Alternatives to Templates

Hi, I am wondering what alternatives there are to using templates in Dreamweaver. I have used them, but I am not crazy about them. If I decide to change an item in a list menu that is on every page for instance, how can I update every page without using a template or frame? Thanks!

Jedidiah

 

Use server-side includes to include your "templated" information. Always include your header, footer, nav so its only one change no matter what.

 

JMonster is right - use SSIs (server side includes).

Let's say your menu is:

<ul class="list">
<li><a href="rss_1.htm">Blogs Defined</a></li>
<li><a href="blog_1.htm">Blog Creation Tips</a></li>
<li><a href="blog_2.htm">Blog Search Engines</a></li>
<li><a href="blog_3.htm">Tell the World About Your Blog</a></li>
</ul>

Put the above lines of code in its own file called nav.htm.

In the pages that include this small menu, wherever you want the menu to appear, just include this code:

<!--#include file="nav.htm"-->

Requirements:
1) Your web server must support SSIs (most do) and
2) the extension for every file that is to include the <!--#include file="blognav.htm"--> line must be *.shtml.

Hope that helps!