Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Design and Content : Question about layout content

[ericfx]

I am wondering if there is something like CSS for layout content.

With CSS I can add LINK REL="stylesheet" HREF="style.css" to my pages to keep my fonts, link colors, styles, etc, the same on all my pages.

I would like to make it so I can edit like my top header image and menu bar without having to use an iframe for my content pages. If I make changes to the menu, I won't have to change it on 100's of pages. The only way I can think of would be using iframes for my top footer, menu system, and bottom footer.

Sorry if I am confusing you, please let me know any advice.

Thanks,
--eric

[the_pm]

Yes. You're describing includes here. The three most common forms are PHP, ASP and SSI. All you have to do is place the content you want shown on every page into its own document. You can even give that document any file extension of your choice.

Then a small snippet of code goes into your HTML document:

<!-- #include virtual="PATH/FILENAME.EXT" --> for asp

<?php include ("PATH/FILENAME.EXT"); ?> for PHP

I'd keep away from SSI if you have servers that can handle either of the above.

Rename your HTML document from FILENAME.html to FILENAME.php or FILENAME.asp

That's all there is to it. It's frighteningly easy

[Entronomy]

You could also take it a step futher by setting multiple filenames and so on in a .inc file for example and then echo them in your page.

filenames.inc

$header = "images/topimage.jpg";

include it in your page and then:

<img src="<?php echo $header; ?>" />

Then editing the header variable will change it in all pages including the .inc

[ericfx]

works great thanks!

is there a way to view my php websites on windows without me having to upload them to my web server and then view them?

[absolethe]

Yeah, set up a test server on your computer. I recommend the tutorial: http://www.webmasterstop.com/tutoria...allation.shtml here, for ease of use.