How to edit <msnavigation> comment

[Samz]

In Frontpage 2002, can anyone tell me how to edit <!--msnavigation--><table
dir="ltr" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
width="100%"><tbody><tr><!--msnavigation-->

This HTML code is automatically added by FP 2002 when using Shared Border.
I want to change the width to 200px ( instead of 100% ) . But cannot figure
out how as this code in not there in HTML view and is added by FP when site
is published.

Even when the HTML code is externally edited using Notepad, moment the file
is put back in FP it undos the change .. very nasty . Can someone tell me
how to edit it ... Thank You in advance

 

[Ronx]

The left and right shared borders are always just wide enough to
accommodate whatever is placed inside them.
If the border is narrower than 200px, then place the border contents in
a table 200px wide.
If the border is wider than 200px, then there is something in the border
wider than 200px.

The code snippet you have is for the top border - this will always be
100% of the width of the page - it would be a very small page if it were
200px wide

To change the width of the contents here, again insert a two column
table, with the table set at 100% width and one column set at 200px.
The other column(s) will take up the rest of the space, and can be left
containing just a space character. The contents will go into the 200Px
column. If you want the contents centred, then use a centred table with
just one cell.

A better method is to stop using shared borders and use include files
instead. This is much more flexible - see
http://www.rxs-enterprises.org/tests/SB-to-IC.aspx

 

[Samzeer]

First of all thanks a lot for responding Ronx.

Unfortunately the problem still persisits. I need to somehow change the
value of width in the msnavigation code ( whether its 200 px or 80 % that is
not an issue )" . The width of 100% expands the content across entire page
and I do not want to use tables in main body to keep elements in place. Is
it possible to find the source from where this code is being generated so
that it can be altered. Where is this bloat demon coming from. Is it in
some hidden webbot file or _vti file.


Other than that I have no issues with shared border and would not like to
replace them with anything else ( like include files ) or put unnecessary
right/left shared border to control width.

Your Expert advice will be deeply appreciated.

Samzeer

 

[Ronx]

Shared borders are rendered as tables. It is built into the FrontPage
program.
If you wish to move away from tables, then use <div>s where I specified
adding a table.

It does look as though you are adding the navigation to the top border,
where the left border might be more appropriate. The left border is a
table cell with width="1%", thus it expands to accommodate whatever is
placed in there.

The ONLY way to stop the 100% width is to stop using shared borders.
Include pages are much more flexible and controlable, or with FP2003 or
Expression Web Dynamic Web Templates.
--
Ron Symonds - Microsoft MVP (Expression)
Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.

http://www.rxs-enterprises.org/fp

 

[Samzeer]

Dear Ronx , many thanks to you for recommending "Include Content" in place
of shared borders. The difference in performance of pages running Include
Content webbot vs shared border is startling . I wish I had done that long
before.

To anyone still using Shared Border I would strongly recommend to give
Include Content a try. Web pages load way faster ( on slow browsers like IE
even if you use tables for formatting). Make sure you specify width and
height attibutes and break bigger tables into smaller ones. My web page that
earlier took 20 sec to load now loads in 3 seconds ( progressively offcourse
) without downsizing or compressing anything.

Once again sincere thanks to Ronx for his invaluable suggestion.