Use of Floating Windows:

If you run short of space within the layout of the webpage, the floating windows is one of the best ways to exhibit the extra information. The floating windows are also called modal windows. The floating windows allow the designer to exhibit additional content, bigger images and even videos. The best feature of the floating windows is that it is easily catches the eye of the visitor. When the designer uses the floating window he/she should also mention the way to close that window too. The opening of the floating window can be triggered through a thumbnail, icon, a link or any other graphic creation. This triggering tool should have a strong connection with the content presented by the floating window.

The windows for login and signup are one of the most common examples of floating windows. When the floating window is used for this purpose it saves a lot of space. Without the floating window the user would have to open a new web page just for login and signup. So the floating window saves the time of the website visitor too.

If the designer has used Ajax which is one of the programming languages, used in website design to facilitate the process of login and signup behind the scenes, the user can continue with the current session and at the same time access the other web page in the website.  Instead of opening a whole new page, the floating window gets only the sign up form to be replaced. This enhances the convenience of the user and makes the website more user-friendly.

When the designer wants to use the floating window he/she needs to make the difference between the window and the webpage more striking.  This purpose can be served by fading out the webpage behind the window. This implies that either you have to use the drop shadow or a backdrop that is semitransparent.  This highlights the floating window and at the same time draws the attention of the visitor from the website page to the window.

When the designer separates the floating window from the webpage this way, he/she is intensifying the depth and consequently the visitor feels that the modal window is physically floating on the screen.

Use of Progressive Layouts:

When a group of content blocks need to be exhibited in a particular series and order, some of the website designers resort to the progressive layout. This sort of layout helps to present bulk information is a specific order.

When a progressive layout is used, every page is accessible through a page that precedes it. In this sort of layout there is neither any need of the menu nor the navigation bar.  Navigation becomes difficult when progressive layout is used because the navigation is allowed unidirectional and forward only, just like one-way traffic. This layout allows the web pages to be bookmarked. The navigation in the progressive layout based website is usually difficult to be understood by a first time visitor.

In a progressive layout the elements can also have vertical orientation and consequently a progressive vertical page can be brought into existence.

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