Need general guidance

[luckyjsw]

Hi, I need some general guidance here. I am constructing a
website and teaching myself FP 2003 using 2 texts on
it.There are so many great tools that I am confused as to
how and when to apply them: (layout tables, shared borders,
included content, dynamic web template, CSS and themes).
I know that some of these tools do the same thing, so you
don't need to use them all. I beleive from my study that
DWT is the way to go, and forget shared borders. My questions:
1. Do I still use incl. content, CSS with DWT?
2. Do I design my template using layout tables, save as DWT,
then add themes if desired?
3. When and where do I use Included Content?
4. How and when do CSS come into the picture? Is it
necessary, or can I just use DWT + themes (CSS seems pretty
complex).
I realize that this is a complicated question, subject
largely to opinion. But if someone could just give me a
general overlay of how the design process works using these
tools, I think I could take it from there.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Tina Clarke]

Hi, I need some general guidance here. I am constructing a
website and teaching myself FP 2003 using 2 texts on
it.There are so many great tools that I am confused as to
how and when to apply them: (layout tables, shared borders,
included content, dynamic web template, CSS and themes).
I know that some of these tools do the same thing, so you
don't need to use them all. I beleive from my study that
DWT is the way to go, and forget shared borders. My questions:<snip>

Only if you have a large menu, see http://addonfp.com for how i've used them
in the menu area from page to page with a dwt. This means I have control
over what the menu's look like, and have different menu's depending on what
category your viewing using includes but still retaining the ease of
mainataince with the dwt. Along side CSS to control the formatting .. .put
every piece of formatting you can in the CSS.

Rule of thumb

Use the dwt non editable region if it's static content that is repeated on
every page but not more than one place.

If the area changes all the time but is a static area choose an editable
region like the main content .. that is different on each page of course.

Use an include if it's content that changes with the same area but is static
placement - eg like a menu.

Use a CSS sheet if it includes any formatting. You can use div's if your not
really au fai with div's yet use tables if your comfortable with them.

I would use topstyle lite a free css editor
http://www.bradsoft.com/topstyle/ instead of the fp css interface as it's
much more helpful.

If I can learn css anyone can, I'd not use themes, it's worth learning more
about css .. there are free css classes.

You also need to consider SEO (search engine optimistion I'd suggest
joining
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SEO_Techniques/ they also have classes for wdt
html css as well as SEO all free be sure to read the guidelines.

Let me know if this helps at all.

Tina

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