Using the UMD Templates

Using the Template

A template allows the combination of redundant items to be used easily over and over again. The header, footer, and navigational links of this Web site are part of my workshop template. When I created this page (and all the others) I called up the template I downloaded and stuck the content in it. Everything else was already there.

So what? I could also do that using the "Save As..." command and a generic page. This is true, but when I make a change to the template I can update any page that was created with that template automatically. Try that the other way!

If you're not convinced, how about applying a template to an existing page? That's right! Delete the stuff you don't want on your current page, apply the template and you're done.

Still not enough? I can also mark sections of the template as being uneditable, meaning I can't accidentally erase the redundant stuff unless I go back to the original template and change the item. And if you administer a Contribute site, this is especially powerful.

Still not on board? We're using a template made by someone else so we don't have to worry about many accessibility and usability issues.

Open the Template

1. go to the "File" menu
2. choose "Open"
3. find the "Templates" folder in your site
4. find the template you downloaded
5. click on the template
6. click "Open"

Editable Regions

By default, everything in a template is uneditable except for the page title, but Andy has made our lives easier by creating some editable regions. Depending upon the template you downloaded, you'll see different editable regions.

Look for names in a tab on your page like:

• Heading
• Content
• Photo

Other regions may also be created to suit your design layout.

Make a New Page from a Template

1. go to the "File" menu
2. choose "New"
3. click on the "Templates" tab
4. click on the templates for your site
5. click on the template you downloaded
6. click "Create"
7. put the following text in the {Content} region
   • This is some content

Try editing the highlighted areas. If all is working well, you can't.

Apply a Template to an Existing Page

To see how this is done, create a file named "ApplyToMe.html".

1. go to the "File" menu
2. choose "New"
3. title the page "Apply to Me"
4. type in the following text
   • Here is some more text.
   • This is another paragraph of text.
5. save the page

Now, apply the template.

1. go to the "Modify" menu
2. choose "Templates>Apply Template to Page..."
3. pick the template you downloaded
4. click "Select"

Dreamweaver will prompt you for where you want your existing content to go. You get 3 guesses!