Frames, HTML and Resizing Windows?

Dave, I have read your Creating Cool HTML 4 WebPages and gotten into basic web-designing. I have one pestering question though. Say you have two frames, is there any way you can prevent the frames resizing if you resize your window? For instance, a maximized window viewing these frames is fine, but when it is not maximized it may cut off some information and pop that annoying scrollbar next to it. It can, anyway, disrupt ease and fluidness of the site.

Dave's Answer:

I haven't monkeyed around with a frames-based design for quite a while so I'll have to scrounge through my newer edition of the book, Creating Cool Web Sites with HTML, XHTML and CSS, to remind me of the details of the frame tags.

The basic frame layout is specified with frameset, and then each specific pane of the frame design is specified with a frame tag. A typical layout:

<frameset cols="30%,70%">
    <frame src="leftside.html" />
    <frame src="rightside.html" />
</frameset>

To lock in frame sizes, you need to change the parameters of the cols or rows. Try using a specific pixel size for one of the parameters and an asterisk (*) as the other parameter.

Something like this:

<frameset cols="300,*">

I think you'll find that does what you seek.

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Categorized: HTML, JavaScript and Web Site Programming (Article 3902, Written by Dave Taylor)
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Reader Comments To Date: 3

Katie said, on August 13, 2007 10:02 AM:

Dave,

I have used frames for my website and everytime I click on a link the next page will only open in one of the small frames and I am not sure what to do to fix this, do you have any suggestions? Thank you, I really appreciate your help!

Dave Taylor said, on August 13, 2007 9:43 PM:

Katie, that's a common frames problem. The key is that on the links you have that are supposed to replace *everything* rather than just the contents of that particular "frame" of your design, you need to include the attribute

target="_top"

that'll do the trick!

Mark Bahlke said, on March 8, 2008 10:41 AM:

Hi Dave,
I have sort of the opposite problem from the above examples. I have two frames which I want to be able to have resized based on how much "stuff" is in that frame. Sometimes the frame on the left is "longer", sometimes it's the frame on the right. I would like to have one scrollbar on the right side of the right-hand window that scrolls the full length of whichever screen needs the room. Does that make sense? I have tried making separate frames for each window, and putting them in the main frame for the page, and I have tried making a separate frame for the two windows, and putting them together into the one frame, and hoping that would do it. None of that works.
Now I need some expert help. Any advice you can give me would be fantastic.
Thank you very much.
Mark

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

Frames, HTML and Resizing Windows?

Reader Comments To Date: 3

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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