Frame vs Master Page

Question

Age old argument, I know. But your thoughts on this specific example.

I have a sliding menu much like in Office 2003. I don't want the user to lose which one they had expanded at the time they clicked on something. Now I could go the route as to stare it with their username in the db? Or I could use frames.

Just picking brains to get other's thoughts as I start a new project.

Lisa M · Answer

Do you think it's ok practice then to have all your content per se in an update panel? I was thinking about that or an IFrame. But then all my work would be done in the update panel. IE say user administration. I have the Outlook menu on the left and they click to edit user and then everything happens in the update panel, bringing up the page, saving of the data. Wouldn't using an update panel mean that I have to put all my pages on one page in the update panel? Or is it like an IFrame?

DiasparkDotNet DiasparkDotNet · Answer

A good solution might be : Master pages with a combination of floating frame(IFrame), this is a good solution of your task, since you don't want to load the menu on multiple round trips and persist its current selected position. Master page with AJAX tool kits update panels will also serve the pupose(they use internally floating frames only) that provides the partial post backs. This is the latest way to manage partial postbacks by saving performance, whole page posting back can be avoided, screen flickering can be managed and user interface also looks professional. Thanx