[Mor]

I would like to duplicate major sections of pages in multiple pages and then be able to modify them all by modifying the master.

FrontPage has shared borders, which accomplishes this, but it is limited to four borders. I need a similar but more flexible process which can be applied to the whole page.

I've seen this before, and I think it's well known by many who are much more knowledable, but my level so far has been rather primative. I've been able get by modifying one by one, but now I'm getting so many pages that it's just too inefficient.

If anyone can direct me to script, I would appreciate very much.

[Eriksrocks]

This can easily be accomplished using PHP includes.

But first, what is your hosting package and who are you hosting with? If your host supports PHP, then you can do it by simply putting each "master" in a separate file with an extension of .php.

So for example, you could have:

header.php
footer.php
news.php
sidebar.php

etc...

Then, on the file you want to include them all on, you just put

PHP Code:

<?php include("FILENAME.php"); ?>

(wherever you want to include them) and it will copy it into the page. Just make sure to name the file that includes them with an extension of .php.

And by the way, don't use Frontpage if you can help it.

EDIT: Here is more info if it is a bit confusing for you:
http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_includes.asp

[Mor]

Thanks for the quick reply

Then does each php file need a header, body and so forth? or just, say a table?

The reason I ask is I need to use these files in succession on the same pages so that there would be no border or space in between the background images

Thanks again

[Mor]

OK, I got it working, but the page utilizing it also has to be renamed php. Although i found alittle blurb on a tips page answereing a question on how to use it in htm pages by someone who was concerned about existing page rankings and didn't want to rename all their pages.

This is a good start. Thanks again

[covert215]

An important hint- Unless you have a server running on your computer, you cannot run the .php file like you would view an html one. The php file needs to be on a server to be viewed

[Mor]

Yes, it's becoming clear there may be more complications. godaddy is my host, and I've got one example functioning, so it must support php, but..

FrontPage does not display php files in the folder list when working on line, so once I've left and return, they don't appear to be there. Unless I can figure a way to find them. They're available if I remember the name, but then FrontPage opens them in note pad.

I could have duplicates on my PC and open them in notepad.

One site advises the following:

Frequently asked questions:

Question 1
How can I use PHP include for easy site
maintenance if all my web pages currently have .html or
.htm extensions? I don't want to lose their current search
engine rankings.

Answer
Insert the code below into notepad, name it
.htaccess and upload it to the root folder of your server.

AddType application/x-httpd-php .html
AddType application/x-httpd-php .htm

Now just follow the 9 steps as outlined above and you will
be able to keep your current page extensions ( .htm..html
or .php) and still use PHP include. This will allow you to
keep the same search engine rankings as you had before you
made your site dynamic.


...but I'm unsure of a filename: ".htaccess" nothing preceeding the "." ?? Working on this but haven't finished it yet.

[covert215]

That is correct.

.htaccess with no name. You may have to give it a name to start, then rename it.

[namenotfound]

.htaccess is unusual because, as covert said, it has no name. Just an 8 letter file extension.

This may also come from the fact that on UNIX machines, a . before a name indicates a hidden file and .htaccess in a sense is one of these hidden files. i.e. you don't see it when you browse a website.

[Eriksrocks]

So yes, you may need to name it something like a.htaccess when you create it on Windows but when you upload it rename it to .htaccess.

Originally Posted by Mor

FrontPage does not display php files in the folder list when working on line, so once I've left and return, they don't appear to be there. Unless I can figure a way to find them. They're available if I remember the name, but then FrontPage opens them in note pad.

I could have duplicates on my PC and open them in notepad.

Yeah, it's a major problem with FrontPage unfortunately. When I used FrontPage (a while ago) I would have every page as HTML also and then edit it as HTML with the PHP code and stuff, and then at the end I would just go to Save As > And save it with an extension of .php.

But of course if you set up the .htaccess then it wouldn't matter because you could just save it as .html anyway.