Nav Bar - how do I make it universal across website

Hi,

I have a css drop down menu designed but I don't want to copy and paste its code into every page on the website because if I make a change to the menu I will have to go back and re-write those changes by hand. I want to do it so like stylesheets...


I know a bit about stylesheets but I have no clue as to putting the code for a menu in one.

Help please!

thanks.
magda

 

Google "server side includes". There is a standard syntax for servers, and most, if not all, server side scripting languages include some include method. Search your favorite language's manual.

cheers,

gary

 

I feel like a tool. But you mean a css manual?

 

No, you need a Server Side Language (ASP or PHP)

 

use header and footer and put code in them that repeats throughout pages
for example in php <?php include 'header.php'; ?> puts in header.php contents on your page
so you can have a simple structure

<?php include 'header.php'; ?>
body of the page currently on
<?php include 'footer.php'; ?>

 

yeah includes are what you want

 

If your server doesn't support PHP or ASP, some websites editors (such as Dreamweaver) have a template feature that will update every page automatically.

 

SSI's are incredibly useful, but I imagine this isn't exactly what you're asking for. You need to put this at the head of every page:

Replacing STYLESHEET with the filename of your stylesheet. Then all you will have to do is edit the stylesheet to alter the styles across your whole website.

 

Can I include the menu code in my style sheet though? When I tried it didn't seem to work.

 

You can import one style sheet in to another as below...

@import url("fonts.css");

 

No. The stylesheet is for presentation, not for content or markup. Includes are what you need. The include file is a simple snippet of the code that the server or the server side scripting language sticks into your page, kinda like a copy/paste thing.

cheers,

gary

 

Thank you so much, I am looking into that now.
And thank you to Gary. That is what I had assumed but wanted a more refined reassurance.

magda

 

I recommend php includes...they are really the easiest to implement...but the webpages have to be php pages.

 

Even though this is an old thread, there's no need to Google server-side includes. I already have a post on this subject (which also covers PHP) right here on DigitalPoint:
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?p=2145250#post2145250

 

I would also go this route. They are easier and more reliable than dwts, bots or server side includes.