[thelist] quick ssi question

Shirley Kaiser, SKDesigns skaiser1 at skdesigns.com
Wed Dec 12 10:54:26 CST 2001


At 08:16 AM 12/12/2001, you wrote:
>Hey all
>
>I'm curious about something.
>When using an include in an html document typically wouldn't you keep all of
>the document structure out of the include? like so:
>
><myinclude.inc>
><p>stuff and things, stuff and things</p>
></myinclude.inc>
>
>and then the parent html doc would control the presentation and formatting?
>Is this correct?
>
>and if so,
>
>what if I want to include and entire html doc that has embedded js in it,
>like a nav system?
>would the include on its own be contained within html like this?:
>
><myinclude.inc>
>nav system with mouseovers
></myinclude.inc>
>
>isn't this just a call for frames? should I use iframes? aren't they less
>supported? do I have a clue?
>
>does anyone have an idea what the best way to approach such a thing is?
>Having the nav as an external separate document would be best methinks which
>is why I though about includes.
>
>any thoughts are appreciated.
>
>Ad.

SSI documents come from the server. The best approach, IMO, is to create an 
HTML document as you normally would. Those areas that will be universally 
used throughout the site, for example, could be used for an SSI document, 
such as your navigation. It doesn't matter if it has mouseovers, 
JavaScript, etc. within it. The server puts the page together and delivers 
it to the browser.

I vote for SSI. It's great. I've used it for exactly what you're asking at 
Brainstorms and Raves, for example: 
http://www.brainstormsandraves.com/  The top navigation has JavaScript 
mouseovers, images, and text with CSS. I've used external JavaScript and 
and external style sheet, too. You can't tell by looking at the View Source 
that the navigation is actually a separate SSI document. The bottom of the 
page information is, too.

Don't use frames when there are other ways of achieving good results.... 
too many potential accessibility and usability issues. While those issues 
can be made easier, it's too much of a pain, IMO.

If you need more SSI info, check out WebsiteTips.com's SSI section -- lots 
of annotated links to good resources:
http://www.websitetips.com/ssi/

Warmly,
Shirley

-- 
Shirley E. Kaiser, M.A.
SKDesigns  mailto:skaiser at skdesigns.com
Website Design, Development  http://www.skdesigns.com/
Pianist, Composer  http://www.shirleykaiser.com/
Brainstorms and Raves http://www.brainstormsandraves.com/
Moderator, I-Design http://www.adventive.com/lists/idesign/summary.html





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