Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!
Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!
-
Congratulations Chriss Miller on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!
some direction on frames and navigation
- Thread starter frogggg
- Start date
Hi mate,
I personally hate frames but I won't get into that..![[wink]](/data/assets/smilies/wink.gif "[wink] [wink]")
The way I do it is to use SSI (Server Side Includes) and this way, when you update the one navbar file, all of the pages update.
As long as your server lets you use SSI then rename the files to have a .shtml extension and include the following code where you want the navbar..
<!--#include file="navbar.html" -->
You can also set your server to use a different extension for SSI but this must either be done in the httpd.conf or a htaccess file..
Hope this helps Wullie
I personally hate frames but I won't get into that..
The way I do it is to use SSI (Server Side Includes) and this way, when you update the one navbar file, all of the pages update.
As long as your server lets you use SSI then rename the files to have a .shtml extension and include the following code where you want the navbar..
<!--#include file="navbar.html" -->
You can also set your server to use a different extension for SSI but this must either be done in the httpd.conf or a htaccess file..
Hope this helps Wullie
frogggg,
I'm not sure what level you are at, but as you're asking basic questions on frames, etc. I'm going to assume that you are much like me: Understand and able to do a bit, but not sure of whether what you are doing is the best way.
If this is the case, let me know and I'll post back some advice that may help.
Marc
I'm not sure what level you are at, but as you're asking basic questions on frames, etc. I'm going to assume that you are much like me: Understand and able to do a bit, but not sure of whether what you are doing is the best way.
If this is the case, let me know and I'll post back some advice that may help.
Marc
- Thread starter
- #4
Sounds about right!
I was wondering if I could do something as simple as add the tables that make up the navigation bar to each page. On second thought, maybe that's not so simple after all. What I was planning to do was have a look at either the PageNavbar in the script library of Visual Interdev (doesn't exist) or try viewing controls as text (didn't show me enough to learn from). So I am rather stuck in that regard.
In school I learned more of the ASP side of WebDesign and not too much of the pretty stuff.
Thanks all for your help.
I was wondering if I could do something as simple as add the tables that make up the navigation bar to each page. On second thought, maybe that's not so simple after all. What I was planning to do was have a look at either the PageNavbar in the script library of Visual Interdev (doesn't exist) or try viewing controls as text (didn't show me enough to learn from). So I am rather stuck in that regard.
In school I learned more of the ASP side of WebDesign and not too much of the pretty stuff.
Thanks all for your help.
frogggg,
Lots of people are not keen on frames but for the beginner they are fairly easy to set up and they do give a uniformity and consistency to a whole site. If you have your site mapped out and know therefore what items are going to be on your menu bar, it's useful to use frames with a menuing system such as the one found at which I think is great or coolmenus from having either of these systems in a side or top frame will give your site a nice feel and be easy to navigate.
If you want a tutorial on frames type 'html frames tutorial' into google or similar search engine and you'll get loads. Alternatively try this one which seems OK
If you need anymore help, post back.
Marc
Lots of people are not keen on frames but for the beginner they are fairly easy to set up and they do give a uniformity and consistency to a whole site. If you have your site mapped out and know therefore what items are going to be on your menu bar, it's useful to use frames with a menuing system such as the one found at which I think is great or coolmenus from having either of these systems in a side or top frame will give your site a nice feel and be easy to navigate.
If you want a tutorial on frames type 'html frames tutorial' into google or similar search engine and you'll get loads. Alternatively try this one which seems OK
If you need anymore help, post back.
Marc
- Thread starter
- #6
Hi mate,
Why not use the method I mentioned??
This will give you the required result and only has one page to update.. (Without using frames!!)
I am not going to get into the frames discussion but if you want to find out more, do a keyword search for frames on this forum..
Hope this help Wullie
Why not use the method I mentioned??
This will give you the required result and only has one page to update.. (Without using frames!!)
I am not going to get into the frames discussion but if you want to find out more, do a keyword search for frames on this forum..
Hope this help Wullie
- Thread starter
- #8
Only because I didn't know how, but I have worked with frames and tables before. Not a very good reason, I admit.
This is what I have so far. It goes at the top of all my pages. The only problem is that I would like the navigation to be down the side instead of across the top. How would I do that?
Thanks all for your help.
This is what I have so far. It goes at the top of all my pages. The only problem is that I would like the navigation to be down the side instead of across the top. How would I do that?
Thanks all for your help.
