Changing pages into templates

You can convert existing documents into templates and apply template to existing web pages. You can also modify templates and change their editable status.

Have a look at the simple template page ComputerStarters. This was saved from the index page of the site, after all the content had been stripped out. The 3 main sections have been made editable, while the header bar remains uneditable. This is very simple to do. Simply select File SAVE AS TEMPLATE.

You can do this 3 ways

(1) Drag the template out of the Assets Panel onto the new page

(2) Select APPLY TEMPLATE TO PAGE from the Modify Menu Templates section.

(3) Select a template in the Assets Panel and click the APPLY button

All this can cause problems if there is already content on the page, so be careful. It is easier to apply library items to pages.

Changing Editable Status

You can make existing regions editable and make new editable regions in templates

(1) Open the template and select the region to be made editable.

(2) Select MARK SECTION AS EDITABLE from the Modify menu Templates section

(3) A dialogue box appears. Give the new editable region a name

To make a new editable region go to he Modify Menu, Templates section and select NEW EDITABLE REGION

Libraries are a way to store page elements such as images, text, and other objects that you want to reuse or update frequently throughout your Web site. These elements are called library items.

Dreamweaver stores library items in a Library folder within the local root folder for each site. Each site has its own library

Using Existing Library Items

Open up the Assets Panel and have a look at the library items. You can drag them ontob your page for use.

To create Library Items

Select a portion of a document (either text or an image) to save as a library item and do one of the following:

(a) Choose Window > Library and drag the selection into the Library category of the Assets panel.

(b)Click the New Library Item button at the bottom of the Assets panel (in the Library category).

(c)Choose Modify Menu> Library > Add Object to Library.

(d) Enter a name for the new library item.
Each library item is saved as a separate file (with the file extension .lbi) in the Library folder of the site's local root folder.

To insert library items do the following

1 Place the insertion point in the Document window.

2 Choose Window > Library. The Assets panel appears, showing the Library category.

3 Drag a library item from the Assets panel to the document window, or or select an item and click the Insert button.

Yes, but you can only apply styles and behavoiurs in the original template as these add code to the Head of document which will be locked once created