Intro to Server-Side Includes (SSI) in MX

What you'll learn

In this tutorial you will learn how to make, and then insert, Server-Side Includes into your pages. You will learn the code for ASP, PHP and CFML.

What you will need

You need to download and install the PVII Style Sheet Loader and Nowhere Link extensions, and then restart DW MX.

You also need to download the CSS Style Sheets that are used in this tutorial. Get them here.

You can view the finished page here.

You can download the completed ASP sample files here.

You can download the completed Cold Fusion sample files here.

You can download the completed PHP sample files here.

Why should I use Server-Side Includes?

If you use templates or library items in your web site and make changes to common items (like a menu system) you should consider using Server-Side Includes. With templates or library items, when you make a change, you need to update and upload all of the pages affected by the change. If you were using a Server-Side Include and made the changes, you would only need to upload the Server-Side Include file.

File naming conventions in this tutorial

DW MX will write the proper code to the page, based on the server model that you are using.

This tutorial will use the ASP VBScript server model and will use the .asp file extension when saving files.

If you are using the ColdFusion server model you should use the .cfm file extension when saving your files.

If you are using the PHP MySQL server model you should use the .php file extension when saving files.

Next: Creating the Base Page

Overview
Creating the Base Page
Server-Side Include Page
Inserting the Server-Side Include
Notes and Afterthoughts