Producing a new Smart module is easy once you have to hand the necessary text, diagrams, photographs and other material.

It can take as little as three hours to produce the first draft and the skills required are no more than those needed in preparing a Powerpoint presentation, for example.

To help newcomers get started the pages for a dummy module have been set up and these can be retrieved and edited to create your own module.

The basis of the HTML language in which the pages of the modules are written is not difficult to learn. They can be edited directly using a text editor such as Wordpad. Alternatively you may prefer to use one of the many HTML editors.

There are three levels within which Smart module pages are organised :

• The top level is essentially linear in structure and uses the Smart control panel.
  • it concentrates on principles, a description of the method's usefulness and assumptions.
  • the method is illustrated with at least one motivating example including a clear description of the aims, results obtained and conclusions.
• The second level consists of loops added to the primary structure.
  • these give explanations of the more difficult aspects.
  • and provide instructions on how to use application software.
• The third level is outside the main structure of the module.
  • it includes a list of references and a glossary of terms.

• A list of the main pages in a module with links from the list to the individual pages.

• A list of useful reference publications classified as introductory, theoretical or applied.

• Provides an explanation of terms used in the presentation.

The software packages used in each module reflect the interests of the authors and audience at the site where the module was written. Should you wish to add a link to an analysis using some other software package, your contribution will be welcomed.