Section that is Updated on Every Page?

I read about the .htaccess file but I'm not sure what it is. When I created it, it just gave me an unknown file extension file.

 

Sounds like the usual MS idiocy. Name the file "john", and upload it to your server. Then rename it .htaccess

cheers,

gary

 

grr. it doesn't seem to be working.

my .htaccess file is suppose to have <?php include ('links.inc') ?> right?

 

NO

.htaccess is for apache configurations only


the <?php include ('links.inc') ?>
comes into the file where you want your links to be

 

so .htaccess = empty?

sdkfjksdjfksjdfkl
im so confused.
ok NVM.
thanks for everyone's help.
i guess I'll stick to inline frames.
lol.
thanks once again.

 

take your time to read the very basics
http://www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/htaccess

there are plenty of excellent tutorials online for free available
Gogle will help you to find instantly

inh .htaccess belong directions relevant to apache server and nothing else

a whole bunch can be there dependind on your site
but precise to the point and coma

 

The .htaccess file just tells your server to look for the php coding in html files. Your server knows that files ending in .php have the php coding in them. So if you put

into your .htaccess file it well tell your server to look for the php code in all files. In my opinion you should be using the includes instead of the iframes.

 

This is my first post here and I just wanted to thank you all for the information. I've been looking for a way to do just what this thread discusses but couldn't get it working right. Now it's exactly the way I want it. Thanks again.

 

Why includes instead of iframes...?

 

I can't remember the specifics on why, but I believe it was along the lines of seo friendly and such. Maybe someone smarter than me will hop in and give a better answer.

 

An include is an actual part of the page. The include works at the server to 'paste' the code snippet into the page before sending it to the browser. The SEbot 'sees' it and indexes it with the page.

An iframe or frame is a document that is inserted into the page with a separate GET to the server. The SEbot does not see it as part of the page. It is seen and indexed separately. It can add nothing to the SE ranking of the original page. Further, the (i)frame insert is indexed on its own and may show up on the SE with its own link, which will not call the base page.

cheers,

gary

 

Most of the include content is navigation bars and just general small things. so this wouldn't be such a big problem right? opinions, please.

 

where and how to insert and how to learn ..

by practicing

create a test folder
a test file
CSS file
test text modules
for Iframes html files
for PHP .tpl files

onliine

just have a look at the testing page i made for you
http://www.kriyayoga.com/var/testing2.html
look at the source code
copy all files on your server
then TEST and vary all values

learning is most successful by actual doing in real world environment
iun a safe smaller test folder for example in the case of IT learning

Iframes uses only surfer's browser resources
PHP included uses apache/server resources

 

It may or may not be an issue. If it is for navigation, then you'll have to keep your fingers crossed that the bots will still follow the links to the rest of your site.

My suggestion is leave it live with what you have (something is better than nothing) and play with the includes until you can get them to work and then update your site.

 

ok I got the includes working... I just had to name the page to .php

doh!

one small question: the background color won't go the way i want it to. it will only display the color that's on my bottom include, which is grey, but I want the page bg to be white.

 

Are you using CSS?

 

um, I used <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="style.css">

and I just noticed that my text/content won't show up!

 

<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="style.css">

make sure the path to style.css is correct ( in your case it seems that your style.css is in the same folder as your include

else you have to adapt the path

if a site grows
you get more different css file
hence one day you create a new folder in th edomain root named

css-foilder

lets assume all your external css are now there
and lets assume your include page is in
domain-root.com/folder1/subfolder2

then that above syntax would be

<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css-folder/style.css">