how do I convert a frames website to a nonframes website

[ihajjee]

hi,

I have a frames website, and everyone says that it's not a good idea, so I've decided to change it. I have a navigation bar on the left, so, how do I best convert the 300 - 400 pages?

please advise

[zollerwagner]

I'd recommend looking at what's being done now with CSS. There is a lot on this on this site in the CSS Section:
[webmasterworld.com...]

Also for good examples, take a look at how www.zeldman.com and his related sites (like www.alistapart.com) handle their layouts.

Once you get the idea it makes layout easier to upgrade and the code usually weighs much less.

[TheDoctor]

Use CSS to position your navigation bar. If you do a search within Webmaster World for "navigation css" you'll find a lot of discussion about this.

[asquithea]

You'll probably also want to use some form of server-side scripting (ASP, PHP, Perl etc) to maintain the navigation bar across all pages.

[zollerwagner]

Or, to have the same navigation on all pages, you can just use an SSI (server-side include) and then you can change one file to update the entire site. The disadvantage is that it's harder to customize the navigation for each page. AListApart shows some ideas on how to do that, but I've never seen a way to remove a link from the current page (for example: on the home page, the text or button for the home page really shouldn't be an active link).

[ihajjee]

Thanks for all the advice, I will go through it.
However, say I don't mind not using server-side to reposition the navigation bar, ie the nav bar would scroll with the main page (because nav bar is part of and on the main page).

rather I was thinking more in line with the following:

a) have the appearance the same as it is at the moment, so, I guess I would just redo the background pic to have a nav bar on the left side? Or is that problematic?

b) reposition the text in all the pages to start at a given margin (to allow for the nav bar on the left side). How to do this automatically, rather than manually for all 300-400 pages?

So, basically, I would be left with a static (is that the right term?) page, but it would have a nav bar on the left side, and the text starting with a margin (in order to not go over the nav bar)

Is this a good move? Do I need to use a tool with templates?

Please advise.

[TheDoctor]

Have a look at this thread [webmasterworld.com], particularly the first message, before you do anything else.

Then have a poke around the CSS forum. There's no simple answers to your questions - but there are definitely answers! :-)

[zollerwagner]

However, say I don't mind not using server-side to reposition the navigation bar, ie the nav bar would scroll with the main page (because nav bar is part of and on the main page).

Hmm. The last responder is right: It sounds like you need to read up on SSI and CSS.

CSS can do make the nav scroll with the page. That's not a SSI feature that I know of. It's also not an effect I'd choose. It's just as visually confusing and irritating as frames.

SSI may be a lot simpler than you're imagining. The whole point, in my sites at least, is to be able to make those 300 changes in one file, not 300. Of course, to get going you'll have to change every file, but you may be able to do it with a find and replace.

With an SSI, your nav goes in one file. It's not a full page in itself, but it gets "included" in the "real" pages.

Good luck!