Frames in Frontier
A rundown of what you need for using frames in Frontier
As it shipsFrontier has no explicit support for frames. But really, not very much is necessary. You need two things: one, a template that creates the proper header (read: without body tag). Two, you need to be able to set targeting. Oh, one more, you should be able to set the <base> tag as well.
Updates for Frontier 5
I first wrote this page in August of 1997, and there have been many changes in Frontier since then. Built-in frames support is basically non-existant, but changes in the way Frontier works have opened up new ways for us to add frames functionality.
Creating the proper header
HTML Files that contain <frameset> tags should not have <body> tags. The standard pageheader (and pagefooter!) adds body tags. So pageheader should be modified or worked around.
To do this I recommend using Frontier 5's #pageheader directive. The #pageheader is a special template that handles just the beginning of your document. A lot of important functionality can be controlled via the #pageheader, including Javascript and of course frames.
Another option for creating headers without body tags: use an empty template, and create the HTML by hand. I created a new template in user.html.templates (a wptextobject). All it contains is "<bodytext>", without the quotes. I call it rawHTML. Then, in PageSpinner or PageMill I create the frameset page, import it into Frontier, and add a
#template "rawHTML"
directive at the top. This has been consistently easy and simple.
Frontier 5's #pageheader
Like I mentioned before, this opens up lots of stuff for us in the header. It's way cool.
I hope to have examples of uses of #pageheader and frames up soon. Still in the experimenting stage.
Setting targetting
I use the glossTarget() script for this. Use it on all the links on your frame pages, to set the links to load in the appropriate frames.
Don't forget the base tag!
In Frontier 5, I prefer the use of the #pageheader directive ( really a special template ) , along with my Base Tag macro.
In conclusion
Frames aren't as automatic as I wish they would be. You still need to hand code the frameset for the most part, and keep track of your targeting. But it does work. Please let me know how you use these scripts. I'd like to see some more examples of framed sites done with Frontier.
Frame Tag
Another Step Towards Easier Frames in Frontier
Frames-Savvy Pagefooter
The lesser member of the frames-savvy team, but just as necessary.
Targeting Frames
Add targeting to your glossary references
© copyright 1997-98 by Philip Suh. Comments are appreciated.
This page last updated on 6/26/98; 10:43:03 AM.
<http://www.filsa.net/frontier/scripts/FrameRelated/index.html>