Tables within tables etc

**gd4** · 02-02-2006 05:59 AM

I want to have a cell in a table to have a background (text on top)...is this possible? Or do I need to have a table within a table?

I want to be able to:

1 - have a background to a section within a table.
2 - Have the background stretch to fit (100%)
3 - The text I will have ontop of this section with the background may over flow and so I want to have an auto scroll on it.

I am not very keen on using frames etc

Hope that all makes sense!

Thanks to anyone who can help/guide/advise me

**Robert Wellock** · 02-02-2006 01:17 PM

Do not nest tables! Try learning CSS if you just want to posistion things.

**Pixelchik** · 02-02-2006 03:48 PM

Hey Robert

I still haven't gotten into CSS yet, so I'm still using nested tables and other old coding methods. Why is doing that such a bad thing? Also, do any WYSIWYG applications provide CSS tools that are easy to use? (It took me forever to just figure out HTML)

**gd4** · 02-03-2006 07:31 AM

Ok - but i still dont know where to begin...can anyone help please?

Why is nested tables bad and how would i do this using nested tables?

**pcthug** · 02-03-2006 07:47 AM

Tables aren't needed:

Code:

<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
<!--
body {
	margin: 0;
	padding: 0;
}
#somestyle {
	overflow: auto; /* overflow: scroll; May also be used, it' will have the apperance of frames */
	height: 100%;
	width: 100%;
}
-->
</style>
</head>

<body>
<div id="somestyle">
Content Goes Here...
</div>
</body>
</html>

**Charles** · 02-03-2006 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by gd4

Why is nested tables bad?

HTML isn't about presentation, it's about describing how the different parts of a page fit together logically. The TABLE element is for describing how data falls into intersecting categories in the same way that the P element is for indicating a paragraph. Put another way:

Tables should not be used purely as a means to layout document content as this may present problems when rendering to non-visual media. Additionally, when used with graphics, these tables may force users to scroll horizontally to view a table designed on a system with a larger display. To minimize these problems, authors should use style sheets to control layout rather than tables.
From the HTML 4.01 Specification

**gd4** · 02-03-2006 08:29 AM

Thanks for taking the time to reply and explain things

Its all going over my head a bit though :-/ I think I maybe could do with going back to basics! Can anyone point me in the direction of CSS tutorials etc? or some decent tutorial stuff on the net/book??

Thanks

**Charles** · 02-03-2006 08:47 AM

http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/#tutorials

DO NOT GO PAST THE FIRST TWO LIST ITEMS, the three by Dave Raggett. You have been warned.

**gd4** · 02-03-2006 09:04 AM

Thanks

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