skip to main content

CSS and browsers continued....

20 years ago

LazyGardens has some very valid points and it's simply a matter of how you write the HTML code. Different browsers and versions will display pages differently, but this is not what LazyGardens is referring to.

For example, the table on your index page is set to 792. This isn't even defining the unit of measurement, which I assume is pixels, so it should more aptly be 792px. This table size is just fine if you are going to assume ALL people are using 800x600 screen size, BUT..........anyone NOT using 800x600 will see your page totally different. Now instead of 792px, if you simply changed the table size to 100%, the size would ALWAYS be full screen for everyone no matter what their individual settings on their computer are.

When I look at your page, I see 3 columns, but when I look at your code, I see something like 10 columns, with everyone of them defined by a different absolute size. I'm not sure of the reason for this other than just complicating matters.

I would guess when you were setting this up, that your lines were breaking where you didn't want them, so you added "nowrap" to the <td>. Now you have a column with an absolute size, that is not allowed to line break - this is going to cause problems. If your table sizes were defined with % and you used only 3 columns, you would find that you probably didn't need to use "nowrap". "nowrap" is a deprecated tag as well.

Comments (6)

puggybw
Original Author
20 years ago
Here's a rough idea of your page minus about half of the coding that is totally un-necessary in the original.

If you compare the HTML between the 2, you'll see what I mean.
Sample
lazy_gardens
20 years ago
And with absolute pixel sizes, those with high-res monitors like the one I use at work see itty-bitty little tables because the browsre can't expand the number of pixels.

The problem with the WYSIWYG editors is that they give the illusion of control to the author, and the page will look great on the designer's system, they stuff things into the code behind the page that makes the page look bad on othre systems.

It's an eye-opener to go to a friend's house and see the page the way they do ... different system, different monitor, etc.

We used to keep an old system, a collectoin of diffreent browsers, and an AOL account, just to check out page design to make sure it wasn't breaking for the users.
Related Discussions
Jerky Scroll in browser
Q
Comments (12)
I looked at the Device Manager and there was a set of items under "other" that didn't have a driver. One was the Video Driver. I did a "reinstall" on all of them, taking whatever the Wizard could find on the web. This put each of the "Other" items under their proper category, but he "Jerky" scroll continues. Looking at the mouse setting, it is a default that doesn't include scroll, a simple two button mouse. So there's nothing to set up there, except the laptop does have a scroll on the touch-pad, so the factory load for XP must be missing something HP put on to address their hardware. I haven't yet looked for a "synaptics" driver, which I think it too must need (too being my Gateway notebook has that icon, and the mouse utility supports a scrolling function).
...See More
IE9 switch to other browser?
Q
Comments (6)
Try a different browser, like Firefox. It's free and setting it up will only take a few minutes out of your day. Before you discontinue using IE, be sure to clear the cache to eliminate unnecessary files. Click on Tools, Internet Options, then Delete Browsing History, (If you've never done it, that could be a possible cause of your problem. Browsers accumulate a lot of unneeded junk files over time). A PC with Vista is >5 years old, paying for a Windows upgrade is probably ill-advised anyway. It's also possible that the PC has a hardware problem. If erratic behavior continues, it's time to buy a new PC. I personally wouldn't take such an old machine to a tech to diagnose or fix.
...See More
Why change browsers or email programs?
Q
Comments (17)
Some avoid IE on the notion that malware is most often aimed at Windows and it's suite of applications. There's good reason they target those. The close interaction among Microsoft products give them multiple ways to get in. But of course, many people use them and never have a malware problem, because they (1) don't indiscriminately download or open every piece of junk someone forwards to them, (2) they don't open everything a web site invites them to open, (3) they keep a good antivirus/malware program up to date, and (4) they religiously install all MS security patches and service packs. Some take some pleasure in not using EI as sort of a defiant act against MS. There's some perverse bragging also going on. They don't use the browser of the ignorant masses, they use , preferably something the listener hasn't heard of. Kind of like sneering at AOL users. Email clients are mostly just personal preferences, and it's often just whatever they happened to start with. Some are a bit better for one or another persons particular email habits. Note that, since you're using XP, if it was bought many years ago and you're using IE version 6, it is no longer secure, and you should long ago have upgraded. You should also be sure you're now running XP Service Pack 3. Go to: http://support.microsoft.com/ If you have not kept up with security upgrades and service packs, block out some considerable time to download and install everything you need.
...See More
Could any of these errors be my Loading Browser Problem?
Q
Comments (4)
Here is a link to Firefox and pages not loading properly. One of the many possible problems cited may be the add-ons and plug-ins but suggest you take the steps from the top. In your statement of your problem: 1-Error includes the word "chrome" and if that is Google's Chrome you might consider taking care of Chrome at least temporarily. (I avoid using Chrome because I am somewhat paranoid when it comes to Google and accusations of misuse of its data collection.) As to slowness of browsers, you might also look to make sure you do not have too many programs loading when you boot your computer. Here is a link that might be useful: Firefox - pages not loading properly
...See More
Ray Scheel
20 years ago
We still keep an old Mac around for testing certain sites, as well as testing on representative versions of Netscape and IE on Linux, a Mac, and Win 95, ME, and 2000 Professional.

