Frames
Frames are a common feature of many websites. Framing enables the Web author to divide the display into multiple sections. Each section is called a frame. Each frame can contain material from different web pages. Frames provide greater flexibility in web page construction. Some designers, however, avoid using frames because current browsers do not support them evenly.
Frames have several uses. One important use of frames is to allow broader access and navigation of websites. Frames can pull information from many different websites and display them on a single page. This saves time from having to look up each website individually. A user may access a wide variety of information from a single web page by using frames. Another advantage of frames is the multiple portal concept. Frames can display multiple web portals simultaneously. Multiple portals aid in attracting and holding larger audiences to a website.
Frames have a specialized format of HTML code. The "frameset" tag replaces the "body" tag. The frameset document is set up in the usual HTML format: <html><head><title> Title </title></head>. The frameset tag is then inserted. For example, <frameset rows = "30%,70%">. This tag shows the page is divided into two rows as indicated by the presence of two numerical values. If more rows are needed, the code will have more numerical values. For example, <frameset rows = "20%,30%,50%">. This code is for three rows. The numerical value specifies the number of pixels to be used per row. An asterisk, "*," can be inserted to specify a row to take up as much space as available.
There are some disadvantages with frames. Not all browsers are compatible with certain frames. Alternatives utilize restricted serial access to data and information on web pages. This does not offer the convenience of frames, but is more compatible.
One of the most common types of frames utilized by current commercial websites is the simple division of the viewing area into a smaller portion that retains a navigation bar (either horizontal or vertical) and the active content viewing area. The retention of the navigation bar allows the user a common frame of reference while viewing data on differing parts of the website. Regardless of the user's place in the web, there always exists a frame that allows an instant overview of the entire site and the availability of a hyperlink to rapidly jump form one part of the website to another. This enables the user to easily cover large amounts of material quickly and efficiently.
In multiple framing, an assortment of rows and columns from different frames can be combined, creating frameset documents set within other frameset documents. This allows independent navigation of different parts of a website. The multiple frames are nestled together to provide greater diversity and organization to the site.
There are economic benefits of frames. Frames enable products and services to be alluring to the on-line shopper. Many companies incorporate frames into their websites in order to attract and hold the interest of customers. Frames enable the customer to look up, research and purchase items on the website. Frames also allow a broader range of material to be on one site. Instead of creating a website for every interest, all different interests can be linked together by frames on a single site.
The overuse of frames can potentially create a confusing intermix of data. Some browsers are not capable of properly displaying frames. If the user's computer is not frame compatible, then the user cannot visit the site.
Individual frames may contain data in individual navigation protocols with their own scroll bars. In some sense, the size of a frame is limited by size of viewing area. The size of the frame can be adjusted to fit the available space for the frame.
Another modern use of frames includes the simultaneous translation of the text in one frame into another language in a corresponding frame. This is convenient for an international site. For instance, a German can visit a French site and using this application of frames for translation, navigate the French site without having knowledge of French. This application of frames makes a site globally accessible.
Frames can either enhance or deter the success of a website. If used properly, frames deliver a remarkable experience for the user; if used poorly, frames tend to confuse and deter users from a website. Many designers consider simplicity the key element to making good use of frames.
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