lol probably further ahead if it's depending on me

Let us know how it works out and if all loads up correctly when you get it all setup

Hi all,

Just when I thought it was safe to go back into the water........

I just discovered that it is not possible to save pages in VSD with an SHTML extension. Apparently, VSD can save pages only with an HTML extension. So, it seems that for me to upload my pages with SHTML extensions, I would have to change the extension on every page manually before I upload, and I would have to use an FTP client outside of VSD to do this. This almost defeats the purpose of using SSI in the first place. I was attracted to SSI because it would preclude me from copying DHTML menu code to every page in a site whenever a change is made to a menu, and save me a lot of time. Now, I am not so sure.

I have a current website with about 40 pages, and it's getting to the point where I want to streamline maintaining these pages.

It looks like a viable solution might be to save pages with an HTML extension, and arrange to have those pages parsed to locate SSI include directives in the pages. Although Eric English recommended that I change my page extensions to SHTML, I might have to try another approach.

I'm open to any ideas you may have.

Thanks, in advance

A solution....do your pages using the html editor in html mode and then you can save them in shtml no worries

Not sure what the visual modes saves in on that as I don't use that bit ...

I wouldn't open those pages in the visual mode of the HTML Editor as you don't know if it will mess up the code, but Tassie is right that you can alter them right in the HTML Editor from this point forward if you want to. The downside of course is that you can't go back to using VSD to edit the pages after that unless you do your editing and change all the pages to .shtml every time you edit them which can be overkill.

If you do decide to use the HTML Editor, I would suggest you get things how you want them as close as possible in VSD first so that you have less code hassles to worry about once you change it all. Providing you want to go this route at all of course.

Good luck on it regardless of which way you decide to go

I was giving him a less than subtle push to learn more html

hehe push away girl!

I'd better stay away from the edges of subway platforms......I sense some strong hands on my back!

Hi TassieTiger and Jo Ann,

You have raised a dilemma that I have been wrestling with for some time now. I have purchased the CC HTML Editor, and I've looked at it briefly. I have done some programming (many years ago) in Delphi and Visual Basic.net, so I have a feel for the leap it would take to learn HTML. On the other hand, I love the speed and ease of developing web pages with VSD.

My dilemma stems from the fact, that although I am not totally satisfied with the limitations of visual development software like VSD, I'm not yet ready to plunge into being a coder. My exploration into the benefits of SSI is an example where my comfort level with a viaul development tool is being challenged, yet I'm not yet willing to leap from the platform into the path of that oncoming train! I think I will stay with VSD, at least for the near future, but I will keep an open mind about switching to the Editor.

You are both very perceptive to recognize my dilemma. This dilemma is ongoing, and I am the only one who can make the decision to take that leap. Thank you both (you too, Eric) for your advice and suggestions. I am truly appreciative of the help I have received in these forums. You people are great!

I bet there are other VSD users who are in a similar position as I having to deal with this dilemma. I think this would be a great topic for discussion in these forums. Would it make sense to start a thread to elicit other peoples thoughts and experience? It would be especially interesting to hear from those who have made the switch from VSD to the Ediitor. What do you think?

Thanks, again, for your advice and help,

I don't think starting another thread is necessary. You have the attention of three great developers who can help foster your growth here. Starting another thread may in fact give you way too much information.

If I may, in regards to your "taking the leap" I think you should. I think you should take it slowly though. You can begin by just starting to learn html (and you should do this in conjunction with CSS). you can get the html editor and just begin experimenting with html and css as you learn. Plus the editor does have some great tools you can learn from as well, like sample scripts, sample pages, and templates if you need them. You can even purchase templates and learn how to alter them. However, you should in the meantime keep using VSD until you feel comfortable enough to code from the ground up.

I remember when I started learning all this stuff, I made a goal that I would create a five page website in the course of 6 months (you may want a year or something more attainable), from the ground up with no aids or help. I learned all I needed to know (of course I am still learning though) from books. I have never taken a class or anything. Since you have some introduction to the world of code you should pick it up fairly easily. Plus you always have us here where you can ask questions.

I think you hit it on the head when you mentioned flexibility. Once I learned html and css I could not even use VSD it wasn't flexible enough. Now, I can't use any WYSIWYG editor for that very reason. You understand the benefits of things like SSI, imagine how much more flexibility you can have when you are in control of every aspect of the design.

Sorry to be another hand to push, but the girls have a good point.

Hope this helps.

Hello to my "Three Musketeers"!

OK, OK, OK, OK, you got me! You're ganging up on me! Three "against" one! How can I say "No?" You may have to adjust to my sometimes weird sense of humor. I put the word, against, in quotes because I know very well that you are truly supportive of me and my dilemma.

Eric, I like your suggestion about proceeding slowly and methodically in learning HTML. I've never been afraid of a challenge in the past, so why don't I give it a go! Eric, you said you learned a lot from books. I have a website link to W3 Scools tutorials in my Favorites. I have taken a look at some of their tutorials, and they appear to be well done. Are you familiar with this site? Would you recommend it?

Also, Eric, if you recall our first "meeting" in these forums, I was interested in using CSS for my DHTML menus and other formatting techniques. It was then that I learned that it was not feasible to use CSS with VSD, and you introduced me to SSI. Now here's a loaded question for you. If I switch to the Editor, will I be able to use CSS for my menus and other formatting techniques? And would this obviate the need to use SSI? For example, if I were to use CSS for menus (my main reason for exploring SSI) would I not need to use SSI?

My brain is like a sponge, and it's open to learning new things.

One thing that I did mention that doesn't sound like you realized what I meant maybe.

One very good way to get started in HTML when you're working with VSD or other visual editors is to get your pages how you want them in VSD first. Then you have your main pages all setup and ready to go and all you need to do now is basic altering to add an image here and there or just take the code to play with it. Since you have the VSD files already and they are a completely separate entity from the HTML Editor you can't hurt your site in the least. Just export it from VSD and play away.

There are a lot of places online that have a lot of tutorials for HTML and for CSS. I learned a lot about both from them and from books. I think Eric is right to just take it slow and easy and don't overwhelm yourself with it all to start with. Do your site in VSD for now and while you're doing that check out some of the tutorial sites out there or online classes (there are a lot of free ones) for HTML and CSS and get yourself started that way.

I too am self taught (hence why I'm always asking stupid questions lol *puts a muzzle on Eric*) And I started many years ago and trust me this old brain has probably forgotten a lot more than she learned over the years, which is probably a good thing since things changed quite a bit when CSS was introduced. You have the advantage of learning how things are really done now compared to when I learned old school HTML and learning now to break all them bad habits lol.

Good luck on your venture however you decide to do it, but I would say do it for sure, you'll never regret learning the HTML/CSS system