Frames - benefits and problems
This page is part of the e-journey called Web Site Design and Construction (WSDC), an e-learning tutorial presented by Derek Stockley.
Jakob Nielsen has a very popular article, originally written in 1996, and revised in 1999, that describes the ten things not to do with web sites. It was hard to read his comments about frames, as I included them in my original web site design. More importantly, I retained them in the revised site design - twice! To see the frames pages on my site, select: Frames Pages.
Frames - website structure and appearance
Frames and tables were explained in the: Learning HTML and Other Programming Languages section of this WSDC (Web Site Design and Construction) e-learning program.
As you read this page, it should have three columns. If it doesn't, select: three column display.
Each page comprises three columns, but only two frames. The first or left column is one frame. The second frame contains two - the middle and right columns. The second frame basically consists of two tables to form the columns.
HTML frames and website design
Why did I make it so complicated?
In my original web design, I wanted the left hand column to be my site contents. Wherever you wanted to go, it was there to select. It was always visible. You could select information about my services, background, articles, contact details, etc. very easily. To see the site, select: Home (For ease of use, this will open a new page).
The only exception was the Links Page which opened a new page. This is because there is nothing worse than looking at another site with only two thirds of the screen! This may have happened to you. You normally can't escape the site that referred you to the link. It makes the referral a waste of time. (You can insert JavaScript code in your page to escape this - do a search on "JavaScript" and "frames".)
The same design rules are applied in the revised design. The left frame is the contents. For most of the Derek Stockley site, the left column is the site contents. When you enter the e-learning area, the left frame changes. It provides a contents list of the actual e-learning program you are using. For example, on the left you should now be seeing under the "Derek Stockley - Home" logo, the letters "WSDC" (short for Web Site Design and Construction) and the contents of this tutorial (introduction, road map, my personal journey, etc.)
The right hand yellow column gives pointers to the content of the section you are now reading. It highlights the key content of the section and can be read prior to reading the section in detail. It is also a help for "skimmers".
Frames provide better site exploration
I believe this design using frames gives you better control of your exploration of this site. At most points, you should know where you are. In each e-journey, you know where you have been and are yet to go because the links are color coded.
You can see where you have been by selecting the 
button on the contents list. It refreshes the screen to ensure all visited pages are displayed.
I do open a new window for each external link. When I do, you read: "This opens a new window. Please close it to return to this point. " Some writers state this is annoying. However, it allows a 100% screen, and secondly, it allows you to come back to the e-journey quickly - you just close the window. This is particularly important if you have viewed a number of pages on the link. If the link is good, you may go to ten or more pages. That's a lot of "back" buttons to go through.
Consequences of using frames
So what have been the consequences?
Frames and bookmarks
Sometimes you cannot bookmark a particular page, for example, the third page of an e-learning e-journey. However, you do bookmark the framed page which gives you the contents in the left-hand column.
Alternatively, most pages have the icon:
You can also use this feature to bookmark a particular page without the left column.
Frames and search engine listings/results pages
I have not had a problem with search engines. Most index both the framed and unframed pages. Google has not had a problem. Each page is designed so that it is not an "orphan". Each unframed page has links at both the top and bottom of the page. This enables surfers to get to the framed site quickly.
In fact, this page is a very popular entry page into my site because of search engine referrals!
There are some special techniques that help with search engine ranking. If you are interested in some training or consulting assistance, or general SEO/SEM information, see: Search Engine Optimisation and Marketing.
Frames and website statistics
Web statistics programs that track site traffic can also have problems tracking "framed" traffic. Again, it can be overcome, as my comment in the previous paragraph shows. I still know what search terms you used to reach this page and how many "views" it received. If you need more information, see Website Statistics which explains the website statistics package I use.
Site design decisions
Three column structure
Two frames
Why?
Site contents always visible
E-learning review
Also sub-section contents
Search engine effect
Web statistics
