[RESOLVED] Text raggedy in IE - Good in Firefox, Safari

[robototitico]

Hello kind friends,

My problem is that my site's text looks ok in Firefox and Safari, but in Internet Explorer (Have tested it in 6,7,and 8), the text is raggedy. (I realise raggedy is not a technical term!)

My css puts the text in px, would it work better in em? What is the issue and how do I fix it?

Here is my site: Click here (http://www.farmads.ie)

I have recently installed a portfolio type website for my girlfriend (which I got for 11 dollars from themeforest) and the text displays clearly in all browsers.

I dont understand why my site can't have crisp text like the template I got for her. I am using a well known classified ads script.

Looking forward to your responses and getting this resolved,

Thank you and best wishes,

Vincent

PS: the problem is most evident on the individual ad pages, as there is most regular text on those pages.

[tirna]

Personally I use em or pt for font sizes. Imo there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question which units should I be using.

But here is a discussion of the pros and cons of using em, px, pt, % and using a mixture of them.

http://css-discuss.incutio.com/wiki/Using_Font_Size

[robototitico]

So you think that the unit type is the problem in this case? If not, how can one ascertain what the problem is exactly?

The template I installed for my GF that looks nice, all the units are em.

[tirna]

without seing your code, all I can say is that it could be.

If you haven't already, maybe have a look at the link I posted where the pros and cons of the various units are described and then maybe try changing your units and sizes to see if the text improves on the screen.

[tracknut]

Is this perhaps on a Windows XP machine that doesn't have ClearType turned on? I'm looking at your page in IE and FF and can't see any differences. My suspicion is the issue is related to that particular PC, and not IE.

Dave

[robototitico]

Thanks for your answers guys.

@tracknut - I am using Vista Home Basic. I will try turning on ClearType, but if that was the case, how come its only my website that looks bad, and not others? As I say, other websites have text that looks good in my IE, but not the text in mine.

[robototitico]

Ok, So I turned on Clear Type, as per the instructions on the Microsoft website. My site still looks raggedy however.

Here are some screenshots:

Firefox (http://www.farmads.ie/ff.jpg)
Internet Explorer (http://www.farmads.ie/IE.jpg)

[tracknut]

I was fiddling aound in IE8, to see if I could make mine look like yours. Yes I can! If I switch the browser to "compatibility view", then the fonts become a bit pixelly, like yours.

Unfortunately, I can't give you the ins and outs of why you're viewing the site in Compatibility View, I just don't know what's up with it. Is Compatibility View something you've set on purpose, or could just turn off with no ill effect?

I don't have a copy of IE6 or 7 handy, I suppose this might correct IE8, but still leave you with the issue in IE6 and 7...

Dave

[robototitico]

I am not using compatibility view.

My question is this however, if it is my machine, why is it that other websites look ok on my IE, and only my site looks bad.

I am wondering if it is something to do with not having good css. I read somewhere that good developers sometimes write different css instructions for different browsers. Maybe my site is lacking nuanced CSS?

[Fang]

These filters are the causefilter:alpha(opacity=20)

[robototitico]

!!! Thank you Fang. You are 100% correct! I commented out the filter. Now my site's rendering is perfect. Have I used enough exclamation marks that my gratitude is properly communicated??!!!

Thanks again,

Reg. Barclay

[robototitico]

I really appreciate it.

[Fang]

No problem, we are here to help.