Dreamweaver MX Templates - Questions and Answers
Using Templates with Contribute
How templates work
A developer makes a template in Dreamweaver by creating
a page and adding content that he/she wants to be present
on all pages that use the template. A simple template
might only contain a table with the logo and a background
color for the page. A more complex template may have
a full navigation system in place, additional content
across the top of the page, and a footer containing
copyright information along the bottom.
The power of templates, though, lies in the various methods of editing or modifying certain sections of the page. The template creator picks certain areas of the template that should remain editable or optional, and users who make pages from this template will only be able to edit (and add) the content in those specific areas.
For Contribute administrators who want more information about how to create a template in Dreamweaver MX, please see the Additional information section. For Contribute users interested in the discussion of a specific template feature, please see the How to use a template in Contribute section.You will only be able to add or change code within specified areas. The site administrator controls the Templates that you can use with Contribute.
Making a page from a template
In Contribute, you can edit an existing page based on
a template and you can create a new page based on a
template. To make a new page from a template, the site
administrator must upload the template and allow users
to make new pages from this template. Administrators
can learn more about their options by reading Options
for Contribute Web site administrators (TechNote 16611).
To make a new page from a template
In Contribute, choose File > New Page.
In the New Page dialog box, there will be a list of methods
for creating a new page. Create a new page from by
choosing the template from the Templates folder.
Note: If the needed template does not show up in the
Templates folder, click the Refresh Templates button.
Select the name of the template you would like to use.
The Preview pane will show you what it looks like.
Specify a title for the page in the page title field,
then click OK to make the page.
How to use a template in Contribute
As described above, templates work by locking the majority
of the page contents and allowing the template developer
to specify certain editable areas or editable attributes.
Any page based on a template, then, is uneditable except
for those areas or attributes. There are four types of
editable content that a template developer can set.
Editable Regions
An editable region is a space on the template-based page
in which you can put in content. This is the most common
template feature that you will be using. In Contribute,
a basic editable area looks like the following image.
The light blue/green outline defines the editable region.
In this example, the simple navigation bar above the
editable region cannot be edited, but new content (text,
a table or an image, for example) can be added within
the green outline.
In Contribute, you will only be able
to add content within these areas. There may be more
than one editable region in the template.