Can my site be converted to CSS "tables"?

[DragonTGK]

Hey, I've been reading up on how to take out html tables and convert your whole sites layout into CSS. It's pretty interesting but at the same time really confusing I just need to get some help, hints, tips on converting my site to CSS layout. I really have no idea were I would start and tables just seems more logical to plan where as CSS doesn't really hit me... heres my site:

http://www.forcefx.net

[Len Whistler]

I think it depends on the content of the site. A site that has lots of images is best done with tables.

[DragonTGK]

well as you can see my site is pretty much images so maybe css is not the best idea?

[Nightfire]

Images aren't part of tabular data when used for a layout. So no, that's no excuse to use tables.

Would be easier for us to help with the problems you come up with as you get to them.

To start off with, think about what parts of your layout can be cut up into sections. Just start from the top and draw imaginary lines through the site to split it up. Now where you've imagined those lines is where you'd use div tags and then work on positioning with css

[DragonTGK]

though, how do you set off each div? cause each one with have different pictures / ect. Would my test go into the css also? Cause I will be changing that frequently

[Roy Sinclair]

As a bit of encouragement as well as example, take a look at http://www.csszengarden.com/ for a website that's done with just one set of html codes but has dozens of different CSS styles which are used to give it dozens of different looks.

You're not likely to be able to do that with your site right away but it's a powerful statement about the ability to organize and format a web site and had that site been made using tables it would not be possible to reformat it so many ways.

As a practical first step toward eliminating tables used for formatting purposes look for the places where you have tables nested within tables and examine their use. Often I see tables that have single cell rows which can be eliminated entirely since their effect is minimal.

[ronaldb66]

Test?

Would my test go into the css also?

If you mean "text" (s and x are quite close to eachother... ): no, text, and images that are considered content, remain in the document source as before. CSS is used to add presentation (font aspects, colors, adornment, and positioning) to the content.

As Nightfire already suggested: try not to think of how you need to get every bit of your site in the right place; firstly, try to identify blocks, or sections, and determine their function, things like "header", "navigation", "footer", "main content", "search box", "off-site references", and what have you. CSS positioning can be used to size and place each of those main page sections in the right relation to eachother.

I haven't been able to see your site yet (server on strike? ), so I can't go into more detail; when it's back up, w can start cooking with gas!

[DragonTGK]

hey! well hmm.. my site shouldv'e been up all this time lol.. I hope it didn't go down but while im posting this its up, so you may wana take a look. Its probley not what u expected. Please if you get the change IM me on AIM: KbeckSk8n29 so I can talk to you personaly Thanks guys!

[Nightfire]

Re: Test?

Bugger... see post below

[Nightfire]

Re: Test?

Originally posted by ronaldb66
I haven't been able to see your site yet (server on strike? ), so I can't go into more detail; when it's back up, w can start cooking with gas!

See if this'll work. Might be best to do a save as on the page as I won't be keeping it up long. Bandwidth charges an' all that

http://www.nightfire.org.uk/wa/ForceFX.net.htm

[DragonTGK]

what did you do to it nightfire?

[DragonTGK]

I took down the site due to under construction stuff, but if you guys still want to help me do this please look at the site at www.forcefx.net/new.php just don't advertise the site anymore than it is please. Thanks guys!

[ronaldb66]

Oh, dear...

"A site full of useless nothing"

I dunno about the useless nothing, but it's full allright...
Despite all the clutter, there basically are the five bog standard sections:[list=1][*]header, with nav bar, two actually,[*]left nav menu, and then some,[*]center content area,[*]right bar with all sorts of stuff,[*]footer.[/list=1]These five sections can be placed in divs, and 2 through 4 need to be positioned in some way (there are several techniques). The real challenge starts with all the pixel-perfect imagery; all in all, you may even be better off with Flash...

[Roy Sinclair]

all in all, you may even be better off with Flash...

He'd be better off sticking with the tables layout. At least that way he'd be standard, granted an old standard of doing things but that page doesn't block out the people who can't or won't use plugins like Flash.