Support - Introduction to
Dynamic Web Templates
Support >
DWT (Dynamic Web Template) 101
You've heard the rumors. You've seen the
products and the posts. Well here is the low down on FrontPage 2003
Dynamic Web Templates!
What are dynamic web templates?
Dynamic web templates, or DWT's, are a new
option available to users of FrontPage 2003. Users of PowerPoint are
most likely familiar with the idea of a "master slide." Make a change
to the master slide and every page in your PowerPoint presentation
that relies on that master slide gets updated automatically.
The basic idea is you have a "base template" (in .dwt format) that
defines the underlying design of a site.
Within the DWTs, there are designated
"editable regions." These are regions that will change from page to
page. You, as the end-user, will create HTML pages based on these DWTs.
When the HTML pages are open in FrontPage (or Dreamweaver), you may
only edit the "editable regions." Outside of the defined editable
regions, the underlying design is "non-editable" - on the HTML pages,
anyway. This protects you from inadvertently dragging on a table line
and messing up the layout!
The phrase "non-editable" is a bit misleading. Actually, you may
open the .dwt file, make a change to the underlying design (such as
inserting your logo, tagline, or modifying the copyright statement),
and all HTML pages based on that DWT will be automatically updated.
It's like an include page - one change, and all associated pages are
updated.
What's even more remarkable about using DWTs is that it makes it
easy to apply a whole new "look" to a web site by attaching a new DWT
to the pages. If a user has a DWT-based web site, attaching a new DWT
to a page will simply replace that "base layout."
Imagine... you could instantly redesign your entire site with the
click of a button (or two)!
Want to test drive a DWT for
FrontPage 2003 before tackling the
process of building your own? No
problem! BAC Web Design offers over
300 FrontPage 2003 Dynamic Web Templates
for as little as $5.00.
If you cannot find the
answer to your question, post your
question in our
product support forum.
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