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Vanilla 1.1.5a is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.
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CommentAuthoradjustafresh
- CommentTimeSep 2nd 2007
I need someone who has more Dreamweaver expertise than me to help me figure out if what I'm trying to do is possible.
I need the ability to build a navigation menu template that can be updated in a single location and have the changes made on every page that includes the nav menu--like an include file.
For example, if my main navigation template includes: Home, About and Contact (with links to each) can I embed this template into each page on the site. Secondly, if I add a link to FAQ in the main navigation template I need that label and hyperlink to appear on each page. Ideally the paths should automatically work on each page too.
Does this make sense? I've been Googling for a few days and come up with bupkiss. Am I asking too much from Dreamweaver? I'm using version 8 presently, but can upgrade to CS3 if that helps. -
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Dreamweaver has the ability to do templates -- they become DWT files I believe. I haven't used them in years (before I know what a server side include was); it works just like an SSI though. It you go to create new -- you will see like 8 options for DW templates; again, its been like almost 6 years since I've used them (I think).
Don't upgrade, DWT has been possible forever. -
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CommentAuthoradjustafresh
- CommentTimeSep 2nd 2007
Thanks Martin.
I figured out how to make the .dwt files, but they seem to be page-based rather than component based. It is unclear how to integrate one specific area of the page (e.g. navigation) into a larger page or page template; any tips on that? I don't want people to have to update the nav on every single page of this document anytime a new item is added or a path changes.
BTW - I'm piloting the use of Dreamweaver to create functional specification documents rather than relying solely on Visio, and I need a tool that is easy for my team (not all HTML/CSS gurus) to edit and update. -
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- CommentAuthorLuminance Design
- CommentTimeSep 3rd 2007
If you use PHP you can use includes:
<?php include("filename.php"); ?>
You'll need to make sure your main page has the .php extension rather than .html for it to work (and as long as the server hosting your site is running PHP).
Simply put the above content into the source of your page, changing the name as necessary. In the filename.php file, just put the content you need e.g. just a <ul><li>MENU</li></ul> for example.
When the PHP page is parsed it will pull the UL into the main page as if it's part of that pages code.
Hope this helps...
Mike -
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CommentAuthoradjustafresh
- CommentTimeSep 3rd 2007
Thanks Mike.
I realize that a scripting language can handle includes. I'm trying to keep this simple and just use Dreamweaver.
Another thought I had was to use an iframe or some javascript to pull in content if Dreamweaver can't do it, but I have a feeling that I just don't have the Dreamweaver chops to make this work. This is where you guys come in... -
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CommentAuthorDarren Hoyt
- CommentTimeSep 3rd 2007
Have you tried using Library items? I don't use DWT anymore, but when I did, items like footer & nav went into my DW library. -
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i have used the dwt or library files on dreamweaver.
if you want to do that, you should make a library files for the navigation.
There are a lbi file and dwt file. lbi is a library, this mean, a separate file. dwt is a template file.
try googling about library file and template file. i was found a useful tutorial. and forgot the link...
fyi, i won't use the lbi or dwt file anymore. waste your time... -
Yes, library items would be the way to go for this, especially if these are just .html pages. If you need to make a change in the navigation, you just edit the library item. Pretty much the same effect as an include file.
Also using Adobe Contribute would be very easy for users with little or no experience with web pages to be able to edit those pages. It usually works best with templates so users cannot mess with non-content areas, but we use it in our organization without any issues.
Mack -
I highly recommend using server-side include files! Dreamweaver templates are great for locking down pages so clients can only access and update specific areas that you've defined. However, I would not rely on Dreamweaver-specific technology for site-wide updates. Any good web hosting company has servers that are configured to parse include files. If you're not using php, aspx or the like, the include files can be simple html snippets using generic html include syntax such as <!--#include file="/includes/topnav.html" -->
Tony
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