Web template system: Difference between revisions

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'''Web Template systems''' are simple software systens used as

"view sub-system"viewer in a [[Model-view-controller]] (or similar) [[Embedded_system#Embedded_software_architectures|embedded architectures]]. It is characterized by:

* [[Template engine]]: the software, it [[preprocessor|processes]] input template and source data, transforming into [[web pages]]. It have two typical entities on input:

** [[Web template]]: thea [[Algorithm|recipe]] with web page fragments, to transform content into [[web pages]].

** ''Content resource'': a input supplier, like a [[SQL]] [[database]] or a [[XML]] file.

* [[Web_template#Template_languages|Template language]] standards: the language of the recipe.

[[Image:WebTemplate1.gif|thumb|right|200px|The basic process on the system: content (from ''database''), and "presentation specifications" (from [[web template]]), producing (through the [[template engine]]) [[web pages]].]]

The main use of ''template systems'' are to [[Separation of concerns|separate]] content from presentation on the [[web design]], and to the massive production of [[web page]]s.

The main use of ''template systems'' are to [[Separation of concerns|separate]] content from presentation on the [[web design]], and to the massive production of [[web page]]s.

== Kinds of template systems ==

There are many software packages and commercial solutions of [[web templates]] and [[template engines]], but they also can be grouped in ''template systems''.

The [[Software architecture|architecture]] of this systems, into a [[Client-server|client-server]] reference model, is the main divion criteria.

Although the use of diverse modern [[web cache]] strategies, architectures can be characterized.

=== Outside server template systems ===

[[Image:StaticTemplates.gif|thumb|left|300px|Outside server template system architecture.]]

''Web template'' on this context can viewed as a ready-made [[web design]], used to mass-produce "cookie cutter" [[website]]s for rapid deployment.

Usually a "simple template" will include most of the source files necessary for further customizing the template using most modern [[WYSIWYG]] editors such as [[Macromedia Dreamweaver]], [[BlueFish]], [[Amaya]] or [[Microsoft FrontPage|FrontPage]], or in plain text editors such as [[Notepad]] or [[Vim (text editor)|VIM]].

On [[Macromedia Dreamweaver]] the item may also include a graphical template created in Adobe Photoshop or Macromedia Fireworks MX making it easy to edit or customise graphics and images.

A [[Microsoft FrontPage|FrontPage]] web template is one used only with [[Microsoft]]'s FrontPage software. One of the more unique features of FrontPage is that it has built in support for automated and easy to use web templates. The main distinction between these templates and other universal HTML templates is that FrontPage templates include an automatic navigation system that creates animated buttons for pages that have been added by the user, and creates an advanced multi-level navigation system on the fly using the buttons and the structure of the web site. FrontPage templates also commonly include FrontPage themes in place of [[Cascading Style Sheets|CSS]] styles.

A Flash web template uses [[Macromedia Flash]] to create visually appealing sites. Flash sites make use of visual effects employed by Flash. Flash is also used for many website intros.

=== Server-side template system ===

[[Image:ServerSideTemplates.gif|thumb|300px|left|Server-side template system.]]

=== Distributed template systems ===

[[Image:ClientSideTemplates.gif|thumb|left|300px|[[Distributed computing|Distributed]] (non-centered) template system.]]

=See also=

* [[Smarty]]

* [[XSLT]]

* [[XML Sapiens]]

* [[UIML]]

[[Category:Web server software]]

[[Category:Scripting languages]]

[[Category:Template engines]]