question about server-side includes

[redss]

I am confused... I have read that when you have a website with a lot of pages, if all the pages require the same menus etc, that you should use some technique like server-side includes (or a similar tag embedded in .asp, .php etc). I understand server-side includes require an extension of .shtml rather than .html ....

Then why are so many websites with multiple pages and repetitive menus using .html and not something that enables server-side includes? Is there a way for .html files to read in header files?

And I've noticed that many of the really flashy websites actually started from templates. Are you supposed to manually removed the part of the template that will be repeated? Is there a way to preview html files that use server side includes without having to use a webserver?

I've set up quite a few websites but I keep my "common information" in individual frames, which has the additional benefit of saving the user time from having to redownload all the common menu graphics/logos for every webpage of the site. I wonder why more websites aren't frame based to reduce download time. Why the trend away from that? Is it because most templates aren't frames based?

I appreciate any thoughts on this!

 

[AMysticWeb]

redss,

I have yet to work with Includes myself, but you can get some good info here...

http://www.bignosebird.com/ssi.shtml

Hope I have been of some help,
Micheal

Please take a moment to visit my form tutorials at

http://FrontPageForms.com

 

[CoreyBryant]

I am always inserting a lot of my content. So I use ASP. If the person still wants it to be on a UNIX server, then I use SHTML is possible.

If it is just HTML - have you checked to see if they did not convert the menu to javascript & then inserted that way? You can use Frontpage to insert a border in regular HTML as well.

If you get a template - then it is up to the webmaster to do with what he/she wants at that time. I have a few clients that I have used a template before & I have removed the menu & added my insert file command.

Most people shy away from frames because a lot of users do not like them & some browsers have a hard time reading them.

Corey

 

[BlueMonkey]

I use FrontPage 2000, and use the Include Page component to perform the Server Side Include that you talk about.

FP makes this very easy. I have one page with a plain text navigation system, which I then include on every page (via a "template" page). Very simple, quick and easy - see for yourself...

http://www.aek-bocofc.com.

When you publish I believe FP must merge all included components into one single page, or perhaps this is when the user views the page.

B.M.

 

[redss]

Ah, so frontpage inserts the included components when the page is published? Or is that something the server does when serving the page using frontpage extensions? (in other words are the included components stored in each file on the server?)

forgive my ignorance, I came from a hand coding background and am just getting familiar with frontpage. thanks for your reply.

 

[BlueMonkey]

I'm not 100% sure either way. It looks like the files are merged at the time of publishing, but I could be very much mistaken.

B.M.