Making duplicate code generic

[Rudie]

Hi,

I have the following code in 3 diffreent HTML pages:

<select name="select1" size="1" style="background-color:#FFFFD7">
<option value="./a.htm" target="mainFrame">A</option>
<option value="./b.htm" target="mainFrame">B</option>

What im wondering is that is it possible to modularise this in some way like the way javascript can be added to a .js file. Save me duplicating this code 3 times.

I just want a central place for all duplicated code in forms to save me having to change each occurance.

I been told to use Snippets, but doesnt this just make it easier to copy and paste in between pages?

Thanks.

[minute44]

Originally Posted by Rudie

Hi,

I have the following code in 3 diffreent HTML pages:

<select name="select1" size="1" style="background-color:#FFFFD7">
<option value="./a.htm" target="mainFrame">A</option>
<option value="./b.htm" target="mainFrame">B</option>

What im wondering is that is it possible to modularise this in some way like the way javascript can be added to a .js file. Save me duplicating this code 3 times.

I just want a central place for all duplicated code in forms to save me having to change each occurance.

I been told to use Snippets, but doesnt this just make it easier to copy and paste in between pages?

Thanks.

If you're using Dreamweaver or some other WYSIWYG editor then chances are you'll be able to use the library function. this allows you to save imagesm text and code snippets as library items so you can insert them whenever. Kind of like an advanced clipboard.

Hope this helps...

[Rudie]

Yes, Im using Dreamweaver 8. I'll give that a try when i get home.
I know I can re-use javascript code from the .js files but because this is just HTML, didnt want to code the same piece of code 10 times.

Thanks.

[minute44]

Originally Posted by Rudie

Yes, Im using Dreamweaver 8. I'll give that a try when i get home.
I know I can re-use javascript code from the .js files but because this is just HTML, didnt want to code the same piece of code 10 times.

Thanks.

yep, you'll definately be able to do it... you can save anything as a library item in DW. I've done a huge intranet for the place where I work and library items have saved my skin more than once on that project.

[Rudie]

Hi,

Ive highlighted the code I want to make generic but I cant get the button to add the code into the library enabled. Even the option Modify, Library, Add Object To Library is disabled...

How can I enable?

Thanks.

[Rob]

Maybe you should consider SSI

This can be done in ASP, PHP, JSP, and any other dynamic scripting language.

It can also be achieved using the .shtml extension should you host support SSI.

[Rudie]

Ok, so cant I use this using normal HTML?

[Rudie]

Sorted, I had to add a Site.

Thanks.

[Legacy_Staff]

I'm just starting to experiment with CSS and I'm just wondering if you could add the code to an external style sheet and just link any pages to it which require this code?

[Rudie]

Not sure, but I dont like the idea of libraries as its still duplicating code even though a change to the library will update the code used elsewhere.

Surely theres a way to avoid this?

Thanks.

[sypher]

Your on the wrong wave length than the comments here Rudie.

Your talking about how to do it in Dreamweaver, whereas the rest of the comments have been about hard coding.

[Rudie]

Sorry, Eastenders is putting me off ;-)

I basically want to put common code into a seperate place or file and then call it from the web pages where i want to place it, mainly a drop down list.

Hope I make sense.

[ukgeoff]

I think the point has been missed a few times here.

You put the generic code into a file, e.g., 'generic.inc' which you load on the server alomg with your other html files.

Now, as Rob indicated previously, you use one of the scripting methods to 'include' this file at the appropriate place(s) in your html files.

[Rudie]

Oh ok, is there an example call somewhere?

[ukgeoff]

PHP example.

...
...
html code
...

<?php
include ('generic.inc');
?>


...
more html code
...

As Rob stated, if you don;t have access to php but you can use SSI (Server Side Includes), then name your file 'generic.shtml' and use:

<!--#include file='generic.shtml'-->

[Rudie]

Sorry for sounding thick, but if the generic.shtml (i dont know PHP thats why ive chose SSI) includes my drop down list code, how do I bring in the code from the generic.shtml onto my main page?

Is there a way to wrap it into a function or something?

[ukgeoff]

You just position the include statement at the point in your html where you want the generic code included.

The server effectively merges the two files together before sending it to the browser.

[Rudie]

Hi,

Im almost there, ive saved the common code into a .shtml file, called this from within another page, the cut out code shows up in design view, but on execution, it does not show. Can anyone please help?

Thanks.

[ukgeoff]

Let's see both your generic code and the section of code from your main pages(s) that include the generic code.

Include the code either side of where you include the generic file.

[Rudie]

./common/dropdown.shtml file:

<div align="right"><img src="./link.gif" alt="Link" width="113" height="27">
<select name="select1" size="1" class="DropBack">
<option value="./sub.htm">Sub</option>
<option value="#"><b>===========</b></option>
<option value="./Red.htm">Red</option>
</select>
<input type="button" value="Go" onClick="jumptolink(document.form1.select1)"
name="button">
</div>


Part of main file:


<TABLE align="center" width="100%">
<tr>
<td></td>
<td width="11%">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="39%"><!--#include file="./Common/dropdown.shtml" --></td>
</tr>
</TABLE>