Dreamweaver Templates

Templates Tutorial on Dreamweaver MX 6.0

Templates are the general format of web sites which are mostly used in designing web pages. The most common structure of a template would be; header, navigation bar and the footer. Templates make it easier to edit or configure the web pages especially if they are in volumes. For instance, if you have 20-30 pages and you want to add a link, these pages would get updated in an instant. You would not need to go through each page and add the link which could take a long time.

Here are a few steps on how make templates; configure them, and make pages using your customized templates on Dreamweaver MX 6.0 or 6.1:

Making Templates:

1. First select File from the menu bar. Then click on New. On the pop up window that appears, choose General and under it, select Basic. Upon selecting Basic, options will appear. Choose HTML.
2. Next, click on File from the menu bar again. Then from following options, choose to Save as Template. Now you have created your template!

Configuring Templates:

1. First you have to make editable regions. Choose a table you want to make editable. Then click Modify from the menu bar. Under it, select Templates then from the following choices, click New Editable region.   
2. Then from the editable box that appears, indicate the name of the region in the Name Field. If you are done, click OK. You now have created an editable region. Repeat this step basing on how many regions you want to make editable.
3. Next, add the non-editable contents – graphics, site structural and navigational elements.
4. Save the configured template. Do this by clicking File from the menu bar then under it choose Save.

Creating pages using Templates

To make new pages based on the created template:

1. Start by clicking File from the menu bar then under it, choose New. Then from the tabs of the pop up window, select Templates,
2. File» New... [Templates tab] to create a "New from template" file using the newly created template.
3. Then select your site from the left column.
4. After doing this, options will appear on the right column.
5. See if the Update pages optionis checked.
6. Then, click the Create button.
7. Finally, save your newly created page by clicking File from the menu bar and choosing Save.

Original Authors: Roz
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 05/05/2009