Affiliations: [a] Data Mining Group, Department of Computer Science, Durham University, Science Park, Durham City, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK. E-mail: k.e.thornton@dur.ac.uk, m.e.carrington@dur.ac.uk | [b] School of Engineering, Durham University, Science Park, Durham City, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK. E-mail: tim.burman@dur.ac.uk
Abstract: In this paper we describe a method, based upon Data Mining techniques, which can be used to improve the maintainability of web pages and web sites. We show that by regarding HTML code as a set of CSS files and accompanying information, or as an XSL file with an accompanying XML file, it is possible to improve the maintainability of web sites/pages – irrespective of the complexity of the pages concerned. We also describe how, as a by-product of this work, it is possible to produce an ‘in house’ a set of style sheets (CSS or XSL) which can be used as a basis for web page/site design thoughout a company. The implications of the use of the style sheets for web page/site maintenance, or design, are discussed as well as the potential for the use of our tool in enabling SMEs and/or individuals to standardize their web site(s) irrespective of their knowledge of manipulation of web site code.
Keywords: Web site, maintainability, data mining, method
