How to setup directories and site content

cvillard

I have built a few websites and different ways each time. I would like to see what other people find the easiest to keep updated.

So say I have website that has 3 sections, home, products, support for instance. Is it best practice to have a Virtual Directory (as bad as it looks I am going to use VD from now on) for each section? Say http://server/products http://server/support and so on. This meaning I would have to copy my CSS and scripts files to each directory and update each directory seperate.

Or the other option is to have all .htm files and such in the main VD and work out from there.

Just want to see what others are doing.

TheDefender

1st Option:

1 file whose contents are defined by the variables attached to them (all data-driven either by flat-file or D😎

index.php?mode=support
index.php?mode=products

2nd Option:

separate files for each main item.
Then define the data on the support page, or product page using variables in the URL

support.php?mode=contact
or
support.php?mode=knowledgebase

products.php?category=1
or
products.php?category=1&product=456

Either of these options generally meet most, if not all, of my needs when it comes to designing the framework. Templatize it as much as you can. It make everything easier from a design standpoint.

travelbuff

Originally posted by cvillard
This meaning I would have to copy my CSS and scripts files to each directory and update each directory seperate.

Not if you use absolute paths to your css and other template files, e.g. /usr/home/you/www/config or http://www.mysite.com/config/. I template heavily but use enough variables to make sure I can customize the pages easily. I am a big fan of using many directories, I like to have all "assets" for a section of the site in one spot - images, etc. That also allows you to call variables based on what directory the script is in - makes it easy to make changes on a global, sectional or local basis.