Editing a Template file

[tubes1]

I've been learning how to use Contribute and am starting to use it with my
clients as an easy way for them to update copy on their sites. But I was under
the impression (for some odd reason) that Contribute could edit template pages
(.dwt files) and then save those changes to all pages that use the template
automatically (the way Dreamweaver does) right on the server.

Apparently this is not the case? Whenever I browse to a template file through
Contribute, I get a message that says: "This file cannot be displayed in the
Contribute web browser." Huh? If templates can be used by Dreamweaver to make
new pages they surely should be editable.

This makes no sense to me. If a client wants to change something site-wide in
a locked area of a template, they should be able to if the administrator sets
it up that way. I mean, if you have, say, the footer copy of a site as part of
a locked template area that is used on all site pages, the client shouldn't
have to call the developer every time they need to change the date or phone
number on their site.

I bought Contribute so I wouldn't have to mess with server side includes or a
database but since templates can't be edited, it seems like this may be the
only option.

Does anybody else find this to be a problem or is it just me?

[tubes1]

I've been learning how to use Contribute and am starting to use it with my
clients as an easy way for them to update copy on their sites. But I was under
the impression (for some odd reason) that Contribute could edit template pages
(.dwt files) and then save those changes to all pages that use the template
automatically (the way Dreamweaver does) right on the server.

Apparently this is not the case? Whenever I browse to a template file through
Contribute, I get a message that says: "This file cannot be displayed in the
Contribute web browser." Huh? If templates can be used by Dreamweaver to make
new pages they surely should be editable.

This makes no sense to me. If a client wants to change something site-wide in
a locked area of a template, they should be able to if the administrator sets
it up that way. I mean, if you have, say, the footer copy of a site as part of
a locked template area that is used on all site pages, the client shouldn't
have to call the developer every time they need to change the date or phone
number on their site.

I bought Contribute so I wouldn't have to mess with server side includes or a
database but since templates can't be edited, it seems like this may be the
only option.

Does anybody else find this to be a problem or is it just me?

[Sudharshan.S]

Hi

It is true that contribute does not allow users to edit dwt templates. The
only way is to edit the template using dreamweaver and perform the refresh
template option inside of contrbute

sudharshan

[tubes1]

Thanks. That's too bad.

[Rhenan]

I know this is an old topic, so forgive me for I'm bringing it up again.

I have a question about the "refresh template" option. Does this refresh all
pages using that template, or just the list of templates available to the new
page author just prior to creating a new page?

i.e. if I update a template using Dreamweaver, save it and put it onto the web
server, can I then go to Contribute, use the "refresh templates" button and
automatically update all the pages in my site using that template? If not, I
guess I must do the while sync to get new files locally, save the doc, check
them all back in and sync to put them all remotely. seems a hassle!

[DKAllaire]

In our organization I control the templates and update them if I see a need to
or a client requests a change. We use Contribute so the non-web designers can
do the day-to-day maintenance of their departmental sites.

When I save a changed template in DW it tells me that files need to be
updated. When I OK that, it says they need to be checked out. I check them out,
DW updates them and I check them back in.

It might be a hassle, but we started using Contribute so the "corporate" web
design guidelines could be enforced.