How to Edit Website Templates
by Brandy Alexander, Demand MediaWebsite templates are ready-made documents created for general use by web page designers. Often, these files are helpful when you want to save time and simply edit the content of a previously designed page. It is also helpful if you do not have a good grasp of the coding language, but would like to take advantage of the capabilities anyway. You can easily find and edit a template to meet the needs of your own website.
Items you will need
- Website template
- HTML text editor, such as Dreamweaver
Step 1
Access website templates by going to sites like FreeWebsiteTemplates.com, TemplatesBox.com and Metamorphozis.com, or opt to search the web using search terms like "free website templates" to get alternate listings. If you require a particular type of template, such as Cascading Style Sheets, use words like "CSS templates" to get accurate results.
Step 2
Click the "Download" or similar link next to your chosen template and follow the prompts to install the file on your desktop. Typically, the download includes a folder with the requested file(s) and any notes for using your templates.
Step 3
Read through any terms or conditions in the downloaded file, typically labeled "ReadMe" or "Notes," and look to see if any usage requirements are listed. For example, template creators may require that you leave any ownership credits in place so that if others view the source code of your file, they know where to find the template and use it too.
Step 4
Launch an HTML text editor, such as Dreamweaver, and use the "Open" function on the "File" menu to grab the downloaded document on your desktop and open it.
Step 5
Edit the template and change it to fit your needs. For example, you can double-click text and simply type over the words to enter your own data, or click on an image and use the text editor's "Insert" function to add your own graphic.
Step 6
Save your edited template and rename it, if preferred, to the title of your choice.
