To Frame, or Not to Frame?
In most cases, plain, un-framed pages are best. Simply having frames does not make a web site great. Frames are usually unnecessary, and when not implemented correctly, they can be clumsy, confusing, and annoying. An un-framed site with a good table of contents and well designed navigational links can be much easier to use than a framed site.
Tables are a good alternative to frames. They add some of the same functionality, are supported by more browsers, and are easier to set up and use.
In the case of extremely large sites, however, well designed frames can be excellent for navigation. Following are some tips for designing better framed sites.
Alignment |
Make sure your text lines up correctly and is not cut off by the frame. It's aggravating to be forced to scroll both vertically and horizontally to view the contents of a frame. |
Number |
Don't use very many frames. More than two or three can be terribly confusing for your visitors. Keep it simple. |
Style |
Be consistent in your use of background, color and style in all your frames, otherwise, the screen will look disconnected and choppy. |
No-Frames |
Make an alternative no-frames site. Some browsers do not support frames, and some people simply hate frames and won't visit a site that uses them exclusively. |
Introduction | Content | Color | Layout | Navigation
Graphics | Frames | Maintenance | Links
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E-mail: alaithea@poboxes.com. |
This page last updated 10-Mar-98.
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*No graphics in Shady Oaks are for public use except the E-Trees and customizable backgrounds in The BG Mold.* |
