Single page, dynamic content website

Ways of displaying text data without mutliple pages

[kafkaian]

I'm developing a simple site (mixed css & trad. html) with a common banner (inc CSS menubar) and footer.

I want to be able to change the text content via the menu without accessing separate html pages. So for instance, if I click on "about us", I don't want to redirect to "about_us.html" but instead would like a routine which simply replaces the text within the content of the current page and doesn't then re-load the banner everytime.

What approach should I take? I've seen something similar with an asp driven site but know little about this!

Many thanks in anticipation

[kafkaian]

In short, I'd like to navigate without multiple html pages but by replacing the content of one page!

[Frequent]

I assume that you don't mind having only one page in the search engines index and will drive your traffic from other sources.

It sounds like a good job for javascript or flash to me but unfortunately I've very little experience with it.

Freq---

[kafkaian]

Hmmmm. Yes, never thought about search engines - thanks.

I just feel that repeating code in subsequent html pages is a waste of resources. I know this is somewhat reduced if an external css file is used, but the structure is still repeated in the html.

[kafkaian]

Okay, having done a search on this wonderful site, it might be best if I think about using asp includes for repeated header and footer code et al. Still don't like the idea of disparate html pages though.

[dragonthoughts]

shtml (SSI) includes also provide a way to give consistent repeated content, if your host supports them. Much of my main site uses them.

[kafkaian]

Thanks Dragonthoughts. I've checked with both hosts I use and it seems I'll have to go down the php route - which is okay!