Hi mate,
Just include the following code where you want the menu to appear..
<!--#include file="navbar.html" -->
Then the contents of the file navbar.html will be inserted in that place..
Hope this helps Wullie
Just include the following code where you want the menu to appear..
<!--#include file="navbar.html" -->
Then the contents of the file navbar.html will be inserted in that place..
Hope this helps Wullie
Wullie,
I think I may be in the same boat as frogggg ie learning. I have a site on my hard disk that I'm working on that has a frame across the top as the heading, one down the side as the menu, and then the main bit to the right - fairly standard stuff I guess. I tried your <!-- include trick in the main bit trying to add in the side menu but absolutely nothing happened. I'm not too worried about it, as I've got enough to learn about this stuff and figure that your method may sidestep some pain that I need to go thru before I can fully understand all this!! I'm sure gonna come back to this method, but I've just not reached that chapter in the book yet. (ps. I've seen some of your posts - you're pretty awesome!)
Frogggg,
I think if you've got a top bar at the moment on every page and you want it to be a side bar, the first thing you've got to do is re-format it to go down the side (I think). From my very limited experience, doing this as frames might be a good idea, if only from the learning point of view. If you want help doing this, post again and I'll try to help. It may be like the blind leading the blind, but it'll be fun anyway.
Marc
Frogggg,
I think I may be in the same boat as frogggg ie learning. I have a site on my hard disk that I'm working on that has a frame across the top as the heading, one down the side as the menu, and then the main bit to the right - fairly standard stuff I guess. I tried your <!-- include trick in the main bit trying to add in the side menu but absolutely nothing happened. I'm not too worried about it, as I've got enough to learn about this stuff and figure that your method may sidestep some pain that I need to go thru before I can fully understand all this!! I'm sure gonna come back to this method, but I've just not reached that chapter in the book yet. (ps. I've seen some of your posts - you're pretty awesome!)
Frogggg,
I think if you've got a top bar at the moment on every page and you want it to be a side bar, the first thing you've got to do is re-format it to go down the side (I think). From my very limited experience, doing this as frames might be a good idea, if only from the learning point of view. If you want help doing this, post again and I'll try to help. It may be like the blind leading the blind, but it'll be fun anyway.
Marc
Frogggg,
Hi mate,
Sorry about that, I mean't to mention that because it is the server that parses the code, you will need to have this on a server for it to work..
You have 3 options to get round this,
1) Work on the pages and keep putting them on the server to test them. (Very bad idea!!)
2) Download and install a server on your computer for testing. This is easier that it sounds and I will help you the whole way if you want to do this..
3) Just create the pages as normal and when you have the layout that you want, copy the piece of code directly out of the page and use an include statement before you upload to your server.
BTW. Flattery will get you everywhere!! LOL No seriously, I have learned all that I know through hard work and dedication and am self taught in all of the areas that I know.. Just stick at it and don't give up..
Hope this helps Wullie
Sorry about that, I mean't to mention that because it is the server that parses the code, you will need to have this on a server for it to work..
You have 3 options to get round this,
1) Work on the pages and keep putting them on the server to test them. (Very bad idea!!)
2) Download and install a server on your computer for testing. This is easier that it sounds and I will help you the whole way if you want to do this..
3) Just create the pages as normal and when you have the layout that you want, copy the piece of code directly out of the page and use an include statement before you upload to your server.
BTW. Flattery will get you everywhere!! LOL No seriously, I have learned all that I know through hard work and dedication and am self taught in all of the areas that I know.. Just stick at it and don't give up..
Hope this helps Wullie
Wullie,
I think I've got a server in the HTML package that I bought, but disabled it 'cos I didn't know how/what to do with it. Anyway, this thread's not mine! I'm happy using frames or not, and will definitely look in my software for how to install the server BUT...... Frogggg, how you doing, have you got what you needed when you first posted this or not? Let us know.
Marc
I think I've got a server in the HTML package that I bought, but disabled it 'cos I didn't know how/what to do with it. Anyway, this thread's not mine! I'm happy using frames or not, and will definitely look in my software for how to install the server BUT...... Frogggg, how you doing, have you got what you needed when you first posted this or not? Let us know.
Marc
- Thread starter
- #13
What exactly would I put in the navbar.html include file?
Also, I know basically how to use frames, and correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't everything have to be on one main page, like index.htm or something? What happens when I navigate to pages not on the global navigation bar? Won't my navigation bar disappear?
