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Single Page Web Sites
The Build Team - Specializing in "Proof of Concept" applications |
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Single Intro
Includes
Server Execute
inc_clientNav
Demo
Using query strings to separate navigation from content
I originally developed this technique to create a site that would have all the benefits of a framed page without all it's drawbacks. It turned out to be a great way to build and maintain a web site. Since all the navigation is on one page, one only has to scroll up or down to see what's going on. No more bouncing from file to file to file to see what's happening.We all know that we can use .css files to separate formatting from content. But how do we easily separate navigation from content? The technique illustrated in this article uses query strings to control the pages to be displayed. If your server supports it, the server.execute version should be used.
The entire site is on the index.asp page. index.asp acts like a traffic light, directing what will be displayed and where.
<a href= index. asp? nav= main& page= main>Home </a><br>
<a href= index. asp? nav= client& page= clientMain> Client Main</a> <br>
<a href= index. asp? nav= client& page= clientPageOne>Page One</a> <br>
<a href= index. asp? nav= client& page= clientPageTwo>Page Two</a> <br><br>
Then depending on the query string values, the appropriate page will be displayed in the proper cell to the table layout.
strNav = request("nav")
Using include files:
<try><td width= "150">
<% ' Here we decide which left navigation menu to display
Select Case strNav
Case "", "main" ' Default %>
<!--#include file="inc_mainNav.asp" -->
<% Case "client" %>
<!--#include file="inc_clientNav.asp" -->
<% Case "sales" %>
<!--#include file="inc_salesNav.asp" -->
<% Case Else %>
<!--#include file="Error.asp" -->
<%
End Select %>
</td><td>
Using server.execute:
<try><td width= "150" >
<%
' Here we decide which left navigation menu to display
Select Case strNav
Case "", "main" ' Default
Server.Execute("inc_mainNav.asp")
Case "client"
Server.Execute("inc_clientNav.asp")
Case "sales"
Server.Execute("inc_salesNav.asp")
Case Else
Server.Execute("Error.asp")
End Select
%></td><td>
The query strings used in this example come from the menu pages - inc_mainNav.asp, inc_clientNav, inc_salesNav, which are in the usual left cell of the page layout table. But the query strings can come from anywhere. At look at the index.asp (includes version) or index.asp (server.execute version) and inc_clientNav code may clarify things a bit.
Try the Demo
Down load the Demo -
Includes version:
SinglePage.zip
Server.Execute version:
SinglePageEx.zip
See this technique in action on a production site. Note that the entire site is on one page:
TechEd Long Beach
Tips:
- Since the entire site is on one page, you only want to use the code that would be between <body> and </body> tags when you use your page as an include file.
- Use a well thought out naming convention to keep related files grouped. This way you'll avoid the necessity of using folders to organize the site.
Please continue to the related article, Rapid Application Development, where we'll be calling subs instead of include files. Very useful when developing a database intensive application.
Special Thanks to:
Brian Bilbro
Phillip Quinn
David Penton
G. Andrew Duthie
Note: It has been pointed out that the technique/method I've written about in this article is remarkably similar to Fusebox and seems to be used at the IBuySpy Portal site. Let it be known that the technique explored in this article I developed independently.
Other articles:- Home Page
- ASP Query Analyzer for Access
- BuildCalendar - Print calendar pages off the web!
- Buildapp Demo - Build database and application in minutes. Online!
- Program Your Next Web Site - Let you only limit be your own imagination!
- Single page web sites Simplify your site/life. Use query strings to separate navigation from content.
- Rapid Application Development Increase your productivity. Start cranking out them applications!
- Paging a single record! This article shows how to break up an article from a database into three pages
- Mastering getrows - It's easier than you think to display your data professionally
- "Next Record Please!" - Using an array to scroll through a table
- Enabling Client Updating - Get out of the loop! For regular updating, let the client do it.
- Creating Desktop References - Instant access to your personal technology library.
- SQL Server Query Analyzer - Written in ASP - loaded with features!
- Compacting Access databases online - Keep your databases lean.
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Michael Brinkley - Janurary 2, 2002 |
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