Webbiees Resources
'html', 'shtml' or 'php'?
If you have already downloaded the templates, you will notice that there are three 'flavours'. This page addresses the question "which one should I use?".
All three pages are HTML pages that can be viewed on your web browser, but only one of them contains the complete page design - the other two are "server parsed" pages that the server reads, interprets, and outputs the result.
HTML
The .html file should be used if you do not feel comfortable using the other two - but please attempt a test page using one of the other two varieties first to see how you get on (try the .shtml page if you're unfamiliar with server parsed pages).
The .html file gives all of the layout and style in the one file, but should you wish to change something on your website that is common to all pages, such as the menus, you will need to edit every single page. That is where the .shtml and .php pages come in useful.
If you decide to use this file, please do not delete the comments (lines which start <!). If at a later date an improved Template becomes available, it may be possible for the new style to be automatically mapped on to your pages using these comments as a guide to where your content begins.
SHTML
The .shtml file is a "Server Side Include" file. The server looks in this file for server commands. These commands tell the server to include a different file into the middle of this page. Therefore the layout can be defined as one file on the server, and any changes to this "included" file will change all the pages that reference it.
The server commands start like a HTML comment (<!), so if you edit the pages manually using a text editor, please do not remove these comments!
The main draw back with this kind of file is that you can not use a "What you see is what you get" editor on it as easily as a plain .html page. If you use and editor like this (for example, MS FrontPage), then don't be surprised about how bad the page looks when you're editing it. Make your edits and upload the page to the server. As long as the server commands haven't been removed by your editor, the final page will look great!
For more information on "Server Side Include" files, go to your favourite search engine and use the key words "SSI Server Side Include Tutorial".
PHP
PHP pages are more complex than SHTML pages, but you can do more with them. PHP is a programming language that can be used to query databases and generate dynamic content for your site. You should look at the PHP Web site for the manual on how to program with this page.