Need help with different resolutions

dcampbell18 · May 6th, 2008, 14:48

Hi there!

I'm fairly new to web design and I've been trying to make sure my pages look ok under different screen resolutions as I go. I read that you are supposed to design everything by percent instead of by pixels. However, I am having trouble with one part of my site - lines. I have these blue and white patterned lines that I would really like to keep sort of framing my page. I'm using Frontpage and used the lines from the Autoshapes menu. But, I don't see an option for assigning the width as a percentage, rather than in pixels. This is causing my entire line border to shift and cut right through the page depending on the screen resolution used. Can anyone offer advice on how to fix this? Everything else is displaying ok.
Thanks so much!

Marc · May 6th, 2008, 14:58

Hi

Any chance we could see a working version of this site to see it first-hand?

shalom_m · May 6th, 2008, 19:19

It would help if we could see what you have done, a link to your site would be nice.

As to pixels, percentages, em's etc....
There are no rules about that. A lot of designers prefer to work in pixels because it gives them greater control. So they usually work on centered fixed widths sites.
Others prefer to work with liquid layouts, that adjust according to resolution. The problem with this is that if on a 800px you want a centered column 10%:80%:10% you will get 80px:640px:80px - now try that on a 1024px screen and you get 102.4px:812.2px:102.4px.

You can split atoms but not pixels so you are left with a slightly lopsided 102:812:110 ratio.

Consider also that each different bowser has different sized borders and slidebars - there is no way you get it right all the time with percentages.

In addition you are using Fontpage; that abomination spawned in the dungeons of MS. The code it generates clearly indicates that it is a child of the "Dark Side" - you will need en exorcist not a programmer to set that one right!

dcampbell18 · May 7th, 2008, 01:12

Thank you for your quick responses. I have now made the site public so you can view it. Please excuse it - as it isn't finished yet! Thanks for helping me with the borders issue. It looks ok in some resolutions, but in others it's way off.

www.thepieplace.net

dcampbell18 · May 7th, 2008, 01:18

Shalom m,

You are too funny - I know about Frontpage....I know a lot of people don't like it. What software do you recommend? I've used Dreamweaver once a long time ago, but didn't quite get the hang of it. Thanks for your input!

shalom_m · May 7th, 2008, 05:46

Let me put the answer in the form of an analogy.

Quote:

Think of the construction of a web-page as the building of a house. The HTML is the mortar and bricks, the CSS the paint job and fixtures and the content the furniture.

Handcoding in HTML and PHP is like placing brick on brick; you fit each piece individually, you have to know what you are doing and if so – you get exactly what you want.

Using Dreamweaver or other WYSIWYGs composers is like using prefab building blocks; its much faster but you do not have the same amount of control (some slabs are too big, others too small and all too heavy) but, again if you know what you are doing with hammer and chisel or with a bit chalkboard here and there, you can get the desired result.

Frontpage is like a choice of concrete room elements. This may not be a bad idea, but!!!

They are glued together with epoxy, the drainage runs through the roof, the air-conditioning system is fixed in the non-ventilated cellar, all the electric wiring runs through the water pipes and the water pipes also function as wall struts. The result may be visually pleasing – but woe to the person who dares knocking a nail into the wall. It will hit the water pipes (by definition) and damage the electric wiring too.

I suggest you download KOMPOZER and use it before you decide to buy something expensive.