Frames - Multi-view presentation of documents
Frames enable the display of multiple independently scrollable views
on a single screen, each with its own distinct URL.
Frames can point to different URLs as well as be targeted
by other URLs - all within the same screen.
Views may be independent windows or subwindows. Multiple views allow
designers to keep certain information visible, while other views
are scrolled or replaced.
For instance, to use three frames:
- a static banner,
- a navigation menu,
- a main view that can be scrolled though or replaced by
clicking on an item in the navigation frame.
Or, a user can submit search queries in one frame and receive
back results in another.
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An HTML document with frames has a slightly different makeup
than an HTML document without frames.
A standard document has one
HEAD
section and one
BODY
section.
A document with frames has
- a
HEAD
- a
FRAMESET
which specifies the layout of views in the main user agent window,
- and an optional
BODY
to provide alternate content
for user agents that do not support frames or are configured not to
display frames.
<HTML>
<HEAD> <Title>The WDVL: HTML Frames</Title>
</HEAD>
<FRAMESET rows="*,130">
<FRAME name = "main"
src = "Framestuff.html"
>
<FRAME name = "menu"
src = "/Location/Navigation/Menu.html"
marginwidth = 0
marginheight = 0
scrolling = "no"
noresize
>
</FRAMESET>
<BODY>
<font size=7>
<a href="Framestuff.html">Resources</a>
</font>
</BODY>
</HTML>
Elements that might normally be placed in the
BODY
element must not appear before the first
FRAMESETelement or the
FRAMESET will be ignored.
But be warned, many users do not like frames.
Frames require that one page be loaded, then at least two more,
imposing longer display times that are felt especially hard by dial-up
customers.
They reduce the displayable area for content.
They cause navigation difficulties.
For a good analysis of these problems,
see the article by Nielsen.
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