Chapter 5. Frames, Frames, and More Frames

Frames are a useful feature of HTML, though they have fallen somewhat out of favor over the past few years. In this chapter, we'll demonstrate how to harness the power of JavaScript to make frames even more useful.

A frame consists of at least three pages of HTML. The first, called the frameset, sets up the dimensions of each of the child frames. The frameset is referred to in JavaScript as top or parent. The remainder of the pages fit into the panes that the frameset has created and are the child pages. These can be named anything you choose. Figure 5.1 shows a frameset that creates two child frames, "left" and "content".

Table 5.1. Just Enough HTMLFrames

Tag	Attribute	Meaning
frameset		Specifies that the page consists of two or more framed pages; contains the frame tags that specify the particular pages.
	cols	The column dimensions (proportional or fixed), in pixels, of each frame.
frame		The location and attributes of each framed page.
	id	Used by JavaScript to refer to one of the pages in the frameset.
	name	An alternate method by which JavaScript can refer to one of the pages in the frameset.
	src	The physical location (i.e., the URL) of the page loaded into the frame.
iframe		An internal frame, displayed inside the calling HTML page.
	id	JavaScript uses this to refer to the iframe.
	name	JavaScript can alternately use this to refer to the iframe.
	src	The URL of the iframe page.
	width	The width (in pixels or percent) of the iframe.
	height	The height (in pixels or percent) of the iframe.
	align	Aligns the iframe right or left.
	frameborder	Displays a border around the iframe.