automating changes ( in left or right nav bar for example)

[jhg60]

How do others deal with making changes less work and less complicated?

I realize the importance and need for efficiency in making changes to my website. For example, if I have few pages it easy enough to add one more link to my nav bar on each and every page. This is time consuming and slow...I open each page and insert changes and double check for errors, etc.

But as my website grows I need to figure out how to make a new nav bar and insert it all, or part, into all my existing pages instantly. I use Dreamweaver MX, some simple PHP, CSS, and have experimented with templates. I know that CSS is for controling STYLE but what about inserting text content or updating code????

Is there a way to get either a CSS or a template to insert code (text+links)into my nav bars so that when I make one change it changes all my pages? I am sure that when big sites make these changes they have a way to make it simple and quick.

Maybe I have just what I need in Dreamweaver and just don't realize???
Thanks for any ideas,
John

[sjlplat]

I create a php file containing the code for my nav bar, then use the PHP include() function to add it to existing pages. This allows you to edit one file to make changes to your entire site.

[Chella]

I use PHP includes, and CSS to set all the style attributes (et al) for my websites.

[jhg60]

Thanks for the great ideas. I explored "include" and it works well (after I got all the links right!). John