CSS vs. Tradition

SeanieC · #1 07-18-2006, 06:43 AM

Is CSS better then the traditional Table building? I've seen a few impressive CSS dependent sites but are they really that simple to make?

Whats better, total CSS or traditional tables with some CSS included?

NogDog · #2 07-18-2006, 06:49 AM

http://www.hotdesign.com/seybold/

SeanieC · #3 07-18-2006, 07:12 AM

Hmm interesting, I especially like the points about mixing content with structure. I formed this poll because I was curious of how web design is changing at the moment, and it seems as though more and more people are making their sites CSS based. BUT, saying that, I have just started a new website http://www.woooza.net/runescape/ and it would seem a lot of work to change it all from nested tables to CSS, but that could be because I don't know the actual work involved. Could I get the same results in CSS as I did using nested tables?

Thanks,

**David Harrison** · #4 07-18-2006, 07:16 AM

That would be a fairly easy site to make with CSS, header floated next to a form, unordered list for navigation underneath, couple of columns and a footer.

I used to use tables and font tags and all the other presentational markup, now I use CSS, CSS is a LOT easier than the messy table route.

SeanieC · #5 07-18-2006, 07:19 AM

Well I do use CSS instead of the font tags, and try to use CSS everywhere else I can. But the thing I have noticed with CSS, correct me if I am wrong, is that it is a lot of work to get everything looking just right, whereas using nested tables you have a clear idea of how it will look when you save and upload. I might be wrong here so don't flame me, please..

**David Harrison** · #6 07-18-2006, 07:28 AM

I have a clear idea how it will look when I make something with CSS. Usually when making something though, I test it along the way in Firefox to make sure I'm getting it right, then when I'm done I check it in Opera too, and Opera is usually fine with it.

The only problem is IE, so I use a separate style sheet to fix it for IE. It doesn't take long to correct for IE, though it shouldn't be necessary at all, but we don't live in a perfect world.

SeanieC · #7 07-18-2006, 07:34 AM

So true we really dont, I got into work this morning and viewed my website then realised I had set all my tables to a % which threw everything out as I use a higher resolution in work. PITA (pain in the a**). I've just downloaded some zengarden css files and their html page. I must say I am extreamly impressed with how CSS handles website design. Although I have no plans on allowing users to change their themes.

. But it is a lot neater in regards to the code, which as everyone knows means its quicker to download. I will probably take a look into how hard it will be to convert my page (its only 1 page at the moment thank god) to CSS.

I might be asking from some support if I run into problems though!

Thanks for your words from the other side of the pasture!

drhowarddrfine · #8 07-18-2006, 09:55 AM

I don't know that I would call laying out web pages with tables "traditional" anymore. I had no interest in web design until about two years ago. I had to ramp up quickly for two projects that came up. I have never designed using tables for layout at all. So, traditionally, I've used CSS my whole professional life.

SeanieC · #9 07-18-2006, 09:57 AM

Hmm, I guess you're lucky lol, I went through all phases, from layers, to tables now it looks like I am going to move to CSS, if it does exactely what it says on the tin that is..

The Little Guy · #10 07-18-2006, 10:41 AM

You can also make your own Tables using divs.. It looks something like this:

HTML Code:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<title>txt</title>
<style type="text/css">
.table{
	width:50%;
	border:solid 1px #000000;
	float:left;
}
.tr{
	width:50%;
	float:left;
}
.td{
	float:left;
	border:solid 1px #000000;
	width:100%;
}
.tr_colspan{
	width:100%;
	text-align:center;
	font-weight:bold;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="table">
	<div class="tr_colspan">
		<div class="td">1asdfasdfas</div>
	</div>
	<div class="tr">
		<div class="td">3</div>
		<div class="td">4</div>
	</div>
	<div class="tr">
		<div class="td">5</div>
		<div class="td">6</div>
	</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>

SeanieC · #11 07-18-2006, 10:58 AM

mmhmm, the only thing I am slightly worried about is positioning. Is it as to position <DIV>'s as it is <TABLES>'s?

toicontien · #12 07-18-2006, 11:24 AM

As long as you understand the CSS Box Model, Floats and Positioning, it's a piece of cake

SeanieC · #13 07-18-2006, 11:49 AM

Why thank you.

**David Harrison** · #14 07-18-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Little Guy

You can also make your own Tables using divs

But that's almost the same as using tables, and it's a perversion of a CSS based layout.

If you're going to have a CSS based layout, don't fit the markup to the CSS, write the markup as it should be (<h1-6> for headers, <p> for paragraphs etc.) then fit the CSS to the markup, adding in <div> and <span> elements where necessary and appropriate for any CSS hooks you may need.

SeanieC · #15 07-18-2006, 02:29 PM

I see I see, well this shale be my starting point.

View Poll Results: CSS or Tradition?
CSS	21	91.30%
Tables	5	21.74%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll

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