NOTE: As with any major change to a website, we recommend that you back up your web prior to attaching a DWT (Dynamic Web Template) as a precautionary measure. Backing up in FrontPage 2003 is much easier than in prior versions. Simply select File, Publish Site, then click the radio button for the File System option. Browse to a location on your hard drive, then type in an appropriate web directory name (such as backup_web) and press OK. You will receive a prompt that the web does not exist, asking if you would like FrontPage to create one. Select Yes, and publish as usual.
New Web, or New Page within Existing Web
Open a new page in FrontPage 2003 (click the "blank page" icon to Create a New Normal Page in the upper left toolbar). Select Format, Dynamic Web Templates, Attach Dynamic Web Template... Locate the DWT you wish to attach in the pop-up window, and select Open.
Existing Web, No Template Used
You may attach a DWT either one page at a time, or you may elect to attach a DWT to several pages at once. If you are attaching your very first DWT, you should attach to only one page first (much easier to Undo than attaching to multiple pages) to familiarize yourself with the process.
- One page at a time: Open the page in Design view. From the Menu, select Format, Dynamic Web Template, Attach Dynamic Web Template... Locate the DWT you wish to attach in the pop-up window, and select Open. You will then be prompted to assign content to regions.
- Multiple pages at once: Open your Folder List (View, Folder List). With the CTRL key on your keyboard depressed, left-click over each file name you will be attaching the DWT to, releasing the CTRL key when finished. Your selected files will be highlighted in your Folder List. From the Menu, select Format, Dynamic Web Template, Attach Dynamic Web Template... Locate the DWT you wish to attach in the pop-up window, and select Open. You will then be prompted to assign content to regions.
Existing Web Built within NON-DWT Template
You must prepare your web by removing the design elements of the template currently in use, as well as existing navigational and banner elements (see our Step by Step Instructions for the recommended method). We have provided methods of accomplishing this in our "Preparing an Existing Web to Attach DWTs" tutorial. When your existing web is prepared, you may proceed to your choice of Step One or Step Two as defined above.