My wife and I still tangle about absolute table sizes in the sites we design. Its "easy" to do to get something looking good on a particular computer setup, but if you are designing a site where it doesn't look acceptable on yesterday's screen resolutions, it is probably designed so it won't look good on the screen sizes of tomorrow either (nevermind that 80% of web browser *are* using yesterday's screens).
lazy_gardens
20 years ago
Ray -
Keep chanting the web designer's mantra:

"Pixels are NOT ink, and CRTs aren't paper."

Expesting a page to look equally good for evreyone is like trhying to have something that looks eaually good in a 2-page spread and on a postcard. Ain't gonna happen.
Ray Scheel
20 years ago
I gave up on looking "equally good" years ago, my goal now is being readable and decent in any sane browser configuration, with it looking its best at 800x600 and larger. Formatting with CSS was the first big step in that direction, and relative sizes for everything else is the other. After that came judicious use of alt text and modularizing content and format elements as much as possible. The only things I have that are fixed sizes are images, since there is no getting around that simply.
lazy_gardens
20 years ago
"The only things I have that are fixed sizes are images, since there is no getting around that simply."

SVG for some things, but not all browsers can see them. For GIF, JPG an dPNg, you are stuck with one sive.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

MOST POPULAR 11 Modern Farmhouses That Could Make You Want to Change Your Life

By Mitchell Parker

Simple forms, cutting-edge materials and casual yet refined good looks characterize homes in this timeless style

HOME TECH Now Playing in Homes Everywhere: TV, the App

It's easier than ever to beam streaming content from mobile devices to your TV screen

REMODELING GUIDES Breakthrough Budgeting Info: The Houzz Real Cost Finder Is Here

Get remodeling and product prices by project and U.S. city, with our easy-to-use interactive tool

MOST POPULAR 8 Great Kitchen Cabinet Color Palettes

By Jennifer Ott Design

Make your kitchen uniquely yours with painted cabinetry. Here's how (and what) to paint them

KITCHEN DESIGN Houzz Quiz: What Kitchen Countertop Is Right For You?

By Jennifer Ott Design

The options for kitchen countertops can seem endless. Take our quiz to help you narrow down your selection

ART New Digital Art Frame Gets Put to the Test

By R. Daniel Foster

Our writer sets up the EO1 at home, then invites artist friends over for a look — at images of their own work. See what they have to say

HOME TECH Is the Timing Finally Right for Framed Digital Art?

By R. Daniel Foster

Several companies are preparing to release digital screens and apps that let you stream artworks and video on your wall

INSIDE HOUZZ Inside Houzz: More Filters Make Photo Browsing Even Better

Find the inspiration you’re looking for faster with room-specific filters for the millions of photos on Houzz

KITCHEN DESIGN Houzz Quiz: Which Kitchen Backsplash Material Is Right for You?

By Jennifer Ott Design

With so many options available, see if we can help you narrow down the selection

REMODELING GUIDES 6 Steps to Planning a Successful Building Project

By Ventana Construction LLC

Put in time on the front end to ensure that your home will match your vision in the end

Sponsored