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Posted by Jonathan N. Little on 06/19/06 18:28
TC wrote:
> Philip wrote:
>
>> This same topic was discussed over in
>> comp.infosystems.www.authoring.html just last week.
>> The thread is called "tablles vs css". Here's a link:
>>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/comp.infosystems.www.authoring.html/browse_frm/thread/58f30d17421a21a6/1eca2bfbf251215d?#1eca2bfbf251215d
>
>
> Hi Philip
>
> IMHO, that thread is not convincing.
>
> Regarding the specific advantages of a CSS-based layout, over a
> tables-based one, by my count, of the 16 replies (excluding the OP's
> own reply) :
Briefly, 'cuz this stinks of troll.
1) Lighter code. *If* done properly HTML markup with attached CSS
stylesheets can significantly reduce the amount of actually code because
you do not have to infuse all the markup with presentational markup and
attributes that are repeated over and over for each table cell.
2) Flexibility. If you wish to change the styling or even presentational
layouts say move the navigation from the left to the top or right or
whatever. If in a table cell the whole page must be changed to move the
cell content whereas if the navigation was in the list it cam be
floated, put inline or block simply by change the ONE stylesheet. The
former may require calling every page on the site.
3) Accessibility. With stylesheets and tableless designs your can have
alternated stylesheets for different browsers, and viewer. Example, I
use a flyout CSS menu. Some folks with disabilities may have
difficulties in working the menu, your can offer a alternate sheet the
make the menu a static indented list that is easier to traverse. Or have
a very pretty site with backgrounds and stylish insets and sidebars you
could have the simpler alternate stylesheet the simplifies the layout,
upset the font-size and increases the contrast for low-vision access.
3a) I use on a practical note, a print stylesheet that does things like
remove decorative elements, and navbars, underlines on links(makes no
sense for a printed documents), fancy formatting and restricted margins.
Damn I hate website that have stupid table layouts that make 2 pages
of information balloon to 8 because of the content is squished in a
narrow column and other useful room is wasted on navbar cell and advert
banners...
4) Maintainability. With a different mindset with separation of markup
and stylesheet many times may only need to change one or the other. If
you use the cascade in CSS, and not table layout with umpteen divs spans
classes and use broader classes and use selectors you can achieve very
fine granularity in your styling without having to burden your markup
with "container-itis" or "class-itis". Nothing can be worse then
reworking a website with nesting table layouts, rowspans, colspans,
image slices, etc...
--
Take care,
Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com
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