Server-side includes made simple

Server-side include (SSI) codes allow Webmasters to insert content into their Web pages on-the-fly without programming knowledge. Using these codes effectively can mean an exponential decrease in the time spent maintaining a large or medium-sized Web site. Most Web servers have server-side functionality to some extent; a few allow great flexibility with if-then statements and the ability to set variables. This article describes the functionality of SSI, how to enable the codes an a Web server, and a step-by-step process for implementing them. Examples of their use on a large academic library's Web site are included for illustration.