Pulling CMSMS Template for External Store

[schipper]

I am currently working on a new site design for hosting company which uses Parallels as their storefront.

I have configured the "non-store" (http) pages using CMSMS. Now i need to integrate the same look onto the Parallels system (using their https).

Obviously i could "copy and paste" the HTML source code from the current site, upload images to the secure server, but this would be problematic in that any updates made by the client would then not be reflected in any of the "Store" pages.

Is there an easy way to just reference the template directly from CMSMS so its all in one place, instead of having a "stale" copy repeated in the Parallels system?

I am trying to find out more about the Parallels system as i write this - but it doesnt look like it supports PHP - though if it did, i thought it may be a solution to create separate header/footer page templates within CMSMS and call them from Parallels.

I also thought about using an iFrame from within the CMSMS to call the store - but then issues would arise from it having to be a HTTPS secure server for processing cards, etc...?

I am sure i am not alone in my search for an answer to this issue. Please advise... ask questions if i am not clear....

Thank you!

[Wishbone]

You might have to divide your template into several templates and include them as <iframes> in your other website.

Example, you might create a template for your header, your left and right sidebars and your footer.

Your html would be similar to:

[header iframe]
[left iframe] [content] [right iframe]
[footer iframe]

I do something similar to my forums when I want the main website's menus and announcments in the forum template.

[schipper]

I bet that would work.. hadnt thought of doing the iframes the "other way around" -- I'll try it and see if i run into problems.

Thanks!

[schipper]

The iFrames worked for the most part, however, now i am having a z-index/layering issue with the navigation drop down and the content below it.

Currently my drop down is about 6 links long, which works fine with the layout, HOWEVER, IF the drop down were to go any longer, then the iframe would have to push down the content and there would be too much white space between the header and the footer.

SO - i said i'd do a transparent iFrame and use z-index and some positioning to put the CONTENT from the STORE underneath the header iFrame and it's drop downs.

But once i did that, the links that were in the CONTENT area and under the iFrame area were unclickable?

I dont have a working example anymore to show, but i did test it in different browsers and platforms and it was all acting the same way.

Is there some sort of way to make it so that the links are still clickable even if they are showing underneath the iFrame above it?

Everything LOOKS ok, its just that when you hover over a link it doesnt go active or does not allow you to click on it, but you can highlight the text.