Thems vs Style Sheets vs Templates vs Cascading Style Sheets

[Deb]

An updated postI hope that someone has the time to be very basic and
explain the differences between Themes vs Style Sheets vs Templates vs
Cascading Style Sheets. I would like to know why you would use one
over the other.

 

[SandyB]

Hi Deb,
I don't see very many people jumping in, so I will try.

A theme is a Fromt page/Microsoft word creation. It is an easy way to set
the look of your siteor document. Colors, graphics are all set up. You can
edit a theme and save them with new names. You can change the graphics,
fonts or colors.

CSS Style sheets are a list of things like fonts, colors, behaviors like
underlining, etc. A HTML page refers to this and sets the page to use the
styles listed. If you want to change your website, you can just change a
line or two in the style sheet and all the pages that use that sheet will be
changed. (easy to update)

A Template is a web page or web site that is used as a pattern. You just
fill in the blanks with your information and save it with a new name. The
original is not changed so it can be used again. You can make your own
template or buy a premade one. I am not sure what a regular style sheet is.
I think it is from the publishing world, letting printers and writers know
how to set up their work, so everyone would be the same.

SandyB

 

[Dan]

As sort of a natural follow up to Debs question, I am wondering if anyone
can recommend a resoruce for helping those new to stylesheets, learn how to
create and also the best practices for their use.

Thanks in advance,

Dan

 

[SandyB]

Hi Dan,

I got a lot of information from a sitepoint book, HTML Utopia, designing
without tables using CSS.
it is at http://www.sitepoint.com they also have a lot of web design info.
I tried the book information on my site http://www.wikiwebdesign.com and it
worked OK. I haven't used Front page much with CSS.

There are also 2 books by Eric Myers that show different tasks and how to do
them.
There is also a great site called http://www.csszengarden.com/
where a lot of examlpes are shown with only the CSS changed, all the
examples use the same HTML.
Really interesting what they can do.

SandyB

 

[eric.perdue]

WOW! WOW!

Sandy B,

THANKS for CSS Zen Garden!!!!! I might not get any sleep for days!