
Advanced Web Design: Frames
Rational:
One useful way to establish a navigation system is with frames. There are advantages and disadvantage, but in some instances a navigation system using frames is the best option.
Challenges:
- Create a frame set that divides the browser window into a column frame, which serves as the navigation bar, and two row frames (ones serves as a banner across the top and the other functions as the main content frame).
- Include an image in the navigation frame and the banner frame that seamlessly butt against each other. A curving graphic of some sort should flow uninterupted from the navigation bar to the banner.
Elements to include in the file that appear in the navigation bar
- At least four buttons that will target files to open in the main content frame.
- Part of a graphic which spans both the navigation bar and the banner without gaps or seems.
- No scrolling.
- Adjust frameborders, borders, margins to zero.
Elements to include in the file that appear in the banner
- Part of a graphic which spans both the navigation bar and the banner without gaps or seems.
- No scrolling.
- Adjust frameborders, borders, margins to zero.
Elements to include in the files that appear in the main content frame
- Scrolling automatic.
- A background image or color that complements the navigation bar and banner.
- The main file which loads first title home.htm.
Elements to include in the frame set file
- Specify the banner and navigation bar in pixels.
- Create a top row frame that spans the entire window of the browser.
- Create a second row frame that is divided into two columns.
Resources:
- Castro's HTML 4
- Maran's Creating Web Pages with HTML Simplified
- Webmonkey.com Several articles on frames. Good tips such as the following for preventing frames induced headaches:
You never want to define the absolute values for all the frames in a frameset, because the total number of available pixels varies with the size of a user's monitor. Instead, you'll want to assign a fixed size to one of the frames, and leave the other frame undefined (indicated by *), so it can fill the remaining space.
Jill Atkinson, Frames Are a Picnic, Webmonkey.com, Updated 20 Sep 1999.