Interactive Buttons
Using Interactive Buttons in Shared Borders and Include Pages
Interactive Buttons in Shared Borders or FrontPage includes
Using Interactive Buttons in Shared Borders or Include Pages involves overcoming problems and restrictions in the Web construction. These pages describe the problems encountered building these pages, and the solutions found.
In this web, Interactive Buttons are placed into the left border area of the pages as shown in the following table. The table also shows how the pages were constructed (shared border, include page, DWT) and how they fare in real life.
The first eight pages are merely examples; the remaining pages show how to make the pages, and how to fix them.
All the example pages will open in a new window.
| Page |
Location |
Shared Border (with IBs) |
Include Page |
DWT or
Master Page |
Use |
Button 1 |
pages1/button1.htm |
|
_borders/left.htm |
|
 |
| Button 2 |
pages2/button2.htm |
|
_borders/left.htm |
|
|
| Button 3 |
pages2/button3.htm |
left |
|
|
|
| Button 4 |
pages1/button4.htm |
left |
|
|
|
| Root |
in_root.htm |
left |
|
|
Broken |
| 2 Borders |
pages2/buttontest.htm |
|
_borders/left.htm, _borders/bottomib.htm |
|
Broken |
| DWT Page |
pages1/dwt_page.htm |
|
|
dwt/pages.dwt |
|
| Root DWT |
root_dwt.htm |
|
|
dwt/pages.dwt |
|
| |
IB Home Page
(this page) |
Default.aspx |
|
left_inc.htm* |
dwt/button-site.master |
|
| Restrictions |
restrict.aspx |
|
left_inc.htm* |
dwt/button-site.master |
|
| How To... |
howto.aspx |
|
left_inc.htm* |
dwt/button-site.master |
|
| Work Arounds |
workarounds.aspx |
|
left_inc.htm* |
dwt/button-site.master |
|
| Trouble Shooting |
troubleshooting.aspx |
|
left_inc.htm* |
dwt/button-site.master |
|
*Note: The included file is included in the DWT or Master Page. Paths in the Interactive Button JavaScript are correct when using the combination of DWT/MasterPage and include in this manner.
The pages were built using the GUI (Design View) of FP2003; code view was used for reference, but not for direct editing (except for adding HTML that cannot be added from the GUI, for example <code>..</code> tags). Master pages and .aspx pages were edited with Expression Web.
The stability of the finished pages can best be described as quirky - in my opinion the effort required in overcoming the restrictions and correcting mistakes is not worth it.
Once the page is done - it is done and will remain stable, but re-editing the page, or the includes/borders, can remove JavaScript from the <head> section, or corrupt the <body> tag in the finished page. See Work Arounds
A better method of incorporating Interactive Buttons on many pages is to use Dynamic Web Templates (DWT), or if using asp.NET Master Pages can also be used.
Although this web was built as a subweb, the text implies that the pages are located in the root of the web; all the principles discussed apply equally to both root webs and subwebs.
The restrictions outlined in restrict.htm make the whole method of using Interactive Buttons in Shared Borders or Include Pages impractical in many cases. However, for the inquisitive and foolhardy, "How To" explains the process of using Interactive Buttons in shared borders. Include pages may be used in a similar manner.