Edit one file, that changes the column on all pages.

Hi. On my current site, I have a three column layout. I have 30 pages though, and it is a hassle going to each individual page, and changing the columns (adding a new link, renaming,etc.). Could anyone provide code and/or instructions on how to have one file, for each column be like the control. Where I edit that, and it changes the column information on all of my pages? Thanks.

You have a couple of options.
1) if you are using dreamweaver, make a template of one page. Then when you change the template it changes all the associated pages.

2) Php includes: Here is one tutorial. http://www.tizag.com/phpT/include.php
Google "php include" if this one isn't great.

These are great timesavers.

Thank you so much! #2 Worked! This will save me a ton of time in future. Would I be correct in assuming, I could simply make a menu2.php, and have one for the right column as well?

you can use as many includes in a page as you want

Also if you need a certain part included,
replace the word include with require.
that way if that file can not be included, you'll just get an error.

Thank you for all the help! I really appreciate it!

rep us then

Hi again haha. I did think of one more question. So I read the information about http://www.tizag.com/phpT/require.php Require, instead of Include. Now I don't look forward to going through the 30 pages again and changing include to require, but is it really necessary? The article seems to recommend it, but I am positive that all of my links work and there are no errors (I tested every page) So there should be no problem right? I don't have to change it, if it works fine?

It's usually best to do from the start.
Okay right now lets say your page is fine.
but you want to add something?
you go through every page and add it in.
Then a day later, you want something else, you have to change every page. so on so forth.
if you add include/require to every page (next time do it as you go along!)
then you just update the one file.
It's definitely worth it

hmm? I have all my pages set up with the include code, and now I can edit one file, and it affects the part I want it to,on all pages, making it easy. But I read this:http://www.tizag.com/phpT/require.php and it says
"We recommend that you use require instead of include because your scripts should not be executing if necessary files are missing or misnamed."

but Is it worth going back on my pages, and changing the include I previously put, to require? Even though there are no missing files or anything now? And if scripts do execute if necessary files are missing.. how exactly is that bad? I mean it won't like corrupt my files and kill my site? lol...I'd just go rename it?

sorry misinterpreted what you meant
for what you are doing, no I'd leave it as include.
what they are saying is, say you a have a file that for security's sake has to to be included (for example a script that checks if someone is logged in).
so that if the script that checks if the user is logged in isn't loaded, then the user that is not logged in would not see anything they shouldn't.
Sorry to confuse things with that

straight to the point, don't bother

Thanks again!

Always greatful of rep points

haha. I didn't know what you were talking about it.. but I found the button. I did it for both of you.

I take it the Rep system is working now?

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