Absolute...nightmare :(

[dargenhara]

Well, my client is being impossible. I have tried to use absolute
positioning of layers to create the drop downs, but had to resort to
absolutely positioning, in layers, the whole site... now it obviously does
not adapt to different browser sized windows. Should I maybe try doing all
this with .css? Have I been wasting my time with layers since they are so
incredibly limited? The tutorial at interlacken is great, but goes with the
absolute. The .css tutorial at myweb.tiscali.co.uk has me utterly lost. I
didn't realize making a drop down was so complicated

 

[E. T. Culling]

Absolute positioning will give you more heartache than you can imagine.
Position your various elements in cells with in table. Don't use layers!!
http://www.eleanorstravels.com/frontpage-dontdo.htm

 

[dargenhara]

But how else can I make drop downs with behaviors? My client is dead set on
menus like that. Javascripting can also be difficult to work with because of
security settings. Isn't there an easier way to do it in FrontPage?? They
show it in the demo, so of course my client thinks it should be easy to
duplicate. Why show that in the demo if it is near impossible and horribly
limited to make it work as the demo shows?

*pulling hair out*

This is driving me up a wall.

 

[Kevin Spencer]

A "layer" is simply a div with absolute positioning applied. Absolute
positioning is done via CSS. So, when you use "layers" you are already
*using* CSS.

I don't know what you mean by "had to resort to absolutely position, in
layers, the whole site..." You say this as if it were a matter of fact, but
don't explain why you had to do it, or exactly what you mean by it. are you
saying that you had to use layers and absolute positioning for everything in
your web site? If so, why?

Due to the nature of HTML and browsers, there is simply no way your web site
is going to look the same in all browsers. No matter what you do, it will
not adapt to every sized browser window (try a really small one, for
example). Some web sites do use "liquid layout" to allow their HTML elements
to "float" to accomodate window sizes, and it's fine if you've done that.
But you don't need to use absolute positioning with "layers." You can
certainly remove the "position:absolute" style from the div and replace it
with any other CSS styling you want. A div is an incredibly configurable
element, really. It simply represents a rectange that can be placed anywhere
in a page.

I would definitely recommend familiarizing yourself with CSS. Here are a
couple of links to help out.

http://www.csszengarden.com/
This web site is a demonstration of the incredible power of CSS. Every page
in it is the same page with a different CSS style sheet applied. And you can
study the style sheets all you want.

http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-CSS2/
The W3C's CSS 2 Specification.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Professional Chicken Salad Alchemist

What You Seek Is What You Get.

 

[dargenhara]

Basically I guess I just want to make drop down menus that will stay centered
in a table cell. (see http://www.techsmith.com/snagit.asp )

I created the menu with layers, but when I resize the window, the rest of
the site - the table - resizes and that in turn misaligns the drop-down menus
since the table reacts differently to the resized window (layers absolutely
positioned in reference to the upper left of the window, blah blah - if I
understand correctly).

I am coming to the conclusion there is no way to deal with it other than
with lots and lots and lots of code.

 

[Kevin Spencer]

I am coming to the conclusion there is no way to deal with it other than

with lots and lots and lots of code.

"Lot's and lots of code" smacks of a kluge. It could easily come back to
bite you in the behind if you don't solve it correctly.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Professional Chicken Salad Alchemist

What You Seek Is What You Get.