What web technology will solve this problem?

I need two independent dynamic content areas per page

[runner]

I currently maintain a small web site that has ten static pages. All pages use the same header, footer and navigation menu. This is a great application to use SSI since only the main body of each page is different. I use the same template for each of the ten pages and use SSI to grab the "dynamic" content for each page.

The problem is that I want to add a second dynamic content area to each of the ten pages. Also, the two areas need to be completely independent of each other. If I change something in one dynamic area, I want the other dynamic area to remain unchanged.

There are 10 different possible SSI includes for dymanic area #1

There are 12 different possible includes for dynamic area #2

That means I would have to create ( 10 x 12 = 120 ) 120 different static pages to cover every possible combination that a visitor might select.

I'm realizing that creating static pages probably isn't the most efficient way to handle this anymore. Unfortunately, I don't know what other technology exists to simplify this problem.

Can anybody give me some advice on what tools to use to implement this new archetecture?

[edit_g]

An XML feed into each of the content areas?

[google.com...]

[coopster]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld, runner.

Have you considered a server-side scripting language to handle the dynamics? There are forums here at WebmasterWorld that support some of the major options (PHP, Perl, ASP).

[runner]

I've thought about perl since I already us it elsewhere.

I assume I'd have to write a custom script to gen pages. I'd have to keep track of what was currently displayed on the browser and what was being requested and for which display area it was being requested.

Is there a pre-built perl script that already does this type of thing? Is this what a CMS does?

[runner]

What about frames?

It seems that using frames would solve this problem with no additional programming. Unfortunately, I've read in some white papers that "frames are dead" and should no longer be used.

Is there a replacement for frames?

[coopster]

I'm not sure about the frames option as I don't understand the entire content/layout of your page(s). But if I do indeed understand you correctly I would probably lean toward a custom script.

CMS is a content management system -- a quick search will give you plenty of reading.

[runner]

I may be using the term "dynamic content" improperly.

Here is a simple explanation of what I'm currently doing and what I need to do.

I have ten static web pages that use SSI to grab the text for the main body area. Even the SSI includes are static for the most part. Any editing of the include files is done by hand.

There are ten different SSI include files: "About Us" "News" "Events" "Contact Us" etc. Just your basic web stuff.

I want to add a one month calendar to the bottom of each page. I have created 12 calendars, one for each month of the year. Each calendar has a previous and next link next to the month name so they can scroll through the months. Like this:

<< November 2004 >>

I want the users to be able to scroll through the months of the calendar without changing what is on the other areas of the screen.

Basically, there are two separate areas on the web page that can contain "included" information. If a user changes one area, I don't want the other area to change.

[runner]

After some more research I've found that frames are perfect for this application where you want to change one area without the other areas changing. It looks like I'm going to redesign my site for frames.

[iblaine]

Just be aware that a search engine will treat a frame as separate pages. Most people handle dynamic content with content management systems. In my case I use a home grown CMS with java & postgress. It does the job.