Server-side includes are instructions to the server to include the specified file in the current document. Because the processing of includes happens on the server, included content does not normally appear when you open a document locally in a browser. Dreamweaver, however, does display server-side includes, both in the Document window and browser preview window. To display included content, Dreamweaver uses a translator to mimic the way a server would process the include instructions.
Placing a server-side include in a document inserts only a reference to an external file. Dreamweaver displays the content of the external file in the Document window, making it easier to design pages, but you cannot edit this content directly in a document. To edit the content of a server-side include, you must directly edit the file that you're including. Any changes to the external file are automatically reflected in every document that includes it.
To insert a server-side include:
| 1 | Choose Insert > Server-Side Include or click the SSI button on the Common panel of the Object palette. |
| 2 | In the dialog box that appears, click the folder icon to browse to a file, or type the path to the file you want to include. Then click OK. |
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