HTML Forum

**pwee** · 12-24-2008, 11:48 AM

Hi everyone -

This is pretty basic, I think, but I'm a beginner..

In writing a strict XHTML site, what's the 'best practice' way to keep the same top/side nav across multiple pages of a site so that I just have to edit one place to change it on all pages? Then each page would have a content area specific to the page.

I appreciate any guidance!

Thanks,
pwee

**Decaf** · 12-24-2008, 12:01 PM

PHP Code:


			
include("header.php");

**redline5th** · 12:44 PM

I've used two methods for this... one requires you to use the extension of .shtml for the files that will have the include...

The code is:


The other requires an extension of .php for the files that will have the include...

The code is:
<? include('includes/nav.html'); ?>

Just put this inside the div or table and the file will appear.

Hope this helps! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

**chrishirst** · 12-24-2008, 01:12 PM

http://www.webmaster-talk.com/html-f...tml#post816365

**colbyt** · 12-24-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redline5th

The other requires an extension of .php for the files that will have the include...

The code is:
<? include('includes/nav.html'); ?>

Hope this helps! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Page has to be php parsed. The extension can still be html on most modern servers. It is all in how you set it up.

I vote for the OP using php. Far stronger solution in the long run.

**webcosmo** · 12-24-2008, 02:11 PM

Another option is server side includes, SSI. Pretty easy to use.

**specialk** · 12-27-2008, 12:13 PM

You can use an include or if you are writing each page as you go, you may just make a template of the page and then add the changes as you go. This is only good for a small site, you don't want to do this if you have more than a few pages on your site.