Templates
A template is a predefined page with set paramaters to display your web page content. You "apply" the template to your web page. It will automatically apply the preset parameters to display your web content.
Basically, web sites are tables containing your content. The template has predefined Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). It can hold Includes or DIVs. You can also add scripts to enhance your content.
The number of columns or rows your web page template uses it up to you and your web developer. The "editable content areas" are predefined on the template. It can also hold "dynamic content areas" that could hold your online visitors form entries or work in conjuction of many Content Management Systems (CMS). A CMS will look for the predefined "content areas" to "populate" or "retreive". PHP scripts will "add" or "retrieve" MySQL database data. CGI and Javascripts and Flash or all alternatives and each have their strong and weak points.
I prefer using a number of technologies and scripts to customize my clients web sites to best display the content they have to present to their online visitors. My Login and Registration Form uses a MySQL database. Try accessing this link without having a valid username and password http://www.guymercier.com/member-index.php and see what happens. It is password protected and is only accessible to registered users.
Template Structure for a Basic Web Site
Your web page content is broken down into its basic web structure to hold your web content. |
Header
The header normally contains: the company name; the company tagline; the main email address; the main telephone number; and the key communication message you want to highlight to your online visitors. It can include: the Main Navigational Menu; other scripts; and animation. (This can be an image that is either part of the template, part of the CSS, or as an include.) |
Main Navigation Menu
These are your main navigational buttons, such as: Home, News & Events, Products, Services, and Contact links. It can include: language links; logins; or search fields. (This can be either part of the template, part of the header, or as an include.) |
Optional Left Col
This could be used for sub sections of your main areas or bring in more information you want to highlight as a "sidebar" item. They can also hold more includes and scripts.
This could be a floating box instead of "Optional Left Col". |
Optional Breadcrumb
Useful to quickly navigate between sub sections. It will show the path to the page you are visiting. |
Optional Left Col
This could be used for sub sections to sub sections areas or bring in more information you want to highlight as a "sidebar" item. They can also hold more includes and scripts.
This page use a floating box instead of the "Optional Right Col" |
Main Content
This is where your "page content" goes. It is also known as the "main frame". This template uses "predefined editable areas" to hold the content oulined by the dotted line. It has predefined Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and uses DIVs and Includes to import the necessary images and style attributes that can are applied to the web page content item. |
Footer |
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Frame Set Template Sample
The template sample below use "Frames" instead of DIVs or Includes to display the content in the frame sets. The table below is a Basic Frame Set template. Each 'Frame' is a separate document. The template for the Frame Set structure below would call up each document to populate the 'Frame'. |
TOP FRAME
This Frame would not move. It woud always be visible to your online visitors. The content of the frames below would not affect this frame. |
LEFT FRAME
This Frame would not move. It woud always be visible to your online visitors.
CAUTION: The content for the frame may be visible to your visitors if the settings for this frame exceeds those of the Top and Bottom Frames. |
MAIN FRAME
This is the "main Frame" for the page content to be displayed.
CAUTION: The biggest downfall to using frames, is that if you print the web page, you will only be getting a printed copy the content of "Frame" your mouse cursor  is in. |
BOTTOM FRAME
This Frame would not move. It woud always be visible to your online visitors. The content of the frames above would not affect this frame. |
| This link will load a sample of this page using a Frame Sets Template See how differently it behaves! |
Template B Sample
This link will load this page using a different template and different CCS style attributes. See how differently it looks!
Please Note: I did not adjust the older CSS style sheet that this template calls up. The Images in the expandable menu are not fully displaying. |
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