frontpage 2002 advice for using tables to layout web pages including photos

[Geoff]

I have two webs up and running. I didn't realise the value of using
tables for a while and then revised the websites using tables set to 90
or 95 percent width. I must admit that I have had a lot of trouble
partly because I was inserting tables after creating the web pages.

The most recent discovery is that a link URL does not break like other
lines and a long link needed to be reformated in a smaller font for the
table to display properly. The URL was keeping the text filled cell to
the width of its length and that was affecting the whole table.

After reformatting the URL I still had problems, so I decided to insert
another table immediately below the existing table and managed to
achieve the page layout that I wanted. This is the page:
http://freshfordmill.co.uk/natural philosophy.htm. It was the DEFRA
link that caused the trouble!

Although I have gained some tips via Google searches I still found that
it was a lot of reading to glean some useful tips. The books I have are
not very helpful.

I am thinking that maybe this topic could gradually develop into a
useful resource for others, so please submit your tips -even,
particularly, if they are quite elementary.

 

[E. T. Culling]

First of all that page is way too wide. Look what happens when you narrow it
down to 800 x 600 in your browser. I then have to scroll horizontally ...
which is not a good thing. Your main image is 966 px wide ... probably too
wide. Also you have two 550 width photos virtually next to each other!
Why are you using the long URLs for links? Link from a bit of text such as
"Read this Article"... as you did with the HRH Prince of Wales' view link.
Though written for Dreamweaver users these articles will help you:
http://www.dreamweaverresources.com/tutorials/tablesizes.htm or this one:
http://www.thepattysite.com/window_sizes1.cfm
width 95% really means notheing when your image is 966.
Lastly, take the spaces (represented by %20) from your file names ... both
html and photos if necessary.
Back to the 'drawing board"!!!
Eleanor

 

[Geoff]

Thanks Eleanor My intention was to provide an argument mainly for a
very limited section of the public that would probably use 1024x768 and
broadband. This the most common screen resolution size anyway
http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

I reduced the photos from 700 width! the photos are in some respects
more important than the words as they are meant to convey something of
the magic of this area of the English countryside.

I'll look into your info on long URL's

Initially I didn't use a table -the width in percent at least (so I
thought) should fit the page to the browser window unlike most of the
webs I see that are difficult to read and do not allow for the IE size
option. They might look neat like a magazine layout but often only
take up part of the VDU screen.

So the main image the FP banner graphic is too wide and this will limit
the percent width function for resolutions smaller than 1024 x768?

I get the feeling that I would be better off not using the FP banner
option
Geoff

 

[E. T. Culling]

It really is the two 550 photos across from each other that is causing the
problem = 1100px. If you were to have a two col. table and put the images
both on the same side now you'd be down to 966.
Why don't you at least try making the Table and banner about 760 (in the
center of the page). The banner will take up both col. across the top
(merged) and the text parts will go in the right hand col. don't use any
'banner' thing that FP offers!
Remember that you have no control over what your viewers do with the browser
windows. Many don't maximize them, even at 800 x 600.
You just don't what the majority to have to scroll horizontally. Open this
page:
http://www.eleanorstravels.com/index.html in your wide browser and then try
it with 800 x 600. That page was built with a 2 col. table, with the right &
left merged at the top for the 'banner' etc. (Yes, there are tables within a
cell, as well.)
Eleanor

 

[Ronx]

This the most common screen resolution size anyway

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

This may be the most common screen size, but what is the most common
browser size? There are no stats available that show this (that I have
found), but from my own experience the only people that have a browser open
at full screen are those with screen resolution set at 800x600, or with
eyesight problems (and using large fonts), or web site developers. *All*
the others I have seen use a smaller window for their browsers. Of course,
your experience may be different.

 

[Geoff]

This may be the most common screen size, but what is the most common
browser size? There are no stats available that show this (that I have
found), but from my own experience the only people that have a browser open
at full screen are those with screen resolution set at 800x600, or with
eyesight problems (and using large fonts), or web site developers. *All*
the others I have seen use a smaller window for their browsers. Of course,
your experience may be different.

windows open. As an ex-school teacher I haven't noticed students
working in smaller windows than they needed to, except when they didn't
remember how to maximise the window!I don't see the reason why people
should do so, unless they are editing from the browser to a document.
But if they do, I suppose it would be advisable to suggest to viewers
that the website is best viewed in a full window and at a certain
resolution if possible. I certainly feel that it would be safer to keep
the viewer away from working close to the VDU screen by ensuring that
they can read the website page. This website (Google Groups) uses10pt
size which for me is a bit of a strain at a viewing distance of 20
inches using a Dell badged Sony Trinitron VDU set to 1024x768, but at
least the "Size" button works! I have several books on Frontpage. The
book with most pages: "Running FP 2000" bought a while back now doesn't
really empthasise the importance of tables until page 250! and the
problem I had with table based page display size being controlled by
the long URL took me several days to fix! I'll now need to investigate
Eleanor's references.