editing a template

[TSemmes]

I don't have Contribute on my computer but my client does. I created the site
in Dreamweaver. I thought he would be able to edit a template page because a
copy resides on the server. When he tried to edit the file he gets a message
"This file cannot be displayed in the Contribute web browser." I don't have
'enable Contribute compaitbility' checked on the site definition because I
don't think there is much work that I will be doning on the site. Can templates
be edited in Contribute? And, if so, what do I need to do to allow that to
happen?

[Tom Benjamin]

No, Contribute can't edit Dreamweaver template files. And that's a good thing: you don't want users changing the template, you just want them to be able to work in the editable regions.

[TSemmes]

Thanks Tom
When I do make the change to the template can the pages be updated on my clients end or do I have to upload the revised pages from my end?

[Tom Benjamin]

Before you update a template file there's a few thinsg that make the process go
smoothly:
1. Ideally have the user publish all draft or new pages.
2. Make sure you have synchronized your local copy of the website in
Dreamweaver with the remote server.
3. Once you've done the synchronize rebuild Dreamweaver's Site Cache.
4. Update the template file, and allow Dreamweaver to check out and update all
the pages using the template. If feasible you can check out all the pages that
use the template first; there 's no need to check out the dependent images etc.
5. Do another synchronize, this time putting all the new local files onto the
remote server.
6. Check in all the files that were checked out in step 4.

The Contribute user should get the latest copy of the template when they start
up, but make sure they do not have the "Don't connect to websites at startup"
option checked.