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  1. #1

    Static Layout and Dynamic Content

    I'm in the middle of coding a website for someone (whose designing the webpage for a client), and I'm having problems figuring out how to get those two working together. I've been given all the graphics and have everything laid out and working fine (static 800x600 size). I'm just having problems with the news page. The news page needs to be updateable, which presents a problem since it is a static layout. I thought of simply using an iframe, but that doesn't work since the scrollbar doesn't blend with the black background. After that, I thought about using flash, but I'd have to have flash read from a text file since the client doesn't have the ability to edit the file. The problem with that is it's going to be a hassle for the client to have to edit the file using the required format.

    Does anyone have any ideas on how to get something like this to work?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    A web page should normally flex with the content, if not horizontally then most certainly vertically. It sounds as if the "design" has been done with little thought for the most important things - the content.

    If you need your client to be able to update their own news then you'll most likely need a news posting scriopt so they can add their own news items.

    hace you got an sample page we can look at?

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by Dedrick View Post
    I'm in the middle of coding a website for someone (whose designing the webpage for a client), and I'm having problems figuring out how to get those two working together. I've been given all the graphics and have everything laid out and working fine (static 800x600 size). I'm just having problems with the news page. The news page needs to be updateable, which presents a problem since it is a static layout. I thought of simply using an iframe, but that doesn't work since the scrollbar doesn't blend with the black background. After that, I thought about using flash, but I'd have to have flash read from a text file since the client doesn't have the ability to edit the file. The problem with that is it's going to be a hassle for the client to have to edit the file using the required format.

    Does anyone have any ideas on how to get something like this to work?
    You might want to try using CSS Scroll Codes which change the colour of teh scroll bars just all the css codes to the page and then add css link back to the css structure.css.txt file as simple as that. and i would recommend using CuteNews which you can download from cutephp dot com so you dont even have to add the iframe because if u go on intrgation wizard on cutenews you can add a php code and cutenews doesnt use mysql it tores a dadbase using php files.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    562
    Quote Originally Posted by heathost View Post
    You might want to try using CSS Scroll Codes which change the colour of teh scroll bars
    That only works in IE and Opera.

    Anyways, why don't you use some kind of CMS or use a PHP include?

    PHP Code:
    <?php include('news_stuff.php'); ?>
    That way you can edit the news_stuff.php file without changing the main one.

    It's not the ideal way of doing things, but dynamic data has no bearing on the layout, they should be separate.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    64
    Use overflow : scroll, you can use javascript to make sure it works in ie 5,6
    Last edited by clrockwell; 03-15-2008 at 06:36 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    562
    All of these suggestions are the equivalent of telling someone to open a can of tuna with a sledgehammer.

    You have dynamic data, which has nothing to do with the layout. Content, layout, and styling are separate things.

    You either need to install a CMS or create another file and include it using the code above. If you're not sure how to do this, then I have to wonder what kind of a coder you really are.

    Are you actually a coder (programming), or are you just talking about HTML?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fixago View Post
    All of these suggestions are the equivalent of telling someone to open a can of tuna with a sledgehammer.
    Unless the question is 'how to fit an undetermined length of content into a static height layout - 800 x 600'.
    Quote Originally Posted by Fixago View Post
    You have dynamic data, which has nothing to do with the layout. Content, layout, and styling are separate things.
    Yes, they are handled by separate code, but the layout has everything to do with the dynamic content. You have to prepare for all the possibilities of content, and if you have a fixed height template, your options become even more limited.
    Quote Originally Posted by Fixago View Post
    If you're not sure how to do this, then I have to wonder what kind of a coder you really are.
    I'm wondering the same thing about you if you do not think content, layout and styling have anything to do with each other.

    I know I'm new to the forum, but that is one of the rudest responses I have ever seen on any forum.

    The css scroll should do the trick.

    Good luck

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    562
    Quote Originally Posted by clrockwell View Post
    Unless the question is 'how to fit an undetermined length of content into a static height layout - 800 x 600'.
    Then I have to ask what kind of designer you are...a fixed-width layout optimized for 800 pixels wide is fine, but trying to fix the height?!

    Quote Originally Posted by clrockwell View Post
    Yes, they are handled by separate code, but the layout has everything to do with the dynamic content.
    See above.

    Quote Originally Posted by clrockwell View Post
    You have to prepare for all the possibilities of content, and if you have a fixed height template, your options become even more limited.
    See above.

    Quote Originally Posted by clrockwell View Post
    I'm wondering the same thing about you if you do not think content, layout and styling have anything to do with each other.
    Layout belongs in HTML. Styling belongs in CSS. Content belongs in a database. They are separate things, when combined, make a website.

    Quote Originally Posted by clrockwell View Post
    I know I'm new to the forum, but that is one of the rudest responses I have ever seen on any forum.
    Wow, you must be new to the Internet then if you think that was one of the rudest responses ever.

    Quote Originally Posted by clrockwell View Post
    The css scroll should do the trick.
    Sure, if you want an inline frame, which is bad usability/accessibility. There's nothing wrong with scrolling, and if you have to force a site to a certain height to "fit" a template, I have to ask what kind of designer you are.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    286
    Just use php includes. You can even set up a sort of custom CMS by giving them an admin page where they can use a form with tiny_mce to edit the files involved. Or it may be worth setting up wordpress or something in the news section and giving it a custom template to look like the rest of the site.

    Or you can just tell them to get dreamweaver and edit the files themselves - and they'll almost certainly break something somewhere down the line.
    Nexcess - Magento and Wordpress Hosting Specialists!

  10. #10
    Yes, I'm actually a PHP programmer. Yes, I do not like the idea of fixed height designs, but I'm not the designer. The actual person is my client's client. The designer (my client) knows absolutely nothing about coding, and simply uses photoshop to slice the design, which was filled with so many tables I almost pissed myself, lol (only one div tag to center the layout).

    I'm not certain what kind of hosting package the actual client uses, so I'm not using php/mysql on this one, and even if I was, the layout is the problem. This all html problems.

    However, I'm pretty certain I've got it all fixed. I actually did come accross the javascript that will scroll the iframe up/down upon hovering over each link. I'll simply send both options, flash and javascript, he should like one or the other.

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