Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Dreamweaver Troubles

Aug 13, 2008 5:40AM PDT

Hello everyone,

I'm new to web design and I've begun using Dreamweaver MX. I've read tutorials, searched the help feature within the program and fooled around with it for hours but I'm still stuck. I'm trying to create frames within my pages but everytime I save and exit the program the farmes dissapear. When I reopen Dreamweaver the pages exist but the frames and framsets are gone. I'm aware that I need to save each frame individually and I've done that. On the side panel, in my site folder, the frames and framsets are listed but when I open them, they open as a seperate blank page. How I save frames and framesets and open them all together within a single page? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Don't use Frames!!!!!
Aug 14, 2008 2:21AM PDT

There should be one main page that holds the links to all your frame-pages. However, using frames is a VERY bad idea for many reasons.

Why NOT to use Frames

Instead, use PHP includes.

- Collapse -
Thanks
Aug 15, 2008 11:31AM PDT

but I'm very new to web design. Can you explain what PHP includes are, how they work, and any other usful tips? Also is Dreamweaver MX sufficent or should I upgrade to a newer version? Thanks again.

- Collapse -
frames
Sep 13, 2008 12:55PM PDT

I guess you already know why frames are bad ^.^
The most important part in your messages is "I'm new to web design". I strongly recommend you to forget everything you've learned (or at least supress your ego and start to think that you know nothing) and start with the basics. Search for html/xhtml/css tutorials. I had the same problem as you and was pretty stuck when I was asked to make a website. I spent many hours struggling with MS Fontpage, which is more userfriendly then the Dreamweaver. But after that I started from scratch. It took me a month of reading/learning/making really stupid and boring exercises, but I totally understand it now.

If you take your time to understand all the coding and you have the imagination, you will be able to create a website with a mere notepad. And THEN you will be able to use Dreamweaver as a tool that makes your work easier. At the moment you're like - you have a good car, but you don't know how to drive. I'm not familiar with PHP, but there are tons of websites that use <DIV>s the same way you want to use <FRAME>. Feel free to ask me anything you want.