Web Design Forums

Drone-7 · 02-07-2008, 18:55

I was wondering what the best way to create a site is by integrating a Flash menu and HTML/CSS body. I'm currently designing a site to incorporate the two, but in doing my research I've found that using frames isn't exactly the best way to go about this. Any thoughts? Basically I don't want the menu to reload and to keep the site consistent with a smooth flow.

karmedic · 03-07-2008, 11:05

Some non-frame options that come to mind ...

You could use AJAX to load content into a container. I can't imagine this would be good for SEO. I think you'd be making accessibility an uphill battle as well. It should be easy to maintain content.

Depending on how much content you have you could have each 'page' in a div and then toggle between them as users navigate the site. After a while you will find your page difficult to maintain unless you're using includes of some sort but you'll also likely find your single page bloated and taking a long time to download.

I don't think either of these options would allow your users to easily bookmark locations on your site. You'd need to add that functionality in.

Any particular reason your menu needs to be loaded only once? You may find it easier to refactor your menu as opposed to accommodating its requirements with the rest of the site.

hth

twentysixtwelve · 03-07-2008, 12:48

Also, consider the fact that you want to use flash... why?

Flash is essentially a display, not a navigation. Yes its interactive, but should be used primarily as a way to show dynamic content, as oppose to something like navigation.

Im not saying dont do it, just if all you`re having is a nice roll-over effect, you can achieve the same with css and/or javascript.

twentysixtwelve · 03-07-2008, 12:58

10 Things Any Web Developer Worth Their Spit Should Know

"Navigation

A website’s navigation plays a key role in the success or failure of a site. It allows humans and search engines alike to easily locate the desired information. Or it doesn’t. Navigations made up of Flash or JavaScript/DHTML may seem attractive at first, but ultimately can cripple a website by not allowing search engines to crawl and index the entire site. In addition, viewers that choose not to partake in these technologies can be left with no means to move within the site.

Most experienced webmasters have left such navigations back in the 90’s with all those AOL discs."

Dusteh · 03-07-2008, 13:05

I think anyone using Flash for a menu in this day and age would allow it to degrade to a HTML list.

02-07-2008, 18:55	#1 (permalink)
Drone-7 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 11	Flash Menu/HTML/CSS Body I was wondering what the best way to create a site is by integrating a Flash menu and HTML/CSS body. I'm currently designing a site to incorporate the two, but in doing my research I've found that using frames isn't exactly the best way to go about this. Any thoughts? Basically I don't want the menu to reload and to keep the site consistent with a smooth flow.

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03-07-2008, 11:05	#2 (permalink)
karmedic id Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 224	Some non-frame options that come to mind ... You could use AJAX to load content into a container. I can't imagine this would be good for SEO. I think you'd be making accessibility an uphill battle as well. It should be easy to maintain content. Depending on how much content you have you could have each 'page' in a div and then toggle between them as users navigate the site. After a while you will find your page difficult to maintain unless you're using includes of some sort but you'll also likely find your single page bloated and taking a long time to download. I don't think either of these options would allow your users to easily bookmark locations on your site. You'd need to add that functionality in. Any particular reason your menu needs to be loaded only once? You may find it easier to refactor your menu as opposed to accommodating its requirements with the rest of the site. hth

03-07-2008, 12:48	#3 (permalink)
twentysixtwelve css is cool m'kay Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Currently Vancouver, Canada Posts: 396	Also, consider the fact that you want to use flash... why? Flash is essentially a display, not a navigation. Yes its interactive, but should be used primarily as a way to show dynamic content, as oppose to something like navigation. Im not saying dont do it, just if all you`re having is a nice roll-over effect, you can achieve the same with css and/or javascript.

03-07-2008, 12:58	#4 (permalink)
twentysixtwelve css is cool m'kay Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Currently Vancouver, Canada Posts: 396	10 Things Any Web Developer Worth Their Spit Should Know "Navigation A website’s navigation plays a key role in the success or failure of a site. It allows humans and search engines alike to easily locate the desired information. Or it doesn’t. Navigations made up of Flash or JavaScript/DHTML may seem attractive at first, but ultimately can cripple a website by not allowing search engines to crawl and index the entire site. In addition, viewers that choose not to partake in these technologies can be left with no means to move within the site. Most experienced webmasters have left such navigations back in the 90’s with all those AOL discs."

03-07-2008, 13:05	#5 (permalink)
Dusteh The Devil's Galop Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6,767	I think anyone using Flash for a menu in this day and age would allow it to degrade to a HTML list.

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