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How can I best manage the content of my website? What I mean is if I create a new page then I have to add a link to that new page to every other page. This quickly spirals out of control, there must be a simpler way of handling things. In days gone by we used frames but then it seemed that frames went out of style. How should I do this now? Frames? CSS? Something else?
I'm using XHTML 1.0 Transitional and HTMLPad 2008 is my editor.
You should make a template, then add all of the links you KNOW you will have, then if you add a new link, you add it once to the template and click UPDATE and it will update all pages that are using the template.
I know that MOST web design programs have that capability, and while i do often get frustrated with templates, this is the only way to do it..
Depending on the coding language you are using, you can also create "subsections" (I am trying to use a general term because each language will have its own term for it.
So, for the language I code in (classic ASP) I have 4 include files that contain all of my links and these include files wrap around the content of my site. The inner center content I pull from a database. I have top.inc, side.inc, right.inc and footer.inc. Each of these for includes contain all links and I am then able to update any changes in one place. Other terms for these elements are: navigation, masthead and wrapper.
I hand code all of my own websites, I do not use any pre-packaged code. I write in ASP using a MySQL back end. I have also introduced links from my databases to each of my wrapper elements, other database items I pull include page titles metadata, etc.
In my opinion, the best way to manage content is to maintain it in a database which you pull from to fill your pages. I am sure this functionality can be purchased, or you can create it yourself. It is fun stuff!
Note I have been programming for over 10 years, the link in my sig will take you to some of my work. I program for my own use only, that keeps it fun.
__________________ www.stuffnthingz.com - "You can never have too much stuff", however, "The best things in life aren't things" is also true. XPS1530 | DK20 | Mighty Press 15 |Chinese hat press | Oki5800 | 88+ | LP24
TM, Googling around I found something called SSI which sounds similar to what you write about?
I'm getting the feeling that I either need to take some classes or hire someone. To be honest I really don't like doing the web work but I don't mind it if it isn't too tedious.
Classes or hiring the work out are both viable options. I started my websites to "practice" coding, it is a wonderful way to learn, and you are learning a very valuable skill you can fall back on if needed...
__________________ www.stuffnthingz.com - "You can never have too much stuff", however, "The best things in life aren't things" is also true. XPS1530 | DK20 | Mighty Press 15 |Chinese hat press | Oki5800 | 88+ | LP24
like i said, Dreamweaver allows the use of templates, where, if you change something on the template, it will make those changes on EVERY page that has that template applied.
Aside from that, though, it is up to the web developer to organize the files and what not.
Just be VERY aware that when you use the WYSIWYG way of programming in dreamweaver, it does some REALLY funky things with the code, so you should code it FIRST and then tweak it if you wanted.. but the templates is really worth it
Help with website organization/management 
Re: Help with website organization/management 
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