In typical usage, Content Management Server assumes that Web pages will be designed with distinct areas for navigation and content. Most of us are quite familiar with this classic Web interface paradigm: navigation area(s) on the left and/or top portion of the page, with a content area to the right and/or below the navigation area(s). The navigation area(s) contains links to other pages in the site, and the content area contains the specific content associated with the current page. While some parts of the navigation area(s) might change based on the current page being shown, it is common for at least some aspects of the navigation to remain the same for all pages. This navigation strategy seems to work well, enabling users browsing the Web site to easily find their way between the major areas of the site.
One of the most basic decisions to be made when designing a Content Management Server Web site concerns how the pages will be divided into these different areas. In Content Management Server, two basic types of Web sites are possible:
The decision between a framed and a frameless site is a fundamental choice and has major implications for how both navigation templates and page templates must be constructed. The MSCMS Site Programmer Guide contains much more detailed information on this topic than can be covered here.
Previous Next |