Editable shared elements in a template?

Question

I want to make use of DW Templates to maintain the appearance
of the site, but I tend to use templates purely for control of the
basic framework of the web pages and then keep all of the shared
elements inside include files (I find it easier to update one file
then to try to cascade changes through all of the templated pages).
Is there a way to create a shared resource like this, say sub
navigation but that is also editable through Contribute?
For example, suppose I have a web site that has 5 general
content areas. Each of these areas is split into several
sub-topics, each with it's own page. I want to include a list of
links to the sub-topics on each page. I also want this list to be
editable so that my content author can add new pages and include
them in the list of sub-topics for whatever content area is
appropriate. Since the list will appear on all of the related
sub-topics I'd like it to exist as a shared resource so that
editing it once will update it in all of the related pages.
Is there a way to do this using native DW template or asset
commands? I thought about using a library item, but it didn't
appear like those are editable from Contribute. As a last resort I
can just give the user a link to an editable include file, but I
would also like to use template commands within the shared
resource, such as repeating regions.
Am I asking for too much?

Answer 1

Yes, that was supposed to say "HTML and BODY tags".
I do have the proper URL in my local site definition, but it
doesn't appear to affect the template paths. Let me know if you
come across that technote again.
I'll have to play around with an XML file to see if template
expressions can be used there.
quote:
Originally posted by:
Newsgroup User
Your post is being mangled. Here's what I see -
> OK - so the next attempt will be to add in the and tags
to the
===========================--------------^^----^^
Something missing?
> sub-navigation template so that Contribute can properly
edit them, and
> then use
> a PHP function to extract only the of sub-topic links. A
bit cumbersome
> on the
==================--------------^^^^
> overhead, but it could work.
> But now I'm running into a new problem that I only just
noticed. My
> Dreamweaver site is set up as if the web application
sits at the root of
> the
> URL, but in fact it is inside of a /clients/ folder.
The Templates folder must always be at the root of the local
site, but it
seems to me I recall seeing a technote about entering
''www.example.com/clients'' into the http: field of your
local site
definition, and that things would be adjusted. Let me see if
I can find
that....
> And a separate but related question: Can I use template
syntax in an XML
> file,
> and could Contribute modify it?
I doubt it seriously.
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
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==================
"xangelusx" <[email protected]> wrote in
message
news:[email protected]...
> Yes, I see what you mean after trying it in Contribute
tonight.
>
> OK - so the next attempt will be to add in the and tags
to the
> sub-navigation template so that Contribute can properly
edit them, and
> then use
> a PHP function to extract only the of sub-topic links. A
bit cumbersome
> on the
> overhead, but it could work.
>
> But now I'm running into a new problem that I only just
noticed. My
> Dreamweaver site is set up as if the web application
sits at the root of
> the
> URL, but in fact it is inside of a /clients/ folder. Now
the patsh to my
> Templates are written as if they were from the root
(i.e. and Contribute
> is
> telling me that it can't find the Template. I have the
"Links relative to
> document" setting checked in my Site definition in DW.
Is there a way to
> get
> the template paths to follow this too???
>
> And a separate but related question: Can I use template
syntax in an XML
> file,
> and could Contribute modify it?
>
> Originally posted by: Newsgroup User
> This is not going to work, unless you edit out the
<html>, <head>, and
> body>
> tags on each such include page using something besides
DW to get at them.
>
> --
> Murray --- ICQ 71997575
> Adobe Community Expert
> (If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
> ==================
>
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com
- Template Triage!
>
http://www.projectseven.com/go
- DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
>
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs,
Tutorials & Resources
>
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/
- Macromedia (MM) Technotes
> ==================
>
>
> "xangelusx" <[email protected]> wrote
in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hmm, that's interesting to note. I wasn't aware of
that. Thanks for the
> > tip.
> >
> > I was tinkering around on my own and decided to try
creating a
> > sub-navigation
> > template, which I would then base my includes off
of. These will
> > hopefully
> > remain editable (though I may have to give my
author a direct link to
> > the
> > files
> > in order to edit them) and since they are just
includes in the general
> > templates the changes will be reflected throughout.
> >
> > I'm still open to other suggestions if anyone has
them.
> >
> > Thanks again Murray.
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>