I've tried Dreamweaver, and some other programs that I found on the web for maintaining and updating websites with ease, but, to me at least, they're all far too complicated for what I want to do.

For instance, when I want to update the footer on all of the pages on my website, I have to open up each text file (close to 80 of them right now) and copy&paste the updated html. Now, if I were running *nix/linux on a regular basis, I'd simply write a little script to replace text, but unfortunately I have to run Windows for certain software.

So my question is: is there a simple way to find+replace a certain text block on a batch of files in Windows? Maybe there's some little program or some obvious solution I'm overlooking?

-jd

If you put your footer in a server side "included file" , you'd only have to change that file.

Or you could use a Dreamwever template with Editable Areas.

As for your current situation, HotDog allows batch editing. But HotDog is not Free.

Do a Google on Batch Editing.

Yes, as marketingman100 said.. SSI!

http://www.mattkruse.com/info/ssi/

Otherwise, Dreamweaver has an excellent find and replace option.

Just download your 80 files.. go to find and replace.. choose your location whether it is a folder or a local or selected files and then find and replace will apply to all.

As for alternatives, I'm sorry.. I don't know but you're best off with SSI.

Being still "new" to Dreamweaver, I went and looked at the find and replace.

It will do exactly what you want to do. Ignore my plug for Hotdog.

You still need to use SSI and or templates to achive your goal in the long run.
SSI is more pure but it is not 100% Browser safe.
Whereas using the templates is because there are no server calls involved.

Toss a coin.

SSI is the more EFFICIENT way to go and I'm not aware of any browsers that won't properly execute a server-side include. SSI's are a fairly standard way of doing what you want, and a lot less trouble than some proprietary templating.

Thanks so much for everyone's input.

So it looks like I'm off to learn how to implement SSIs.

But I have another question: Is it possible to take a file from a website that's already up and working, and have Dreamweaver generate a template for it? Or would I have to re-create the template from scratch in Dreamweaver?

I agree, SSI is probably the simplest way to go about it, it's probably the reason why so many CMS use it, it just makes life some much easier!

Originally Posted by jd_1978

But I have another question: Is it possible to take a file from a website that's already up and working, and have Dreamweaver generate a template for it? Or would I have to re-create the template from scratch in Dreamweaver?

I haven't worked with templates on dreamweaver although I can kind of remember skimming the code and erm..... I believe you will have to open up a dreamweaver template and then copy paste areas from your 'live' page into the areas on your dreamweaver template as it is sectioned off.

For ease of use and consideration for other uploaders (if you do happen to work with other people) then SSI is the more friendly option as not everyone uses dreamweaver templates or would be familiar with it when compared to use of SSI.

I may re-install Dreamweaver at a later point and try to work with templates, but for now I think I'm going to stick with learning SSIs. One, it just sounds more fun, and two, Dreamweaver is just such a huge clunky program and takes up way too much space

You can "make a template" from an outside page. Though I have not tried it and I don't know how well it works. I know I did play with attach template and detach template one day and it totally screwed a file.

Dreamweaver has more than one deficiency.

Also be aware if you create a template from scratch you HAVE to create a NEW site designation first or the template updating process will not work correctly.
Even with the "site" designated, it sometimes does not automatically update the pages when you save the template. You have to go into the menus and manually update them.

As for the "proprietary template" cheap shot, if you are in Dreamweaver and designing in Dreamweaver this is NEVER an issue. BUT, if you ever switch editors, the proprietary nature of the templates will be an issue. The templating system makes valid code just fine though sometimes it may not be the best code for the issue at hand.

Some here have compared it to Front Page and that's an insult. Front Page has and always will be total garbage. Dreamweaver is a few years behind the curve.
I'm using CS3 and it has no built in Wizard for CSS menus. It forces you into
manually coding or using Ajax crap. And I never use Javascript. PERIOD!

As for the comment above about Server Side implementation of Included files,
some of the out of country browsers do have issues. So, SSI is not 100% pure.
It depends on how well you want to serve the potential audience.

I will throw another nut at you here. You could convert your files to PHP and use the PHP include. And depending on what and how you are ncluding things, you could also consider using IFRAMES. Though for a footer, an IFRAME is overkill.

If you look at my Marketing Sanctuary Site, I switched it to PHP.
1. I used a simple PHP command to keep the footer copyright date updating.
2. I plan on adding a BLOG.
3. I plan on adding some IFRAMES and Database Content eventually.

Andy yes, I pondered these decisions for days because PHP is not 1000%
universal. But most of the audience for that site is in the US.

It all depends on where you want your site to go and whom it is serving.