Getting Started: A Generic, All-Purpose Caveat

Framing the Web

Having frames doesn't make your Web site good. Used appropriately, however, frames can make your Web site better. As with any information service, a good Web site depends on good content. Linear documents, like stories and reports, might not need a table of contents to be present all the time. If your information requires the user to jump around a lot, then maybe frames are in order.

Before starting a framed document:

• Make sure the information lends itself to a framed presentation.
• Learn the limitations of frames.
• Consider your audience: will they all have access to a frames-capable browser?

When you've finished a framed document:

• Check the links are targetted properly.
• Look at your document on other platforms and with other clients: what looks good on your machine may not look good on others.
• Include a noframes alternative: Put <noframes>...</noframes> tags in your main <frameset> document. A frames-capable browser will ignore whatever's between those tags. Browsers that can't display frames will show whatever's between those tags.
• Have someone else look at it.