Server-side includes, as their name implies, 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 appear when you open a document locally in a browser. It is visible, however, if you choose File > Preview in Browser from within Dreamweaver; this is because Dreamweaver processes the include instructions just as a server would.
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. 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 Insert Server-Side Include button on the Invisibles panel of the Object palette. |
| 2 | In the dialog box that appears, enter the path to the file you want to include, or click the folder icon to browse to and select the file, then click OK. |
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