Using Includes
One of the steps to writing more readable and maintainable code is to
write code as modular as possible. When writing ASP there are often chunks
of code which you find yourself reusing quite often. For example, you may
reuse a footer or header or both on each of your webpages (4Guys makes
extensive use of footers, headers, what's new pages, etc.)
Also you may have a set of client-side form validation functions written, or
some server-side functions that you use often. Rather than cutting and
pasting these functions into each ASP page that needs them, it is advised
that you employ the use of server-side includes.
To use server side includes, outside of your ASP code (i.e., outside of
the <% and %>), include the following line:
<!--#include file="somefile.asp"-->
This will include the file somefile.asp into your ASP page, as though it
had all been typed in there by hand. (The above example assumes that
somefile.asp is in the same directory as the ASP page which is calling it
with the SSI.)
For a more detailed explanation of server side includes (with examples of
include file and include virtual, check out
Charles Carrol's
Include Tutorial.
Happy Programming!
