Layout or Tables..Thats the question.

Humor - it was humor! 8)

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"John at NF" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Thanks to all for advice. I have decided Tables & CSS is the way to go...
Now
for a steep learning curve. Not sure what Murray meant by..."Too late He's
Busted" humour or sarcasm Hmmmm ?
Once again thanks everyone.

Where does one find a good tutorial on using tables and CSS with layers.

Just curious
Jennie

keeley wrote:

Where does one find a good tutorial on using tables and CSS with layers.

Just curious
Jennie

http://www.projectseven.com/tutorials/css/css_td/index.htm

CSS/Table cunstruction.

Gordon M

I'm wondering why you don't recommend the Layout view? I haven't used it as I
have been using tables since I began designing 5 years ago but was recently
looking at the Layout view. It seemed easy at first but then seemed difficult
to manage. I wanted to know if it was worth learning but am seeing it's
probably not. Would like to know why though.

A CSS training site I like is http://www.csszengarden.com/.

thanks all.

In my opinion, there are three serious problems with Layout Mode -

1. Perhaps most importantly, it sits between you and *real* HTML tables,
and fools you into believing that concepts like "layout cell" and
"autostretch" really mean something. They do not. As long as you use
Layout Mode, you'll never learn one of the most important things for new web
developers - how to build solid and reliable tables.

2. Actually, #1 wouldn't be *so* bad, except that the code that is written
by Layout Mode is really poor code. For example, a layout table contains
MANY empty rows of cells. This alone contributes nearly more than anything
else to a table's instability. In addition, if your initial definition of
the table is a bit complex, Layout Mode will throw in col- and rowspans
aplenty as it merges and splits cells willy-nillly to achieve the layout you
have specified. Again, this is an extremely poor method for building stable
tables, because it allows changes in one tiny cell's shape (i.e.,
dimensions) to ripple through the rest of the table, usually with unexpected
and sometimes disastrous consequences.

3. The UI for Layout Mode is beyond confusing - many options that you might
want to use are inaccessible. To see evidence of this, search this forum
for the number of two post threads -

Post #1 - Why can't I insert a <your favorite page element here> on my page?
Post #2 - Get out of Layout Mode!

To make good tables, keep it simple. Put a table on the page, and begin to
load your content. If you would want a different table layout, instead of
merging or splitting cells, consider stacking tables or nesting simple
tables instead, respectively.

And above all, do not try to build the whole page with a single table!

To read more about this approach, visit the DW FAQ link in my sig, and run
through the table tutorials.


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Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
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"elpear" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

I'm wondering why you don't recommend the Layout view? I haven't used it
as I
have been using tables since I began designing 5 years ago but was
recently
looking at the Layout view. It seemed easy at first but then seemed
difficult
to manage. I wanted to know if it was worth learning but am seeing it's
probably not. Would like to know why though.

A CSS training site I like is http://www.csszengarden.com/.

thanks all.

Thanks Murray. That really helps me understand it. Glad to know I'm doing things correctly!

Never using Layout mode again would be a good first step in table rehab....

8)

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
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"elpear" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Thanks Murray. That really helps me understand it. Glad to know I'm doing
things correctly!