Iframes, frames, and CSS

Just started using Studio 8. I have some general web design questions as I'm
still trying to learn the product as well as efficient web design.

My index.html contains a table with 3 rows (one cell each). The first row is
for the banner/logo. Second row contains a swf with a button. Third row is a
footer area. When users hit the button, I would like to update content area of
the second row only. I tried using getURL(), and button seems to work, but it
seems to update the entire web page. Is there a way to update a specific cell
in a table? Is it possible to do this in a table design while using getURL in
my FLA file? How would this be done?

Or, do I need to use iframes, frames, or CSS to get this to work? I have
heard many people discuss using tables designs versus CSS. And, I have heard
that frames were sort of archaic and inflexible. Is this the case? Are
iframes more flexible than frames?

Just looking for some good advice on how to approach this design issue.

Thanks in advance for any clarification or suggestions you might be able to
provide.

Is there a way to update a specific cell
in a table?

Yes, but not really. It sounds like you are perilously close to the
perpetual newbie concept of an entire website in a single page. I am
mistaken about that, though, right?

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
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"nc2dc" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Just started using Studio 8. I have some general web design questions as
I'm
still trying to learn the product as well as efficient web design.

My index.html contains a table with 3 rows (one cell each). The first row
is
for the banner/logo. Second row contains a swf with a button. Third row
is a
footer area. When users hit the button, I would like to update content
area of
the second row only. I tried using getURL(), and button seems to work,
but it
seems to update the entire web page. Is there a way to update a specific
cell
in a table? Is it possible to do this in a table design while using
getURL in
my FLA file? How would this be done?

Or, do I need to use iframes, frames, or CSS to get this to work? I have
heard many people discuss using tables designs versus CSS. And, I have
heard
that frames were sort of archaic and inflexible. Is this the case? Are
iframes more flexible than frames?

Just looking for some good advice on how to approach this design issue.

Thanks in advance for any clarification or suggestions you might be able
to
provide.

Murray - thanks for responding. Yes, I am new at designing web sites. I have
done web programming but mostly backend database with server side scripting.
Needless to say, it did not require me to work with web effects and sound etc.
Different audience. I not sure what you mean by a single page. Basically, I
plan to have content for different purposes, but I want to update a specific
area on the initial page. Is there something wrong with that approach?

I'm not sure what you mean by "Yes, but not really". I still have unanswered
questions. Could you elaborate?

nc2dc wrote:
When users hit the button, I would like to update content area of

the second row only.

The only way I know is by using an iframe in that second row. An iframe
will however create a vertical scrollbar in your design if the content
exceeds the depth of the iframe. That's the trade off you need to consider.

Osgood - thanks for the clarification.

Could I achieve the correct effect using layers in a CSS layout design? How would I update the layer that contains the swf?

"Yes, but not really" means it is possible, but the implementation is
impractical for so many reasons.

Is this a static site? What would be wrong with having your links just take
you to a new page with the new content?

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================


"nc2dc" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Murray - thanks for responding. Yes, I am new at designing web sites. I
have
done web programming but mostly backend database with server side
scripting.
Needless to say, it did not require me to work with web effects and sound
etc.
Different audience. I not sure what you mean by a single page.
Basically, I
plan to have content for different purposes, but I want to update a
specific
area on the initial page. Is there something wrong with that approach?

I'm not sure what you mean by "Yes, but not really". I still have
unanswered
questions. Could you elaborate?

nc2dc wrote:

Could I achieve the correct effect using layers in a CSS layout design?

How would I update the layer that contains the swf?


You could do by showing and hiding layers when a corresponding link is
clicked. However that is only ever 'economical' if each layers contents
is mimimum in kb size, otherwise the layers initially take too long to load.

Murray - I could overcome the problem by having it take me to a new page,
however, I would have to recreate some of the elements that don't really need
to change. The banner area at the top of the page actually contains another
swf which has logo transition effects and sound embedded with basic sound
control buttons (on/off).

Osgood - thanks for the tip. I'm providing more information about my test
site so that perhaps you may suggest an efficient way of getting the site to
flow. The effect I'm trying to achieve is basically to update the area below
the banner and above the footer. Instead of using tables, I now have a page
with 3 layers, analogous to the table with 3 rows. The top area plays a swf
with logo transition and sound control buttons (would like to keep this
unchanged if at all possible). The area below is the main content area that
plays a intro swf with enter button. The 3rd area below that is the footer
area, standard html (would like to keep this unchanged also if at all
possible). When button is pressed, I would like to update the main content
area/layer with a navigation bar, which I've created in fireworks, and content
pages that would display content based on nav bar selection.

