Server Side Includes

What Are Server Side Includes (SSI)?
    Server Side Includes (SSI) are designed to boost Web design productivity by allowing the Web Author to replace repetitive information throughout the Web site with a simple change to a data file. This InfoDial feature dynamically generates specified portions of HTML Web pages from data files. Server Side Includes use ".shtm" files which are the file extensions recognized by all browsers and servers alike as HTML files.
How Do I add Server Side Includes (SSI) to my web pages?
    Adding Server Side includes (SSI) to you web pages is simple and will make your job as a web author much easier. To use SSI you will need to be able to use FTP, text editor (like notepad/simpletext) or HTML editing software, and have a basic understanding of HTML Code.

    Server Side Include Data File

    You need to make a .txt data file with the text and or HTML that you want to be added to pages with the Server Side Include Tag on them. This file can contain any code that could be on a web page including but not limited to: images, video, audio, hyperlinks, forms, tables, JavaScript, Java Applett code, ActiveX Object Code, VBScript, Shockwave, Flash, banners, Random Graphics, Random HTML, and animations. After you have made the Server Side Include Data File you will need to upload it via FTP or FrontPage to your web site.

    Server Side Include Tag

    The Server Side Include Tag tells the server where the contents of a Server Side Include Data File should be used at a particular place within an HTML file and the path to that Data File. The contents of the Data File will replace the SSI tag so that you will not see any evidence of the use of SSI when viewing your web pages through the browser. Server Side Include Tags will work in all .htm or .html web pages. Wherever you wish the text and or HTML code in the Server Side Include Data File to appear in your web pages you would place a Server Side Include Tag.

    Example Server Side Include: <!--#include virtual "/mypath/myfile.txt"-->

    You need to place the path to the Server Side Include Data File between Quotes.

What are some useful ways to use Server Side Includes (SSI)?
    Some ideas for Server Side Includes usage are: logos, page header, page footer, copy write information, legal information, navigation, site themes, seasonal site fixtures, and regularly changing content. SSI can be useful for anything that can be modified within the web site.

    SSI could also be a great way to allow non-web authors to edit/change content. A web page can be made with all of the HTML formatting, fonts, images, themes, effects, etc.. in place with an SSI Tag for the content. A text file would then be made available to the non-web author for editing with a text editor. This would allow for content changes without the risk of damaging the HTML design.

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