Master Pages - Why Not..... ? Please give insight

[kirk]

In my webpage I have used 2 master pages. On All pages in the publication, I
have inserted a masterpage. In reading through posts I have seen several
comments to not use them, but I didn't see reasoning on why?

I will take mine out, but before I do, I am coureous on why the
recommendation on not using them. Mine are all working fine. It is simply
for faster uploads? Please give insight
Thanks
KIRK

 

[DavidF]

Kirk,

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

But before you assume it isn't broke, download and install FireFox.
http://en.www.mozilla.com/en/firefox/
It is a relatively small file size and a quick download...and is free. Then
you can install it, but opt out of making it the default browser, so you can
still use IE as the default.

Then test your Pub webpages in FF. You can either view the pages on line, or
Publish to the Web and direct the html output, the index.htm file and the
index_files folder, to your computer where you can easily find them. I use a
folder on the Desktop. Then open FireFox and go to File > Open File and
browse to where you put the index.htm file. This way you can preview and
test the page(s) before you assume that your master pages are working.

Publisher produces two sets of code...one is optimized for IE, and the other
is "dumber" code for other browsers. Frequently this is where the problems
with the master page show up...or doen't. In other words, sometimes what you
have on the master page will not load in FF. Navbars can fail...you can have
conflicts with background images, etc.

Bottom line is that there are probably things you can use the master page
for, but there are unpredicatable results. That is the reason it is
generally recommended to not use the master page in a web document. However,
if the way you are using it works in both IE and FF, then go for it. If you
start running up against a problem with how your pages are loading and the
functionality, then remove the master pages.

DavidF

 

[kirk]

As always - Thank you. I'm going back to redesign this site. No more master
pages. Can you also check the post just before this one on resizing pics.
I look forward to your post.

 

[DavidF]

You are welcome. I saved the response to your images questions for last as
it is more open ended.

Even if you do choose to redesign without the master pages, do download and
install FireFox. From your questions it sounds like you are wanting to learn
about how to best use Publisher to build your site, and you really should
test your site in FF. If you can get it to view in both IE and FF, then your
site will work in the majority of browsers. Although perfect cross browser
compatibility with all browsers may not be possible with any web building
tool, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't try. And it is best to test as
your build your site. That way you won't incorporate some design feature
that won't work in FF, and then have to go back and redo your whole site
again. Besides, part of what I will describe in the images post will involve
FF.

DavidF