How to make page specific Meta Tags in a dreamweaver template??

[todd@techtpaintball.com]

I need some help. I designed it using dreamweaver and have a template for it. However, when I designed it I didn't realize the importance of SEO. I want to make it so that I can put individual Meta tags on each page but when I put them in the template, they are all the same and grayed out when I check the source of the pages.

So basically, what I'd like to do is put some kind of editable tag in the template, which is in the head and not in the visible part of the page. Does anyone know how I can do this?

Any info on how to make this happen would be great!!!

Thanks,
Todd
TechT

[wige]

You would need to open the Template file, either by going directly to the template in the tree view, or by opening one of the pages, and selecting from the menubar Modify > Templates > Open Template. Once you have the template open, close the original document so the only document open is the template file.

You should be looking at the source code view of the template file. If not, switch to that view. Assuming the meta tags are grouped together (if they aren't, move them so they are), select the meta tags, and click Insert > Template Objects > Editable Region. A dialog box will open prompting you for a name. Enter a name, for example, "MetaTags". Click OK.

Save the document. You will get a prompt to "Update Template Files" which will list all of the files on the site using that template. Click Yes (or OK, whichever the option is). This will update all of the pages on the site. Once this is done, you will be able to go through and modify the meta tags as needed on each page.

[chowell]

Originally Posted by wige

Save the document. You will get a prompt to "Update Template Files" which will list all of the files on the site using that template. Click Yes (or OK, whichever the option is). This will update all of the pages on the site. Once this is done, you will be able to go through and modify the meta tags as needed on each page.

This is a great step-by-step explanation of how to do it, but I caution you on one thing.

Before you "update" all of your pages and apply the Editable Region, you should consider doing one of the following:

• Inserting the empty <meta> tag coding for both the Description and Keywords so that all you have to do is write the actual tags that go inside them.
• Put in a default (but optimized) set of tags in the region. This will essentially copy those tags to each page on the first update.

Having said that, there are negatives to each option.

• Uploading pages w/ blank Meta Tags is never a good idea, so if you choose the first option, you'll need to write the information into the tags before publishing.
• Uploading pages w/ duplicate tags is also not a good idea, so again, you'll need to customize each page's tags before publishing.

Whichever way you go, it should still help save you some time from having to copy/paste (or write out) the Meta Tags coding when you edit each page. I believe there is also a "Meta Properties" type of Window in DW that you could alternatively use, but that adds 2-3 steps per page by itself.

Good luck.

[Orion]

I recommend not using the DW templates.. use SSI (server side includes .shtml) instead it works soo much better..

If you decide to stay with the templates wige was bang on just put the editable region tags around the meta tags you want to change from page to page..

gl,

[jannmirch]

I agree with Orion (though you've already established the template-based site...) As you move forward, I have found the library items in DW allow me a lot more flexibility within DW than the templates. Library items also offer the advantage of being able to see what it will look like on the page which PHP files for example don't do.

But if you follow Wige's advice you should be golden. And you can transition to library items over time.

[sharonjackson]

WHOA NELLY! I always use templates for the ease of updating site design etc. However you are saying that it is not a good idea and you would either use includes files and or library items.

Can you explain a little? I have not used library items before...don't even see it in CS3. What am I missing???

[Orion]

I stopped using both library items and templates about 4 or 5 years ago.. they were a great way to go.. but includes is such a better way to go.. and cleaner coding too.. template / library sites don't alway validate properly and are a pain if someone else is going to work on them afterwards...

[wige]

I haven't used library or templates either except on a few very simple sites I set up for, uh... and once for this class in Web Development using Dreamweaver I had to take... figured I'd put it to use somewhere. This seemed like a good place.

Orion is right though, server side options are usually a good way to go, unless you are developing a pure HTML site or are on a restricted server. Templates can be handy if you need to deploy a simple site quickly, but I would go to server-side programming if there is anything more advanced in use.

[jannmirch]

Library items - we're talking DW here - work like mini-templates. You create the code, save it as a Library item and can then add that item to any page you wish - or not as you're needs require.

For example, you have your site navigation on all pages along the top. That would be one library item. Say you now need internal navigation only for your "Category A" pages. You would set that up as a separate library item and only add it to the Category A pages. If you need to add something, you add it to the .LBI file, save it and it will update all the pages. You then re-upload those pages and you're good to go.

It is less technically elegant than PHP or other SSI (which I am less familiar with) since you still need to re-upload all the effected pages.

But as I said in my earlier post, I prefer it since I can see what how it's laying out on the page. A SSI won't let you do that. You need up upload the SSI file and see what it looks like on the server. Unless I'm missing something, which is entirely possible. I'd be happy to hear about a way to avoid this.

[webmax]

Todd, if you open the source file of the template following wige's instructions, look closely at the <head></head> section, where the letters are in gray, and you'll find something like <Instance begin Editable name head><Instance End Editable> I don't remember the exact code, but it should be close. I put the meta tags between those 2 tags, since they're supposed to be in the head section of the document. If you just add them inside a regular editable region, they're going to show up somewhere inside your design and that's not what you want.

[webmax]

Oh, and don't worry about the gray. Whatever you put in between those 2 tags is going to show up in color and is editable for each individual file.

[jbladeus]

I would partly agree with Orion. Its basically what works best for you.
I myself use combination of DW templates and SSI.