please help - simple html question hopefully

sorry, im not good at html and i know this is a mess but when i actually
preview this code, the table stretches out vertically and i dont want it
to...if anyone can help that would be brilliant:

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" height="9%">
<tr bgcolor="#CC9933">
<td valign="top" height="2" colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="#CC9933" colspan="2"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="10"></b></font></font><font size="2">Key
Factors in Design:</font></b></font></td>
<td valign="top" height="345" rowspan="10" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="17%">
<div align="right"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/mask_man.jpg"
width="212" height="254" alt="man wearing a mask"></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#CC9933">
<td valign="top" height="2" colspan="4" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="7"></b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" height="11" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%">
<div align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></div>
</td>
<td valign="middle" height="11" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" height="11" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" height="11" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="80%"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">‘The
need for a robust safety culture at the outset</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%">
<div align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></div>
</td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="80%"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">The
plant &amp; equipment that is to be operated and maintained</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%">
<div align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></div>
</td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="80%"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Mix
of offshore and onshore types of plant</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" height="13" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%">
<div align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></div>
</td>
<td valign="middle" height="13" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" height="13" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" height="13" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="80%"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Perceived
abilities and knowledge of the learners</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%">
<div align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></div>
</td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font>
</font></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="80%"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Cultural
background of the learners</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="80%"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">The
need to give 'hands-on' training wherever possible</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="80%"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">To
give experience of some of the types of equipment likely to be used by
the
learners at the assets</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="EFDFA5" width="1%"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">A
range of equipment in order for learners to encounter varying
types</font></td>
</tr>
</table>






thanks so much in advance

louise

louloulouloulou wrote:

sorry, im not good at html and i know this is a mess but when i actually
preview this code, the table stretches out vertically and i dont want it
to...if anyone can help that would be brilliant:

Try this. The key is not to put height or width in the cells where you
have images. The cell will collapse to the dimensions of the image
within it. Therfore creating a more solid construction, void of too many
widths or heights.

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr bgcolor="#CC9933">
<td valign="top" height="2" colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
<td valign="middle" height="2" bgcolor="#CC9933" colspan="2"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="10"></b></font></font><font size="2">Key
Factors in Design:</font></b></font></td>
<td valign="top" rowspan="10" bgcolor="EFDFA5">
<div align="right"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/mask_man.jpg"
width="212" height="254" alt="man wearing a mask"></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#CC9933">
<td valign="top" colspan="4" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="7"></b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" bgcolor="EFDFA5">
<div align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"
color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></div>
</td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td width="100%" valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">‘The
need for a robust safety culture at the outset</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5">
<div align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"
color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></div>
</td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">The
plant &amp; equipment that is to be operated and
maintained</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5">
<div align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"
color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></div>
</td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Mix
of offshore and onshore types of plant</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5">
<div align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"
color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></div>
</td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Perceived
abilities and knowledge of the learners</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5">
<div align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"
color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></div>
</td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font>
</font></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Cultural
background of the learners</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">The
need to give 'hands-on' training wherever possible</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">To
give experience of some of the types of equipment likely to be
used by
the
learners at the assets</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/bullet.gif"
width="6" height="6"></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"><b><img
src="http://www.wavingattrains.com/images/stories/FR_Images/shim.gif"
width="10" height="28"></b></font></font></td>
<td valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">A
range of equipment in order for learners to encounter varying
types</font></td>
</tr>
</table>

Also you need to include the # infront of your <td> color styles
otherwise it wont render correctly x-browser.


<td width="100%" valign="middle" bgcolor="EFDFA5">

needs to be:

<td width="100%" valign="middle" bgcolor="#EFDFA5">

thank you so much - you dont know how much i appreciate it!!!
cheers
lou