Use CSS to do what tables do?????

[WebNinja]

How do you do with CSS what tables can do?

I am a very visual designer. My favorite thing about using tables for layout was that I could define the border to equal one and see my page divided into blocks of content.

How does one do this with CSS?

I've been playing around with the <div> tag, but I just can't get it to do what I want. Maybe I'm missing something in the CSS.

I know you can define exactly where everything goes in the .css file but I can't find any info on how to layout a graphicly driven website.

I want to put my user into another place. I want them to be emerced into another reality for a time. Not stare at a flat page of information with boring navbars.

All the info I've found only shows how to make SEO perfect, yet boring, two dimentional websites.

Can anyone post a link to some CSS info that might help my problem?

Thanks!!

[Ryan Fait]

CSS is much more powerful than tables, but it's also more difficult. You need to hand code CSS to get full use of of it (WYSIWYG programs just don't cut it yet). If you're a visual learner, http://csszengarden.com/ is an awesome resource. Every single design uses the EXACT same XHTML. The only thing that changes is the CSS. That should give you an idea of how incredible the language is while also showing you some beautiful and complex layouts.

[WebNinja]

WYSIWYG is a four letter word in my vocabulary. Not to p*ss anyone of but I think WYSIWYG's are for those who just don't have it in them to design web content. I hand code everything I do. Why? Because notepad is free.

BTW, I found just the right bit of info I needed to make it all click. It took me about 6 hours of reading, playing, designing, and only a little swearing, but I think I'm getting the hang of it.

Actually, I think CSS is easyer once you figure out what you're doing and find your rythum.

Thanks for all your help.

[karinne]

Go look at my stickied thread - Resources for learning how to use CSS for layout- and you should find all the info you need

Grasping the whle CSS/Divs layout is not something you learn in a day or two. It might take weeks, months to truly understand it. So ... if you don't succeed at your first try, don't worry, you're not the only one

[Ryan Fait]

No, CSS is not easier by any means. You have to deal with browser incompatibilities... Debugging is perhaps the worst thing in the world.

[moojoo]

Browser differences aside, CSS is way easier, especially after the first template page is built.

[Ryan Fait]

Eh, I disagree. While I'm completely fluent in CSS and XHTML, there is still the essential need to check cross browser with valid XHTML and CSS. With tables, it's nearly a given that everything will turn out right if the code is proper.

No browser transforms CSS correctly in its entirety.

[Dapandyman]

i have to agree with moojoo - it took me about a month to get to a decent level of understanding in CSS but more than a year to fully learn XHTML - there are cross broser difficulties in both, however.

[Ryan Fait]

Oh, I didn't read moojoo's entire post. Whoops. Once you get the template down, things just whiz right along

[Dapandyman]

lol
all you have to do with the CSS from there is link to the html page and thats not even css.... i think
lol

[moojoo]

And it makes everything soooo much easier in the long run.

[WebNinja]

I've only been been doing CSS for like a week and I can now do everything I used to do with tables. And every time I do another project I find new things I can do. HTML got stagnant quick for me. But I think CSS will keep me learning for quite a while.

[Ryan Fait]

What about XHTML strict 1.0? That's more fun than plain ol' HTML.

[WebNinja]

I'm always up for a good bit of fun.

[moojoo]

XHTML Strict all the way.

[Ryan Fait]

Power to the strict.

[daygon]

strictly strict is the only way to roll.

[Ryan Fait]

You can't really roll with XHTML, though. Besides, XHTML is lousy at making out, so you wouldn't want to either. I think it has a gender identity disorder.