Iframes - Pros/Cons

[Christopera]

I am considering using an Iframe to set my websites menu. I want to do this so that I only have to change just the frame page and have the entires sites menu updated. I may also do this my footer to make it more easily updatable.

However, I have heard that using Iframes for this purpose sometimes doesn't work well. Though, no one has offered any reason as to why this is true.

[drhowarddrfine]

Frames and iframes Some claim problems with search engines in addition to the fact that iframes have most of the same problems as frames.

[Christopera]

Perhaps I will avoid them for now.

Maybe a Javascript or PHP setup would be better.

[nomad]

I am considering using an Iframe to set my websites menu. I want to do this so that I only have to change just the frame page and have the entires sites menu updated. I may also do this my footer to make it more easily updatable.

However, I have heard that using Iframes for this purpose sometimes doesn't work well. Though, no one has offered any reason as to why this is true.

I would consider using templates because they works great. I have a 650 website based on two templates.
Very easy to update esp menus, only draw back is if you change a webpage name ie sales.htm, and you have a menu that contains sales.htm you have to remember to change that menu, otherwise it will not do it for you.
Good part is if you want to change or add anything in a menu it will update all the webpages for you.

nomad
PS did that make any sense...

[Christopera]

I'm not sure that made any sense.

I use a template for each page, yet, everytime i need to change the menu to add a link i have to change every page. This is why i wanted to do an iFrame.

[nomad]

I'm not sure that made any sense.

I use a template for each page, yet, everytime i need to change the menu to add a link i have to change every page. This is why i wanted to do an iFrame.

Question What application are you using ie Dreamweaver...
if you make a template and make any changes and you save the changes the template should automatic change every page related to that template. That is the beauty of a template. Sounds like you have a Frame...
An Iframe can not do that.

nomad

[Christopera]

Oh, I use Crimson Editor but also have GoLive. I am not sure that Crimson does this.

I see what you are saying now. Perhaps I will try this in GoLive.

[nomad]

Oh, I use Crimson Editor but also have GoLive. I am not sure that Crimson does this.

I see what you are saying now. Perhaps I will try this in GoLive.

You should have a section where you can for editable area an no-editable area.
The no-editable are your menus, and headers and of course the editable section are the text and images and footers.

good luck
nomad

[jimberry]

Dreamweaver templates vs iframes.
If you use a template to incorporate common content into several pages, whenever you change a the template, DW has to update every page that uses the template, and you have to upload all those pages.
When you use an iframe to incorporate common content (as a separate html page) into several pages, changing that one common "page" is enough. Uploading that one common page will update every page that incorporates it via an iframe.
Although Dreamweaver will take care of ensuring that everything necessary is uploaded, it still has to be done.
It is up to you to decide whether any disadvantage of using iframes outweighs the benefit of simplicity.

[asdesigned]

Alternatively can you not just have all the menus read a common XML file? This way a simple change to the XML means only one file to upload.