Working with Templates and Libraries in Dreamweaver

What is a Template?

A template is a master document whose design you can apply to multiple pages. In Dreamweaver, templates contain non-editable regions that remain consistent among all the pages that use the template, in addition to editable regions, where content can change from page to page.

Templates allow you to create a page design once, and then create new pages that use that design. When you update the template, Dreamweaver updates all the documents you created based on the template.

Creating Templates

To create a template, you can begin with a new HTML document, or with an existing web page:

1. In an open web page, lay out the design the other pages in your site will use.
2. Add the content that you want to remain static across the site. For example, if you want a logo to appear at the top of all the web pages in your site, add it here.
3. When you've finished, save the document as a template: from the File menu, select Save as Template.

The Save as Template dialog opens.

4. Make sure the correct site appears in the Site drop-down menu.
5. Enter a name into the Save As field.
6. Click Save.

Note:

Dreamweaver templates are saved with the .dwt extension.

By default, Dreamweaver makes all the content non-editable. You need to define those regions that should be editable in the pages you base on the template:

1. Place the cursor where you want to insert an editable region. For example, you can click inside a blank area of the page, or you can select a layer or a table cell.
2. From the Insert menu, select Template Objects, and then Editable Region.

The New Editable Region dialog opens.

3. Enter a name for the region and click OK.

A small blue border appears around the region.

4. You can format the region using the Property Inspector by selecting a type style, size, color, or other attributes. When you a create a page based on the template, the text you enter in this region will automatically use the formatting you've defined.
5. When you've finished defining the editable regions, save the template. If necessary, click Yes to update the links.