Posted by dorayme on 01/23/08 00:33

In article <13pcu67fuuacbee@corp.supernews.com>,
Jeff <jeff@spam_me_not.com> wrote:

> dorayme wrote:
> > In article <13pb8jpii1acu2c@corp.supernews.com>,
> > Jeff <jeff@spam_me_not.com> wrote:
> >
> >> I need a look at a sample layout.
> >>
> >> I've looked around at the different ways of writing equal height
> >> columns. The CSS solutions with negative margins work well but presents
> >> problems with readability as well as maintainability. It also doesn't
> >> suit some needs.
> >>
> >> So I looked at some javascript solutions, since these degrade nicely
> >> if no script (the columns simply aren't equal height). I notice some
> >> problems with most of these with changing text size, particularly in Moz
> >> flavors and some padding issues.
> >>
> >> So I wrote my own:
> >>
> >> <URL: http://websiterepairguru.com/test_full_height_columns.html>
> >>
....
> >
> > Don't forget simple tactics where they can be used:
> >
> > http://netweaver.com.au/alt/equalColsSimpleTactic.html
> >
> > (just adapted from yours but not adjusted for IE)
> >
>
> Well that's rather clever and I'll add it to my bag of tricks.
>
> There are a few caveats, usually you don't know for sure which column
> is going to be tallest. Since we are all doing CMS, it's not completely
> predictable. And you can't do full height borders.

OK, I have added a couple of extras. Borders in the spirit of
this thing! Notice how the main wrapper has one and the central
col just left and right. On my Safari and FF they go all the way
from top to bottom.

<http://netweaver.com.au/alt/equalColsSimpleTactic.html>

This sort of thing should more or less work with em widthings.
The borders account for so little and if you give some leeway
(especially for IE), and throw in an em for padding instead of
px, Bob could be your uncle.

The reality is that often we simply do know that the central col
is longest or at least which one is... Sometimes it all comes
down to the particular task at hand and while it is instructive
to go for grail, reality is often disappointingly more prosaic.

(Bag of tricks is a nice expression, our brains are all a bag of
little sub machines, all with their own routines, all scrambling
about trying to get things done... It is an illusion or a conceit
to suppose there is something, the self, the id, the higher
consciousness, the person, in control. The awful frightening
truth is that there is nothing in control even in our heads,
never mind there being no god. Rejoice in the low little tricks,
they are the stuff of mental life. <g>)

--
dorayme

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