Templates messing up previous updates

Hi,
I'm creating a site that uses about 5 different DW templates. I have my site
definitions set to check in/check out from the ftp server to my local server. I
am trying to get the site ready to launch, so I have a couple lists of little
fixes that I need to make and have made, mostly changes to the editable
regions.

The problem is that when I update a template master and apply it to all, often
changes that I made before are undone or over-written. This is causing me a
major headache since I have to keep repeating the changes that I have already
made and I have no idea how far back the changes are being overwritten, so I'm
constantly reviewing the site!

I am starting to think that DW templates are just a SNAFU and should not be
used if one wants to have a truely professional development process! Does
anyone else have this problem, or have a solution? Could this be a bug that
Macromedia doesn't know about?

Thanks!
Allie

Allie:

Let me ask you a couple of questions....

1. Why 5 templates?
2. Are you collaborating with other developers on this site?
3. What does this mean - "...I update a template master and apply it to
all..." - are you applying the template to child pages? Or are you just
saving the template and allowing child pages to be updated?

Also, if I could have a look at a template page, the corresponding child
page, and instructions about what you changed and what the results were, I
could probably diagnose what is happening.

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

Hi,
I'm creating a site that uses about 5 different DW templates. I have my
site
definitions set to check in/check out from the ftp server to my local
server. I
am trying to get the site ready to launch, so I have a couple lists of
little
fixes that I need to make and have made, mostly changes to the editable
regions.

The problem is that when I update a template master and apply it to all,
often
changes that I made before are undone or over-written. This is causing me
a
major headache since I have to keep repeating the changes that I have
already
made and I have no idea how far back the changes are being overwritten, so
I'm
constantly reviewing the site!

I am starting to think that DW templates are just a SNAFU and should not
be
used if one wants to have a truely professional development process! Does
anyone else have this problem, or have a solution? Could this be a bug
that
Macromedia doesn't know about?

Thanks!
Allie

By the way, I'm using Dreamweaver MX on a Mac OS X Panther.

Ok, I'm actually using 7 templates I can't remember exactly why we're using so
many, but this is only our 3rd experience building using templates, so we're
still learning. We've had big problems with them on two separate sites.

When I say I am applying the template, I mean I am making a change to a
template and saving it. It then automatically updates any files that use that
template.

With check in/check out, we (three of us are working on this) are all checking
in and out with dependant files (we thought that might be part of the problem,
but not sure). We're all designers, none of us are particularly coders, but we
have been creating websites using dreamweaver for 5 years now. We are not
collaborating with anyone who knows how to code and we have to make this site
somewhat compatible with Frontpage because that is what the client wants to
edit with (we couldn't get him to try Contribute).

For a look at the site, go to http://www.eyecenters.com/index_temp.html

How would you like me to post the templates and children? Just post the code
right here?

As for what I am changing, here's an example:

I'll open one of the templates and make a change to the JavaScript that is not
in an editable region. When I save it, that change goes through, but for
instance, I will have removed an extra paragraph space or changed a sidenav
item from "Our Opinion" to "Other Technologies" and those changes will have
reverted (both changes being in editable regions). I thought that updating a
template didn't have any effect on the editable regions, only the non-editable
ones.

Thoughts? thanks,
Allie