As you have suggested, hiding an showing layers would probably work, but am I
better off creating a new page? Or, should I add 3 additional layers to the
existing layout, (one for the nav bar and two for content area) and show and
hide the layers?

Sorry for the extended post, but the design I'm after seems really basic and I
thought it would be quite easy to do. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of
experience designing these types of sites, so it's a learning process for me.
Just looking for some good and efficient techniques so that I can ramp up
quickly.

Thanks you to the both of you for responding to my post and would appreciate
any additional help/hints or suggestions you are willing to provide.

Murray - I could overcome the problem by having it take me to a new page,
however, I would have to recreate some of the elements that don't really
need
to change. The banner area at the top of the page actually contains
another
swf which has logo transition effects and sound embedded with basic sound
control buttons (on/off).

That's how the web works, though - one page links to another. For the
non-changing markup, investigate the use of server-side includes (or,
depending on your host's support and the smallness of your site, Library
items or Templates). Use DW's F1 help to read about these.

In your case, having a Flash header that must not restart as you navigate
from page to page commits you to the use of frames....

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================


"nc2dc" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Murray - I could overcome the problem by having it take me to a new page,
however, I would have to recreate some of the elements that don't really
need
to change. The banner area at the top of the page actually contains
another
swf which has logo transition effects and sound embedded with basic sound
control buttons (on/off).

Osgood - thanks for the tip. I'm providing more information about my test
site so that perhaps you may suggest an efficient way of getting the site
to
flow. The effect I'm trying to achieve is basically to update the area
below
the banner and above the footer. Instead of using tables, I now have a
page
with 3 layers, analogous to the table with 3 rows. The top area plays a
swf
with logo transition and sound control buttons (would like to keep this
unchanged if at all possible). The area below is the main content area
that
plays a intro swf with enter button. The 3rd area below that is the
footer
area, standard html (would like to keep this unchanged also if at all
possible). When button is pressed, I would like to update the main
content
area/layer with a navigation bar, which I've created in fireworks, and
content
pages that would display content based on nav bar selection.

As you have suggested, hiding an showing layers would probably work, but
am I
better off creating a new page? Or, should I add 3 additional layers to
the
existing layout, (one for the nav bar and two for content area) and show
and
hide the layers?

Sorry for the extended post, but the design I'm after seems really basic
and I
thought it would be quite easy to do. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot
of
experience designing these types of sites, so it's a learning process for
me.
Just looking for some good and efficient techniques so that I can ramp up
quickly.

Thanks you to the both of you for responding to my post and would
appreciate
any additional help/hints or suggestions you are willing to provide.

Yeah I would go with an iframe. Thats the only way you will achieve
playing a complete swf at the top of the page.

I have a feeling that showing and hiding layers arent really going to be
economical in your case as the content in each may take too long to
initially download.

The end user may well start clicking on buttons before every layers
content has downloaed to the page. If this does happen the layer wont
show and could cause confusion...I've seen it happen too many times before.

As I said in my previous post the only time I would investigate this
possibily is if my layers contents were samll in kb size.

Im not a great fan of iframes because they cause unsightly scroll bars
which detract from the design.



nc2dc wrote:

Murray - I could overcome the problem by having it take me to a new page,
however, I would have to recreate some of the elements that don't really need
to change. The banner area at the top of the page actually contains another
swf which has logo transition effects and sound embedded with basic sound
control buttons (on/off).

Osgood - thanks for the tip. I'm providing more information about my test
site so that perhaps you may suggest an efficient way of getting the site to
flow. The effect I'm trying to achieve is basically to update the area below
the banner and above the footer. Instead of using tables, I now have a page
with 3 layers, analogous to the table with 3 rows. The top area plays a swf
with logo transition and sound control buttons (would like to keep this
unchanged if at all possible). The area below is the main content area that
plays a intro swf with enter button. The 3rd area below that is the footer
area, standard html (would like to keep this unchanged also if at all
possible). When button is pressed, I would like to update the main content
area/layer with a navigation bar, which I've created in fireworks, and content
pages that would display content based on nav bar selection.

As you have suggested, hiding an showing layers would probably work, but am I
better off creating a new page? Or, should I add 3 additional layers to the
existing layout, (one for the nav bar and two for content area) and show and
hide the layers?

Sorry for the extended post, but the design I'm after seems really basic and I
thought it would be quite easy to do. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of
experience designing these types of sites, so it's a learning process for me.
Just looking for some good and efficient techniques so that I can ramp up
quickly.

Thanks you to the both of you for responding to my post and would appreciate
any additional help/hints or suggestions you are willing to provide.