and I ain't one of 'em.

So I was researching on google for some sort of freeware or app that can help with this task. Alas, what I found wasn't anywhere even close to what I wanted--what's free out there is just some sort of link list maker and no graphical depiction. I didn't even bother with what's available for pay.

Today I decided that rather than using PowerPoint to develop the graphic, I'd use MS Word's Smart Art. Halfway through I Realized I hadn't save the file and freaked and saved it. Alas, my doggone settings were set up for saving docs automatically to pre-Office 2007. So the blessed chart I spent 1/2 hour working on thus far...the chart saved as an image rather than an editable chart--I had 1/2 more content to add! I almost had a stroke. I clicked and right clicked and nothing happend. WTF man.

So I tried something. I saved the .doc file into a .docx--the file format it was supposed to be anyway to begin with. It was a true miracle. The graphic became an editable smart art diagram gain. Phew.

I swear, sometimes stuff Office can do to the work I'm painstakingly doing, really shocks the willies outta me. Thank God I tried that before having to restart the whole dang chart over from scratch.

Hope this helps someone out there in a similar predicament.

Quick Tip: Modifying Excel Styles

You ever wonder why, when you're typing away on your Excel spreadsheet, suddenly Excel formats something a way you don't like? Or that doesn't match your desired look/style?

I have this happen each time a hyperlink is formatted after I click on the space bar to activate it. The doggone hyperlinked text turns into Times New Roman 12 instead of crisp, clean Callibri font in 11 point size.

Why does this happen? Well it's not Excel's fault, it's just how the styles are formatted. And gladly, there's something you can do about it.

If you're using Excel 2007:
On the ribbon, on the Home tab, move your cursor up to the middle where it says Styles. Look for the third option to the right, called Cell Styles. The drop down will allow you to hover over a particular style, right click to open up the menu, and select modify. From there, you can change the style for pretty much anything that will show up on your spreadsheet, to your heart's content.

Never again fear that something will get automatically formatted in a way that defies your desired look!