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How do I declare a default DOCTYPE in my new web pages in Microsoft FrontPage?
In Microsoft FrontPage, there is a file on your computer that is used as the 'template' for the new_page_1.htm that's created either when you open your web or when you hit the "New Page" button. The file is called "Normal.htm".
In a normal install of FrontPage 2003, this file is in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates\1033\PAGES11\normal.tem\
In a normal install of FrontPage 2000 and 2002, this file is in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates\1033\Pages\normal.tem\
You can open this file in FrontPage and edit it like you would any other web page. Navigate to the directory where the file is located, open the file and choose File | Properties. You can add things that you want to be common to all the new web pages you create from this point on in all your webs, like Meta tags and DOCTYPE.
Here's a DOCTYPE statement that you can copy and paste into the template, it goes before the <html> tag (in Code/HTML View). The DOCTYPE statement must be at the very beginning of your page. To see what I mean, do a View | Source on this page.
When you've added it, do a File | Save As Normal.htm (Yes, you want to overwrite the file). From that point on, every new page you create will have a valid DOCTYPE declaration.
Known exceptions:
- When you create a new web and a home page is created for that web (either index.htm or Default.htm), the Normal.htm is not used as a template for that page.
- In FrontPage 2002 and 2003, there are several wizards you can use to create a new web - these wizards do not use the Normal.htm file as a template when creating the new web.
For more information:
Fixing Your Site With the Right DOCTYPE
Using the Right DOCTYPE by Eric Meyer
In HTML 4.01, the declaration refers to a DTD, because HTML 4.01 was based on SGML. The DTD specifies the rules for the markup language, so that the browsers render the content correctly.
Strict Document Type Definition
Transitional Document Type Definition
Frameset Document Type Definition
HTML5 is not based on SGML, and therefore does not require a reference to a DTD.
