Tables with pictures

[claudiaM]

Hi,

I have created a table of 7 rows and 3 cols and I have “spanned” several rows of the first column. In that cell, I want to top align and horizontally center a small image. I have tried inserting a layer in that cell but the image doesn’t seem to be in a fixed place from browser to browser and sometimes it’s positioned way off.

I know that using the option “convert>layers to table” helps with positioning layers correctly but that option is always greyed-out even when I try to use it in other pages where I place images outside layers.

Does anyone have any idea why “convert> layers to table” is greyed-out?

Or, does anyone know how I can set an absolute distance for my picture relative to cell’s top border? (if that makes any sense)

Thanks
claudiaM

[Compguy Pete]

OMG! That is a handful you have there!

Let me reword your question I'll then answer it and you tell me if I'm correct. If my reworked question is correct my answer should then help.

You have a table of 7 rows and 3 cols after spanning several of those rows to fit a photo inside you/I cannot get the image to fit as you would like.

So thinking that a layer might help to and then convert it to a table you find that option is grayed out and your current stuck.

My solution and thoughts:
Layers to table - bad idea, forget it's there

It sounds like your new with the web design so I'll keep this simple and stick with tables vs. trying to convert you to CSS and the like.

When working with tables there are times when you need to work with the table vs. the content within and vice-versa for the content over the table... "Think locally not globally" or "think globally not locally"

One thing you'll find is if you’re selected on the table row and do content center it wont work outside the application... In preview mode it looks all wrong. So if you’re going to center all the content within a cell you need to do it while you’re on the <TD> tag.

You may have seen the Horizontal and Vertical spacing option for images, that may not work for you here but give it a shot. Using the proper tag for your job here. However keep in mind with this option if you do 5 vertical that will give 5 pixels of space on the top and bottom. If you only want top you'll need to create a style for that in CSS Styles. (Something I can help with if needed.)

So the other key here is to know about the quick tag select option that will help you zoom in on a tag or group of tags in a document. It’s at the bottom of the document window. Whichever tag you’re on will highlight in bold to show which tag you’re in the design mode.

[claudiaM]

Hi Compguy Pete,

Thanks for the reply.

You simplified my question correctly… I wanted to vertically center a small image in several spanned rows. (sounds simple now :) )

I solved my problem in a simple way…
I de-merged the rows and inserted my small image in the two center rows (merged only two rows instead of initial five). I left the rest of the rows blank. This doesn’t make my image perfectly centered but it looks good in all the browsers I tested it on.

ClaudiaM

[Compguy Pete]

"perfectly centered" is hard to make happen when we're forced to adjust for different computers and browsers.

The best we can hope for is "good enough" at times.

OH if only the web was as easy as Print design.