This site employs the "ssFramer" script which comes with the software package "SecondSite" marketed by John Cardinal.  "ssFramer" is an ingenious script, supporting framed sites, which allows a user to link into the site through a back door and presents a framed window. 

The scipt was written to require the frameset page to have a name of "index.htm".  Any other file name and the script will not work.

"ssFramer" works in the following manner:

(1) a user links to a page on the site

(2) as the page is loaded, the browsr encounters a "ssFramer" link statement.  The "ssFramer" script is executed which loads the "index.htm" frameset page.  That code is modified with the name of the linked page substituted in the frame name definition statement and the frameset script is then executed.   

Having the starting name of the frameset page to be "index.htm" can at times present problems when a site has more than one frameset page.  This is one such site.  This site has been in existence on the Internet for some five years. All know the link to the Ott family site is www.schulteis.com/omnibus/ott/index.htm.  Several historical sites have the link coded in their web site.  In order to introduce the "ssFramer" function into the site and not require the linking sites to change their site link(s), this Ott web presented site must be established as a parent/child site.

In the parent folder is the framset "index.htm" which provides the welcome message, pictures of ancestors and other items.  From the welcome page the user enters the SS generated site which resides in the child folder.  The frameset page here is also "index.htm" as required by the "ssFramer" script. 

Looking at the parent child folder makes no sense unless one understands the "ssFramer" script requirement that the framest file name must be "index.htm".  As you cannot have two "index.htm" files in the same folder, you need two folders.

If you are not up on the intricacies of a framed site, the above will probably not make any sense to you.  Will leave it at that.          