The UWiC portal is made as a single dynamic web page whose content changes according to the parameters specified in the URL:

• theme_id, which allows the user to select the main topic of the portal, highlighting the contents related to the chosen topic and making specific web pages appear
• style_id, which determines visualization style
• lang_id, which determines the language
• page_id, which makes it possible to move within the portal determining the content of the page to be shown to the user.

The page is divided into five boxes:

• heading, which contains the logo and banner of the project
• status bar, which contains the links to the homepage, to this “Help” page and the contacts page, the popup menu for choosing the topic, style and language
• menu, which contains the list of the first level of pages organized in four sections
• contents, in which the contents of the selected page are shown
• footer, containing copyright information.

The topic, style and language preferences can be changed at any time and are maintained during a user session if they are not explicitly modified.
The choice of the topic affects the main menu by bringing up graphic elements which highlight the menu items pertaining to the selected topic and by possibly adding pointers to theme-specific pages.

Web addresses, or URL, of the portal pages correspond to a single page whose contents change according to the specified parameters. Hence, the parameters are an integral part of the address to be specified as a reference to the selected web page in the form in which it appears. If all the parameters are omitted, the address corresponds to the homepage of the portal, with the general topics, basic style and English language.

Links to files and other sites are opened in a different browser window.