Introducing Frames

What are frames?

Frames are a way of dividing your web page into a number of sections.
Each frame is a separate Html page and can be edited separately.

Why use frames?

They are used as a means of providing static elements throughout a site.
For example in the layout used for this page the top banner frame can remain the same, as can the left naviation frame. Only the main content frame can be made to change. This saves effort and gives consistency.

Using frame based pages

The first point to know is that all frame based pages have a saved 'frameset' this must be saved first. This contains the setup information about the frame page and will have links to each individual frame. It does not display. After saving this, individual frames can be saved and edited.

Individal frames, like this one can be made to scroll.
You can treat the frames exactly like a table cell and in standard view you can colour them, write on them, insert images and generally format them.
Each frame is actually a separate page and can be formatted in Modify- Page Properties

Starting the Page

There are a number of choices using a predefined frame set or adding them individually.

(1) You can select pedefined frames when you first start your page in File- New-Framesets

(2) Go to the Insert Bar (Objects Panel in DW4) and select the Frames section. Select a pre-determined frame layout onto the page. Click on the frameset layout you want and it will be inserted onto your page. 2.

(3) You can design your own. Go to Insert menu and select frames. Select the frame element you want and it will be drawn onto the page. Add another element by clicking into a non frame part of the page and selecting the frame element. You will see the frames build up in the Frames Panel. A frameset will have been created for you.

You can nest frames on top of each other - on this page the Nav menu is nested on top of main content frame

Insert Bar with Frame layouts in MX

This is how it appears in DW4 in Objects Panel

Once a frame is created it it also useful to colour backgrounds. This aids navigation. The colours can be removed later.
To do this open the frame independently (you will need to remember each frame's name!).
Now go to Modify Menu, Page Properties and change the background colour.

Saving the Frames

You save by going to the file menu.

Select 'Save Frameset' This will give an overall name to the set of frames.
You will then be prompted to save each frame in turn (each will be highlighted)
When editing you can save individual frames or the whole frameset.

Other Points