Some points about frames i HTML

1. It's not standard

I have learnt that the frames-tag is a netscape fix and it isn't even proposed as a standard. This means that you can't use it for your normal services if you want to provide a general service on the net.

What you can do, though, is to experiment with the fix. It is obvious that some elements of this are very useful. This is what we try to show in our little experiment.

2. A few words about functionality

The frames-tag let you split your normal www-window into subwindows by using a layout document that tells the browser which html-file is to be included in which subwindow. A subwindow may contain a new layout document that splits this subwindow into sub-sub-windows (nesting).

The subwindows may be given names so that you may direct the result of a link in one subwindow to another (URL target).

It is also possible to direct the result to a whole new web-browser window.

The "back" functionality is given new meaning in this context. On my unix workstation it works like this:

the back button in the top menu (and the back selection in the go-menu) leaves the whole frames-layout.
the keyboard combination for back (alt-left arrow) gives the previous document in the active subwindow (a subwindow becomes active when you click inside it).

This last point doesn't work on Mac (version 2.01), and as Daphne from Newcastle told me, not on the PC either. But see below.

Some weak points
It is (almost) impossible to get access to the URL of a subwindow. The "Add bookmark" always points to the main frames-layout document, no matter how far you've linked in a subwindow. This means that if you're using frames, you should leave the frames-fix when your links point out of your context.

If a link in a subwindow links to a new frames document it is impossible to get back to the originating subwindow.

If you're using imagemapping it is possible to direct the link result to one and only one other window. You can't target the URLs in the map-file.

Daphne also pointed out that when a link targets a new browser window this fact is not always obvious to the user, especially when the screensize is small.

Do you know how to get around these features? Send us a mail.

Some did, too:

To add a bookmark to a page inside a frame: Bob (at John Hopkins University) said go back to the link that pointed to the page of interest and then hold down the mouse until the menu appears and then "add bookmark for this link".
To go back inside a frame on Macs or PCs: keep the mouse down until the menu appears and then 'Back in frame'. (on a unix workstation the rightmost mousebutton - if you're righthanded).
Browser support for frames: Kelly at Alderman Library, University of Virginia told me: Just an FYI: at least one other browser does support frames--OmniWeb 2.0. This made me modify the first paragraph in this document. Michel from Paris told me that MS Explorer also supports frames (both Mac and PC versions).
Not a standard?: At least: it seems that is proposed now for the IETF.

3. How we use the frames fix in our library experiment

First of all, pages from our normal service will appear in the subwindows. The experiment is not a 100% new release of all our information. Strange things may also happen because of this (tell us if you come across odd things). You may also get information in Norwegian some places.

In the normal www service of the library the documents are headed by a logo with links to the main services (searching, news, books, periodicals etc). These links and a few additions are now placed in the right margin and remain there.

Searching
First, even though we're a part of larger library community (BIBSYS) we hold a local copy of our catalogue for experimental purposes in a local database system (TRIP). We have programmed a http-frontend to this system.

If you use the Search link in the right margin, the subwindow to the left will be divided into three windows (horizontally):

the upper subwindow is where you enter your search string,
the middle subwindow contains short entry hitlist with links to full records,
the lower window will show the full record you chose from the middle subwindow.

The full records have certain links to our housekeeping system (loan request, availability). These links are targeted to the middle subwindow, thus keeping the right context for that information.

When you perform several searches, you may switch between the hitlists in the middle subwindow. Likewise you may switch between records in the lower subwindow. (If your netscape browser allows you, see above).

This three-window search logic resembles the functionality we had in a Xwindows interface three years ago programmed in Simula with a local routine library (windowtools). We had to give this up, when the web was introduced.

Floor plan
Our floor plan is linked to the library catalogue.

If you click on Floor plan in the right margin, a floor plan of our little library will appear on the left. If you click on a section in the main room, the subwindow will be divided vertically into two new subwindows. The leftmost contains a detailed map of the section. A further click (on a subject group or a shelf) will result in a description of the classification of that shelf.

This classification contains two links (targeted as a new browser) into our catalogue. The first (the classification code) points to a list of books on that location, the second to books located elsewhere in the collection.

Ordering
The right margin also contains three button for different requests to the library. These links generate a new browser window with a fill in form suited that kind of request.

Visit the frames pages in our library (not necessary if you're already there).

Any comments? Send them to Knut Hegna.