How Frames
Work

Here's the rundown on Frames in NetObjects Fusion:

NetObjects Fusion creates many separate files for every one "Frames" page that it generates.  For example, for a page called "index.html" that uses a top frame, a left frame, a bottom frame and a right frame would generate five files"

  • index.html - this page contains the "frameset" for the page
  • header_index.html - a "top" frame (using the Top MasterBorder)
  • footer_index.html - a "bottom" frame (using the Bottom MasterBorder)
  • left_index.html - a "left" frame (using the Left MasterBorder
  • right_index.html - a "right" frame (using the Right MasterBorder)
  • body_index.html - the main "body" frame (using the Layout area)

If you create an anchor in a frames-using page, NOF will create a new "frameset" document as well, with the "body_index.html" page targeting the anchor.  For example, if you create an anchor called "Total" in the "index.html" page, NOF would create a frameset document called

Total_index.html

Which would load
 

  • header_index.html
  • left_frame_index.html
  • body_index.html#Total
    (that is, "body_index.html at the location of the anchor called "Total")

When a link is made to "index.html" it connects to the "index.html" page - this is why when you link to a framed page, it redraws *all* the frames. In order to avoid having to redraw all the frames, you may wish to create "targeted" links.

*Warning* - if you create targeted links, these links will *not* redraw *any* frames other than the frame that you are targeting.

Here's how to create a targeted link without using JavaScript or Actions:

  • Create the text or image that you are going to set as a link. 
  • Select the text or image and click on the "Link" button in the Properties
      window
  • Select the "external" link tab
  • delete "http://" from the small field next to URL by clicking in that field then hitting the Delete key
  • type the following text into the larger field:
       ../html/frame_filename.html#anchor"target="masterborder
    where "frame" is the name of the MasterBorder you're using on that page, "filename" is the name of the page you are linking to, and  "#anchor" is the anchor link that you are linking to. (If you do not wish to link to a specific anchor point on this page,   leave off "#anchor").
  • Click on "OK".
  • Preview your site to make sure that the link is working correctly.

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