Programming Forums > Script Programming > Other Scripting Languages

Sungam · Jan 10th, 2006, 5:19 PM

I don't know a lot about Server Side scripting, or using C/perl in CGI as opposed to using PHP or ASP for this kind of thing. Which one should I learn, to make the navigation not have to reload when you click on a link to go to a different section of the website?

Sungam · Jan 11th, 2006, 7:33 PM

I hope that you guys aren't intimidated by my question. I don't want you to tell me exactly how to do this, I just need someone to help point me in the right direction.

Sane · Jan 11th, 2006, 7:55 PM

Oh I know what you mean. Like those sites where it's a stationary template, and then the content inside the middle section is the only part that loads when you click a link.

I don't know how to do this, but I suppose it is something to do with cgi or excrutiating javascript. Most people don't worry about those kind of layouts though, since it doesn't really change anything perhaps the feasability of making quick changes.

Sorry I couldn't be of much help. =\

Jessehk · Jan 11th, 2006, 8:04 PM

Now, this is a complete guess, because I have done very, very limited html.
I believe that when using frames, one part of the site can update, while another stays the same.

Sungam · Jan 11th, 2006, 8:43 PM

yeah, that is the easy way, to use frames. But then all sorts of things go wrong when you try to print, bookmark a page, or if you want to exit the frameset.

coldDeath · Jan 12th, 2006, 1:43 AM

Most sites use evil frames for that. I'm sure there are some other ways around it though.

Arevos · Jan 12th, 2006, 2:56 AM

PHP is easy enough to include common files:
[php]<?php include "yourfile.html"; ?>[/php]Just place that tag in your html files. Rename them to .php, and that tag will be replaced with the file you want to include (assuming your server supports PHP).

Polyphemus_ · Jan 12th, 2006, 7:59 AM

Frames were used in the time Internet and computers were slow... a browser had only to load a part of the page, instead of the whole page. Today, using frames is considered as a bad havit. With PHP, you can dump the navigation, header etc., and place the content code in the actual file. It will be something like this then:

header.php:

(Toggle Plain Text)

<html>
<head><title> ... etc (Place header + the navigation over here)

<?php
function footer() {
?>
(Place code for the footer over here)
</body>
</html>
<?php
}
?>

some_page.php:

(Toggle Plain Text)

<?php
include("header.php")
?>

Content over here

<?php
footer();
?>

Ooble · Jan 12th, 2006, 2:20 PM

If you want to only reload part of the page, like in Google's Gmail, Maps, etc. you should check out AJAX. It stands for Asynchronous JavaScript And XML, and is used to download data silently and refresh only the part of the page that needs changing - exactly what you want. As a plus, it also means you can offload a lot of the processing onto the client. It does mean they need JavaScript enabled though, and many people don't for security reasons.

Sungam · Jan 12th, 2006, 5:32 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, but I think I am going to be looking to more server side ways, because I don't want my website to me relianent upon the clients computer. Google has an advanage because it is offering something that people will really want to use, rather than my personal website, which will be promoting me as a composer.

I knew PHP would work, but it seems like it is just doing something more complex for me behind the curtian so to speak. I would like to do it myself, if that is the case. I was assumming some kind of python or C scripting could do this as well.

Jan 10th, 2006, 5:19 PM	#1
Sungam Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	How to make common navigation not reload. I don't know a lot about Server Side scripting, or using C/perl in CGI as opposed to using PHP or ASP for this kind of thing. Which one should I learn, to make the navigation not have to reload when you click on a link to go to a different section of the website?

Jan 11th, 2006, 8:04 PM	#4
Jessehk The Oblivious One Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 630 Rep Power: 4	Now, this is a complete guess, because I have done very, very limited html. I believe that when using frames, one part of the site can update, while another stays the same. __________________ Dr. Zoidberg: [ecstatic] I'm going to a movie... with FRIENDS!

Jan 12th, 2006, 1:43 AM	#6
coldDeath Expert Programmer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: UK Posts: 862 Rep Power: 3	Most sites use evil frames for that. I'm sure there are some other ways around it though. __________________ Programming Tutorials - Linux Installation Guide - Learn Python - Learn C++ Got Slack? Join us at #programmingforums @ irc.freenode.net! My software never has bugs. It just develops random features.

Jan 12th, 2006, 7:59 AM	#8
Polyphemus_ Expert Programmer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rotterdam, the Netherlands Posts: 942 Rep Power: 3	Frames were used in the time Internet and computers were slow... a browser had only to load a part of the page, instead of the whole page. Today, using frames is considered as a bad havit. With PHP, you can dump the navigation, header etc., and place the content code in the actual file. It will be something like this then: header.php: (Toggle Plain Text) <html> <head><title> ... etc (Place header + the navigation over here) <?php function footer() { ?> (Place code for the footer over here) </body> </html> <?php } ?> <html> <head><title> ... etc (Place header + the navigation over here) <?php function footer() { ?> (Place code for the footer over here) </body> </html> <?php } ?> some_page.php: (Toggle Plain Text) <?php include("header.php") ?> Content over here <?php footer(); ?> <?php include("header.php") ?> Content over here <?php footer(); ?>

Jan 12th, 2006, 2:20 PM	#9
Ooble I eat cake for breakfast. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In my box. Posts: 4,434 Rep Power: 9	If you want to only reload part of the page, like in Google's Gmail, Maps, etc. you should check out AJAX. It stands for Asynchronous JavaScript And XML, and is used to download data silently and refresh only the part of the page that needs changing - exactly what you want. As a plus, it also means you can offload a lot of the processing onto the client. It does mean they need JavaScript enabled though, and many people don't for security reasons. __________________ Me :: You :: Them

Jan 11th, 2006, 7:33 PM	#2
Sungam Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	I hope that you guys aren't intimidated by my question. I don't want you to tell me exactly how to do this, I just need someone to help point me in the right direction.

Jan 11th, 2006, 7:55 PM	#3
Sane Programming Guru Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,799 Rep Power: 5	Oh I know what you mean. Like those sites where it's a stationary template, and then the content inside the middle section is the only part that loads when you click a link. I don't know how to do this, but I suppose it is something to do with cgi or excrutiating javascript. Most people don't worry about those kind of layouts though, since it doesn't really change anything perhaps the feasability of making quick changes. Sorry I couldn't be of much help. =\

Jan 11th, 2006, 8:43 PM	#5
Sungam Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	yeah, that is the easy way, to use frames. But then all sorts of things go wrong when you try to print, bookmark a page, or if you want to exit the frameset.

Jan 12th, 2006, 2:56 AM	#7
Arevos Programming Guru Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: England Posts: 1,499 Rep Power: 4	PHP is easy enough to include common files: [php]<?php include "yourfile.html"; ?>[/php]Just place that tag in your html files. Rename them to .php, and that tag will be replaced with the file you want to include (assuming your server supports PHP).

Jan 12th, 2006, 5:32 PM	#10
Sungam Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the suggestion, but I think I am going to be looking to more server side ways, because I don't want my website to me relianent upon the clients computer. Google has an advanage because it is offering something that people will really want to use, rather than my personal website, which will be promoting me as a composer. I knew PHP would work, but it seems like it is just doing something more complex for me behind the curtian so to speak. I would like to do it myself, if that is the case. I was assumming some kind of python or C scripting could do this as well.

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Programming Forums > Script Programming > Other Scripting Languages

How to make common navigation not reload.