General CSS usage advice needed

[dangergeek]

Hi

Currently bashing together using CSS (fairly new to it) and I just wanted peoples advice on browser compatibility.

IE6 & IE7 display slightly differently and I havent even looked at Firefox yet. Should I be looking to use 1 CSS style sheet that can cover all browser types? Is that the holy grail of CSS?

or

Do most people make multiple style sheets, one for each type of browser and let javascript decide which one to use? Seems more work but easiest way?

What do other people to do to acheive CSS happiness?

[moojoo]

Conditional comments and IE specific style sheets would be your best bet with 1 globals tyle sheet for everything.

http://www.quirksmode.org/css/condcom.html

[Ryan Fait]

As a self proclaimed guru, I use one style sheet doing my best to avoid "browser hacks." When you fully understand CSS, you'll think of multiple solutions to a problem. Provided you're not looking to achieve such things like attribute and pseudo selectors, comprehending normal CSS should be your first priority

[masonbarge]

Well, for the opposite p.o.v. I code for FF 2.0 as the primary stylesheet. I use a php browser sniffer and alternate style sheets for IE7, IE6, and Opera.
(I wouldn't consider myself an expert at CSS; I know a lot of stuff but it is all hit-or-miss.)

BTW, you just can't get by using javascript as the workhorse coding system after a certain point. For jobs like stylesheet-alternates, a server side code is far superior. For some things, javascript is simply not capable of doing the job, especially when it comes to security, such as form and email validation.

[moojoo]

Or just use conditional comments and not have to worry about scripting at all =P. Although I can see the great benefits to your method.

[Ryan Fait]

The only problem with that is sometimes Firefox users change their user agent so they can work in IE only sites. Then FF people get the IE stylesheet.

[dangergeek]

Thanks for the comments guys

I'm not that great at CSS but my site is coming along nicely. I think I will opt for the browser sniffing with conditional comments. I would like to have 1 style sheet but dont have the skill.

It really sucks that different browsers display slightly differently. I am currently perplexed by this very problem so will start another thread with a new question.

[dangergeek]

Anybody know a good browser sniffer. I have tried searching the web but can't find any that work. (or I can get to work)

[karinne]

Surely your site is not so complicated as to need a browser sniffer and load different stylesheet for different browsers?!

The conditional element are the way to go IMO. There are not that many hacks that you need to worry about. The only times I've used another stylesheet was to simple add the width IE6 was suppose to use (box-model hack).

[moojoo]

Hacks for IE 6 etc break in 7 anyway. So you may as well just serve up IE specific versions as well. I wouldn't be too concerned with the users spoofing user agents.

[dangergeek]

Unfortunately as I am not a CSS genius like yourself it seemed the easiset choice to take. Especially as one of my fellow average CSS's suggested it was fine to do (see masonbarge's post above) It was why I asked this question in the first place!

I dont know everything about CSS so have to muddle along in my own way as many designers do. Stuff won't line up properly in different browsers. I thought this way would be more useful than posting loads of threads asking why this is doing that and why that is doing this.

[karinne]

I would think that posting loads of questions would be better so you can understand why it's happening and how to fix it. Most the fixes you are talking about are simple things... you'd be surprise at how things are generally exagerated

Post your link so we can see what's happening and we can help you in the matter.

[dangergeek]

Cheers I will

[karinne]

Good ... *sits tightly in the css forum and waits for dangergeeks' next thread *

[dangergeek]

But not tonight, work is over, i'm going home woo hoo

[karinne]

Meh ... it's only lunchtime here