Web Design Assistance

[kstatefan40]

Hi,

I need some help with my designing. I have the homepage designed just how i want it, with tables and not frames dividing it. Now, when going to make the rest of the links, it takes intirely too long to paste the main HTML and then do the text i want per page. I have read i can do it in SSI, but it doesnt work with tables. I was wondering if there was a CSS way to do it. I am using HTML 4.1 transisional. THANKS (link below)

www.derbydigital.com

[MSIuser]

It takes a while, but I ran into the same problem as you did a few months ago. I decided to go for the php option (if your server offers it. What this means is you can have all your data coming through the one page and all you have to do is write write a few if/else code lines. What it also means is if you want to redesign your website in the future all you have to do is redesign one page. If you want an example of how to do it I can send you my index page (in progress) that shows how simple it is?

[mairving]

The easiest would be to use php. You wouldn't necessarily have to have any if/then/else statements. Just build you page the way you want it and chop it up into a header, left menu, content and footer. The only part that will change will be the content part. So a page would look something like this:

<?php
include("header.inc");
include("left_menu.inc");
?>
Content goes here.
<?php
include("footer.inc");

?>

The .inc extension just means that it is an include file but it can be any extension. That is pretty basic but it makes it easier to change since all you have to is change 1 part.

[kstatefan40]

can you explain how to "chop the website" a little please? I havent used PHP much, but my server does allow it

[james8547]

An example of a "chopped website" is this (www.picawards.com/scart). It's coded using php. It utilizes mysql as its database. It's not yet complete. It took a back seat since there are more pressing issues in my department. It's estimated completion date is Summer 2004.

Basically index.php calls on other files (footer.php, header.php, etc). There are different files responsible for the header, footer, side boxes, and website functions (search, checkout, shopping cart, etc.). This allows me to make changes very easily.

I've done other sites but this particular one is the best of them all :D

[mairving]

Originally posted by kstatefan40
can you explain how to "chop the website" a little please? I havent used PHP much, but my server does allow it
By chop what I mean is get the page the way you like it, then cut it up into sections and save each section as a separate file. The pieces when they are included will make the whole page. So basically your header will be whatever is at the top of the page.

[vizun]

php includes are exactly the way i think you should do it :P

[kstatefan40]

thanks! do i just save as php or html?

can you right out the includes script i would need?

thanks again!

[mairving]

Originally posted by kstatefan40
thanks! do i just save as php or html?

can you right out the includes script i would need?

thanks again!
It doesn't really matter what you call the include files. I usually name them .inc to signify that they are include files. On the pages that call the include files, you will have to name them .php or an a line in a .htaccess file to process php in .htm files. So your home page becomes index.php.

[MSIuser]

Stick us up a copy of your current index.html and if you want ill edit it for you.

[kstatefan40]

Here you go, THANKS!!!!!!!!! Sorry it took so long, ive been sick. if you need any more files let me know.

[MulderMan]

erm i had ago with the includes for u, usually they work for me but youll have to ask someone else to make it work proppa. put all the files on a server and have a look.

[kstatefan40]

My only problem is an alignment issue. I am not sure how to realign it right. here is what ive got, using your includes: www.derbydigital.com/dd
Thank you very much!

[MulderMan]

from what ive heard the alingment info goes in the header file. ill keep ya posted when i find the right code cos i wnat to do my own site like that cos html frames mess up 99% of the time

[Undead_Rider]

i dont know what u mean u want to align it right but u can do that to the right left and center.
add align="left" , align="right", align="center" i.e. <h1 align="right">big heading right aligned</h1>
edit this has html code on so heres a code modofied so it wont be recocnised.
h1 align="right">big heading right aligne closing tag goes here


post to see if thats what u meant gimme more details. Or are u talking about frames/tables and aligning text eh?

[kstatefan40]

I need frame alignment using php includes but not using the actual HTML frames.

[Undead_Rider]

heres a sight
www.phpconsulting.com/web/html.php
and cant you just do
http://www.sloppycode.net/html/special/iframe.html


Admin Edit: fixed a bunch of buggy code so the thread would look good.

[Undead_Rider]

olds post got wacked so heres it agian
heres a web site
http://www.sloppycode.net/html/special/iframe.html
and
www.phpconsulting.com/web/html.php
but cant u just do this to align the frames?

Admin Edit: I removed a bunch of code that was messing up this thread.

[mairving]

Eek, I hate Iframes.

Undead_rider can you edit your post and remove the iframes?

[Undead_Rider]

ya i wanted to but i couldn't eh. Wouldn't let me see bottem half of the page for some reason but since dok fixed it i can now.