Background... I'm in the very early stages of creating my website. The main pages will be about me (a main hub with lots of links to more detailed info), some random stuff - visitor content, links to other sites and an e-mail form so people can contact me. I will be using HTML/CSS (external/linked) apart from the odd bit of javascript or whatever if I find some cool scripts I want to use!

My idea for the layout is to have the title at the top and two side panels (with the links, counter, 'sign my guestbook' link, shoutbox and splashy stuff) which would stay the same. The only way I can think of doing it would be to use an iframe for the actual pages to load in... I know virtually nothing about iframes! :(

Questions... Is there another way? I wanted to keep it simple really so I don't have to spend much time experimenting to get things right and working properly. Does anyone have any other ideas/examples for a layout that would work for me but doesn't involve iframes or anything? Is it worth using iframes or do you think it would be more hassle than it's worth?

Are you hoping to have a content area in between the two side panels? Why do you feel that you need to use an iFrame? What is it that you're trying to achieve?

Yes. I want the page contents to load seperately from the side panels and site title as I want the stuff in the side panels there all the time, instead of having a home page loaded with little bits and bobs like the counter and shoutbox. An iframe is the only way I can think of doing it, without having the whole page made with frames (of which there would be four, or three if I have just one side panel) as they're not liked by search engines (and people sometimes!).