Dreamweaver CC doesn't grok Apache SSI

Report · Aug 13, 2022

Unless I've missed a configuration to Dreamweaver, it doesn't seem to understand Apache 2.4. SSI.

The following should display "misc pam-current-link", which it does when loaded on an apache server. Instead, it displays "pam-current-link foobar", treating the SSI commands completely as comments.

Here's the sample code:

<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Untitled Document</title>
</head>

<body>


pam-current-link

foobar


</body>
</html>

Report · Aug 13, 2022

Dreamweaver is not a server. It's a code editor. Live view emulates a local Chrome browser. Nothing more.

To parse content locally, you must install a local testing server. Wamp, Xampp, Mamp, etc... and configure your local server to parse the includes you're using.

I typically work with PHP includes and MySQL data. I have installed Wamp server on my local hard drive and defined it as my testing server in DW's Manage Sites panel. See screenshots.

Local site

Add new server

Basic tab

Advanced tab

Final screen showing Remote & Testing servers

Hope that helps.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User, Community Expert & Moderator

Report · Aug 13, 2022

Hi Nancy,

That's quite a detailed response, I do appreciate your time. Just FYI, I have local servers set up that I use. You do realize, I am sure, that using SSI include files without support for this from the editing program makes both the design and live features nearly useless.

I won't belabor that point, but instead refer you to Adobe's documentation:

I gather that this has been removed and that's viewed as an improvement? While I don't share that view, a note

to that effect could be included in the documentation and would have saved me some time.

Best,

Scott

Report · Aug 13, 2022

Switch to LIVE view (Ctrl+Shift+F11).

LIVE view displays PHP SSIs just fine for me.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User, Community Expert & Moderator

Report · Aug 13, 2022

@Nancy OShea , the OP is talking about Apache SSI, not PHP SSI.

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Report · Aug 14, 2022

I wonder if the Apache server is running & properly configured.

Apache > httpd.conf

https://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/howto/ssi.html

Nancy O'Shea— Product User, Community Expert & Moderator

Report · Aug 14, 2022

Yes, the apache server is correctly configured. All my apache servers are properly configured. The public server as well as the ones on my development computers. That's the only way I can see the results of the SSI's, as I mentioned in my original post. The Dreamweaver live screens are completely useless for any files that use SSI's..

What's even peachier is that there's some fossilized code buried deep within Dreamweaver that actually recognizes when you use the Apache include file syntax. This causes Dreamweaver to create empty files which have the same name as your created files. When you close the primary file, Dreamweaver then offers to 'save' the include files it creates, but of course, that would be a disaster, since it would overwrite your existing content with an empty file.

As I said, just peachy.

I've been reading more here and it seems that Dreamweaver is being discontinued by Adobe. That's a pity. Perhaps Adobe will release the code when they stop selling it, so that those of us that like it can fix some of these problems.

Report · Aug 13, 2022

Thiss 14 year old video shows that it is possible with Dreameweaver using the correct configuration:

https://youtu.be/wJfvIGMru0M

Wappler, the only real Dreamweaver alternative.

Report · Aug 14, 2022

Thanks Ben. Unfortunately, the software has been improved to the point where it can't do that anymore. It's nice to see it worked at one time.