Font and text size changes when moving from Design to Preview Wind

[michael_maberly]

In MS's FP Training, "Tables III" course (practice web page is titled
"fplayout 2 training practice"), we are shown how create a layout table and
table cells of specific dimensions, and to then add text and images to these
cells. After meticulously following all the instructions so that the Design
window appeared as described in the training instructions, I noticed that
both the Preview window and my IE Browser window increased the size of the
text font, and the text, of the web page as it appeared in the Design window,
thereby visibly increasing that table cell's dimensions. My questions:

1) Are the pixel references used in Frontpage not fixed?
2) What's the point of being meticulous in terms of layout tables, cell
dimensions, etc, in the Design window when these will be ignored in the
Preview and Browser windows??
3) How do web page designers deal with this serious problem of 'constantly
shifting visual realities'???

Any and all comments will be greatly appreciated -- especially by any pro
web page designers out there!

- Michael

 

[Ronx]

In line below

--
Ron Symonds - Microsoft MVP (FrontPage)
Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.
FrontPage Support: http://www.frontpagemvps.com/
http://www.rxs-enterprises.org/fp

In MS's FP Training, "Tables III" course (practice web page is titled
"fplayout 2 training practice"), we are shown how create a layout table and
table cells of specific dimensions, and to then add text and images to these
cells. After meticulously following all the instructions so that the Design
window appeared as described in the training instructions, I noticed that
both the Preview window and my IE Browser window increased the size of the
text font, and the text, of the web page as it appeared in the Design window,
thereby visibly increasing that table cell's dimensions. My questions:

1) Are the pixel references used in Frontpage not fixed?

Users can ALWAYS change the font size and font face to suit their own
eyesight and preferences. Dimensions applied to HTML elements are
always minimums - HTML containers will expand to accommodate content.
This expansion can be overcome using a little CSS to hide the overflow.
(but will introduce scrollbars if you want the overflow to be seen).
This is how HTML works, it's not FrontPage.

2) What's the point of being meticulous in terms of layout tables, cell
dimensions, etc, in the Design window when these will be ignored in the
Preview and Browser windows??

I don't see the point in being pixel perfect, but do like to have a nice
looking layout. Cell (and table) dimensions are always minimums - the
cells will expand to accommodate the contents.

3) How do web page designers deal with this serious problem of 'constantly
shifting visual realities'???

The allow for it in their designs. Preview in several browsers, at
different browser window sizes, and adjust the text size using
View->text Size in the browser. (In IE7 do not use the Zoom to check for
larger font sizes.)

In your case, check that View->Text size is set to Normal when
previewing in IE, this will affect the FrontPage preview as well.

 

[michael_maberly]

Thanks for taking the time to explain this, Ron. I see an even steeper rise
ahead ; - ).