iframe

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Ranked #212 in Squidoo Tips, #31,437 overall

iframes

R.I.P. The iframe Tag. Deceased 12th July 2007. 

The humble iframe tag... actually, the iframe tag is anything but humble. It's quite powerful. And it opens up a window of opportunity for webmasters and lensmasters alike...

Except for lensmasters, who used to use it to do things in their TEXT/WRITE module that couldn't be done any other way. But that's in the past now.

ATTENTION: Squidoo's new policy on iframes 

On July 12 Squidoo disabled the iframe tag and it's amazing ability to enhance, improve and empower your lenses.

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What Wikipedia says about the iframe 

IFrame (from inline frame) is an HTML element which makes it possible to embed another HTML document inside the main document.

The size of the IFrame is specified in the surrounding HTML page, so that the surrounding page can already be presented in the browser while the IFrame is still being loaded. The IFrame behaves much like an inline image and the user can scroll it out of view. On the other hand, the IFrame can contain its own scroll bar, independent of the surrounding page's scroll bar.

While regular frames are typically used to logically subdivide the content of one website, IFrames are more commonly used to insert content (for instance an advertisement) from another website into the current page.

Source

Recommended Reading 

This book won't just improve your grasp on iframes, it'll set you on the road to becoming a HTML guru!

HTML Mastery: Semantics, Standards, and Styling

Amazon Price: $25.54 (as of 11/11/2009) Buy Now

Do It Yourself 

The thing to keep in mind with iframes is that they work a bit differently than frames. It's more like a 'window' in your webpage (or in our case 'module') that displays a target URL (another webpage).

They're not hard to do once you've got the hang of it.

In fact if you go to the i-Frame Code Generator you can do it without having to know much about HTML.

Just enter the details of how you want your iframe to look, the url you want to show within the iframe and the code will be generated for you.

Be sure to also check out Jeffry Vance's lens on iframes where he demonstrates multiple uses of the powerful iframe.

With an iframe you can add a printable coupon! 

The iframe can be used to target a page that can be printed by itself. Click on the printer icon to see how it prints just the graphics.

A step-by-step tutorial on how to do it is found here.

Add your own Amazon search box! 

You'll first need to be an Amazon Associate (affiliate). But after that it's so easy. In fact they GIVE you the iframe code to use. Just copy and paste the code into your Text/Write module.

Add an Opt-in Form 

MrLewisSmile gives a four step tutorial on how to add an opt-in form to your lens.

Be careful what you iframe 

iframes should only really be used for html pages that have intentionally been made with a specific function in mind.

Don't iframe whole webpages from other sites. It'll look ghastly with a horizontal scroll bar as well as a vertical scroll bar.

It's yet to be confirmed but having a target page with a bit of code that 'breaks out of frames' can cause you to be locked out of your lens.

How would that happen?

By inserting and saving a Write/Text module to such a page will automatically load the page even in edit mode. Once loaded it'll bust out of the iframe and reload in the browser window. Thus stopping you from editing your lens, each and every time.

It would seem that Myspace has such a function.

So don't try putting your Myspace profile in an iframe. In fact avoid putting whole webpages of just any website in an iframe. Just link to them as normal if you really need your visitor to see it.

Do you have a lens with an iframe? 

Post it here so others can see how you've used an iframe to empower your lens.

Chris_B wrote...

I create a script that displays search results from ClickBank, and can display the output as ads in a similar style to Adwords, (ie banner or skyscraper) - but more profitable!!

And yes ... it used the to display results. So I joined both MySpace and Squidoo to see if the code would work. And of course got shot in the foot as neither now allow

Oh well, you live and learn! (I'm now waiting for Wordpress to put the mockers on things!!)

ReplyPosted October 13, 2008

thefluffanutta wrote...

For anyone missing the Amazon Product links, I've built a tool that will generate Squidoo compatible code that looks similar. See the Amazon Links lens for details.

ReplyPosted September 04, 2007

webseitler wrote...

I know (from my web designer husband) that the iframes were bad news for Squidoo. But now I'm torn because I just discovered a widget on another site (a site I wanted to make a lens on) and now I can't use it! Boo hoo. So my vote is for "Lens Masters We Can Trust."

ReplyPosted August 21, 2007

billc wrote...

They have made a VERY bad decision in disabling iFrames. If one person crashes their car on the freeway, does that mean we should no longer be allowed to drive? This will come back and bite them very hard and people will look to other sites for hosting their content. Bring em back or else

ReplyPosted August 17, 2007

Forgiven wrote...

I really miss the it! =(
I used iframes to show christian videos not on youtube but GodTube. Oh well, I can't say that I blame em! I was once auto forwarded to a bad site because of an iframe.
Nice lens Glen!

ReplyPosted August 07, 2007

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