As I mentioned before, I really would just like to use tables(which I suppose is really all a navigation bar is). My only question is how to get it down the side. I had an idea to use nested tables. I'll give it a shot and let you know if it works, Marc.
Wullie, if I'm way off, please let me know, you've been such a help in the past!
Thanks!
Also, I know basically how to use frames, and correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't everything have to be on one main page, like index.htm or something? What happens when I navigate to pages not on the global navigation bar? Won't my navigation bar disappear?
As I mentioned before, I really would just like to use tables(which I suppose is really all a navigation bar is). My only question is how to get it down the side. I had an idea to use nested tables. I'll give it a shot and let you know if it works, Marc.
Wullie, if I'm way off, please let me know, you've been such a help in the past!
Thanks!
Hi mate,
Step by step..
1) Write your page as normal but give it a .shtml extension.
2) When you have the page the way that you want it, copy the whole navbar code and paste it into a file called navbar.html
3) Include the following code where you want the navigation bar to appear on your .shtml page.
<!--#include file="navbar.html" -->
Now upload the file to your server and access it, you should see the file as normal and the navbar should be in place.
You can test this by including the word "WORKING" inside the navbar.html file and call the .shtml file and that word should appear where you placed the include code..
Looking at the source code of the file by VIEW > SOURCE then you should see the text that is included and there is no way of a user telling that you are infact using SSI.
Hope this helps Wullie
Step by step..
1) Write your page as normal but give it a .shtml extension.
2) When you have the page the way that you want it, copy the whole navbar code and paste it into a file called navbar.html
3) Include the following code where you want the navigation bar to appear on your .shtml page.
<!--#include file="navbar.html" -->
Now upload the file to your server and access it, you should see the file as normal and the navbar should be in place.
You can test this by including the word "WORKING" inside the navbar.html file and call the .shtml file and that word should appear where you placed the include code..
Looking at the source code of the file by VIEW > SOURCE then you should see the text that is included and there is no way of a user telling that you are infact using SSI.
Hope this helps Wullie
- Thread starter
- #15
Thanks very much for your help.
I just finished using nested tables to have my navbar on all pages, I just copied and pasted it to the body of all pages.
If I would decide to use a SSI, this is the code that I would paste into the navbar.html?
Also, I have not hooked up with the server yet, I am guessing that IIS won't cut it, from your previous instructions to Marc, so for now I would like to stick with my cut and paste job. Is there a good reason why I shouldn't?
I do appreciate your professional assistance.
Thanks again!
I just finished using nested tables to have my navbar on all pages, I just copied and pasted it to the body of all pages.
If I would decide to use a SSI, this is the code that I would paste into the navbar.html?
Also, I have not hooked up with the server yet, I am guessing that IIS won't cut it, from your previous instructions to Marc, so for now I would like to stick with my cut and paste job. Is there a good reason why I shouldn't?
I do appreciate your professional assistance.
Thanks again!
theocraticmind
Programmer
IIS is fine, it's what i use 
and the reason not to do it the way you have, is that if you want to change the navbar at all, you have to go around to every page and alter the code. it's a huge hasl, trust me, i did my first, and biggest site like that. definatly not worth it.
and the reason not to do it the way you have, is that if you want to change the navbar at all, you have to go around to every page and alter the code. it's a huge hasl, trust me, i did my first, and biggest site like that. definatly not worth it.
- Thread starter
- #17
That's a very good reason, which I am already discovering.
Thanks.
Also, how would I keep the navbar on the page if the page includes some script which writes code to the screen? I have a few such pages, and of course, the screen just shows the code generated by the script and does not include my navbar.
Will I have to response.write or document.write the navbar to the scripts too? Or is this a JavaScript or ASP forum question?
Thanks again for all your help.
Thanks.
Also, how would I keep the navbar on the page if the page includes some script which writes code to the screen? I have a few such pages, and of course, the screen just shows the code generated by the script and does not include my navbar.
Will I have to response.write or document.write the navbar to the scripts too? Or is this a JavaScript or ASP forum question?
Thanks again for all your help.
- Thread starter
- #18
![[peace]](/data/assets/smilies/peace.gif "[peace] [peace]")
Your guess is as good as mine!! I don't work with asp so I really couldn't tell you..
Hope this helps Wullie
theocraticmind
Programmer
same way. you don't .shtml if your using asp.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Question
- Locked
- Question
