I'm making a website for my Webdesign teacher (for him to use as his class site... sad I know...) and he praises Dreamweaver, I 'spit upon it' so to say. The nav bar of the site might change every now and then, but it would be on enough pages to be very annoying to change it on each and he suggusted the idea of making a template (with the editable regions and the non editable regions) so when you update the template, it will update all other pages using that template.

Sounds like an easy enough solution for him. But will it work? If so, could I have a few pointers?

(I know its extra code and junk in the page blab blab blab... I hate dreamweaver, but I sadly have to dumb it down for my teacher... He admits i'm better than him )

Server-side includes would be the best way to go, provided the hosting he has supports it, most do. It would be a lot easier even than a DW template.

Well its just uploaded to the school's server, all he has access to, i believe, is just uploading files.

In theory, would the template in DW work though?

Is the school server running Linux or IIS? Both will do includes.
Otherwise, the template will work.

Those details, i do not know... so template is the way I will have to go then, thanks.

(but MAN do I hate DW lol)

Why hate DW? It's much better than before and even writes cleanish code now.... hand coding takes forever . . .

S

DW, left on it's own, still creates massively HORRIBLE code. It's a poor tool for someone who's just learning - it teaches you NOTHING. It's a good tool - once you already know how to code PROPERLY.

Originally Posted by LadynRed

DW, left on it's own, still creates massively HORRIBLE code. It's a poor tool for someone who's just learning - it teaches you NOTHING. It's a good tool - once you already know how to code PROPERLY.

Amen.

Originally Posted by Flamewhisker

I'm making a website for my Webdesign teacher (for him to use as his class site... sad I know...) and he praises Dreamweaver, I 'spit upon it' so to say. The nav bar of the site might change every now and then, but it would be on enough pages to be very annoying to change it on each and he suggusted the idea of making a template (with the editable regions and the non editable regions) so when you update the template, it will update all other pages using that template.

Sounds like an easy enough solution for him. But will it work? If so, could I have a few pointers?

(I know its extra code and junk in the page blab blab blab... I hate dreamweaver, but I sadly have to dumb it down for my teacher... He admits i'm better than him )

As far as I know you could do this in Dreamweaver, it sounds like that idea might work, but still, it's really not the best way to go. Your teacher shouldn't be suggesting things like that.

I normally separate my code out into separate files so it makes it easy to update, so I end up with separate navigation and separate footer. PHP is a breeze for this.

Firstly, your html files need to be named with a .php extension.

Then copy your navigation section into a separate file, name this nav.php for example.

Then simply include the file in your other documents:

PHP Code:

<?php include 'nav.php'; ?>

This way, if you have a big site, you'll only ever have to upload the nav.php file when you make changes.

Good luck!

DW is ok , Expression Web may be better for you if you have not tried it yet. Give it a go, some people still use Frontpage so it is a matter of what you feel comfortable with and then learn more

Originally Posted by edgray

Amen.



As far as I know you could do this in Dreamweaver, it sounds like that idea might work, but still, it's really not the best way to go. Your teacher shouldn't be suggesting things like that.

I normally separate my code out into separate files so it makes it easy to update, so I end up with separate navigation and separate footer. PHP is a breeze for this.

Firstly, your html files need to be named with a .php extension.

Then copy your navigation section into a separate file, name this nav.php for example.

Then simply include the file in your other documents:

PHP Code:

<?php include 'nav.php'; ?>

This way, if you have a big site, you'll only ever have to upload the nav.php file when you make changes.

Good luck!

My brother who knows PHP suggusted this idea to me before, and I suggested it to him and he said he didn't want to do it because he is clueless about PHP. His two ideas were to make a DW template, or use a frameset (banner and links on top frame, and body in bottom frame). I'm slightly 'iffy' about that idea because I don't want some random glitch and the site to not be aligned center anymore, or not look like its seamless or something. He makes everyone use IE to test code and view his site in class, so I have to make sure I get all IE kinks out of it. (He thinks IE is the best browser out there *facepalm* I've told him many times its not haha)



BTW, I learnt basic coding before I even understood what dreamweaver was. Towards the end of 5th grade my brother explained to me what it does, I thought it was cool at first so I attempted to do something with the WYSIWYG side of it - failed and hated it. So I stayed away from it and hand coded from there on out. At no point do I ever see myself using DW to create or maintain a site (i'm only having to take it into consideration for my silly teacher)

or use a frameset (banner and links on top frame, and body in bottom frame)

OMG... that's even worse that the DWT idea!

He makes everyone use IE to test code

And this guy is a TEACHER??? I'm sorry, but people who teach like this shoudn't be teaching at all..at least not this topic .

He really doesn't need to know PHP if all that's used is the include, sort of a 'set it and forget it' type of thing. When he wants to update the site, he just needs to update the include files. The amount of php to do that is very minimal

DW Templates come with their own set of problems, as I'm sure you're aware. This guy needs to step into the 21st century of coding. I hesitate to ask - but is he still teaching tables for layout???

Server-side includes would be the best way to go.

Originally Posted by LadynRed

OMG... that's even worse that the DWT idea!

And this guy is a TEACHER??? I'm sorry, but people who teach like this shoudn't be teaching at all..at least not this topic .

He really doesn't need to know PHP if all that's used is the include, sort of a 'set it and forget it' type of thing. When he wants to update the site, he just needs to update the include files. The amount of php to do that is very minimal

DW Templates come with their own set of problems, as I'm sure you're aware. This guy needs to step into the 21st century of coding. I hesitate to ask - but is he still teaching tables for layout???

When I had his class last year, I was hoping for more honestly, but I was always first done, with enough time to do it all over again. I tought him FFS! I remember at the beginning of the semester he mentioned that he just learn't how to change scroll bar colors, first thing I literally said "i learn't that in 6th grade, and it doesn't look good if you do it on a full page!" He ignored the comment haha.

As for teaching "layout" well that is a really 'iffy' subject in that I think he teaches none. Whenever we had a project that there was no step by step instruction, people just put text and aligned pictures next to it, and center aligned heading. When we got into DW, it was about the same, but it got worse because of all the problems DW throws in to people who do not understand the concept of absolute positioning. they would put a "layer" on there and put a picture or something in it, and move that to fit their monitor resolution (which isn't the same as the teachers) so ovoiously messed up.

His best attempt at making a site was frameset with blinding colors o-o


I wish I had the webdesign teacher my brother had when he was at highschool, BUT he got him a job at the place my mom works, better pay haha. He was much better, he tought the advanced stuff. The "advanced webdesign" now is all flash i'm gonna take it, but its stupid - I hate flash websites >.>

Ouch.. that guy is doing students a complete dis-service. Flash as 'advanced web design'.. how horrible-- not to mention dumb!

Yeah tell me about it >_>

ill just have to slowly self-teach myself 'cus school isn't gonna help