CSS Rant in Off Topic

ID:50788
 
Nov 19 2008, 7:35 pm
You know, I'm sick at the moment. 101 temp. And I'm trying to get stuff done because even if I am sick, I want to start certain projects I have, but want to finish the old ones.

So my topic of ranting is CSS. I thought my idea was simple. It's a four section site. Header, which I put away in a include PHP file. Check. A sidebar and a main content box, not check. And a footer, check.

The side bar and main content are a PAIN in the ass with pure-CSS, especially if you want both to reach the end of the page and not look retarded. Yes, I know there are ways around it, one including making a div inside of a div, a div in it then another div next to it using the float properties. (The hell indeed)

I understand people like Divs, and always bitch, "TABLES AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR THAT". Well neither are Divs the way I want apparently. Not to mention using the method I posted above, it looks horrid in IE, and a few other browsers I hear. My Solution?

I'm going with damned tables. I can be finished in less then 10 minutes and know it'll look good in every browser. I don't see the point in making everything more complex when I can just use tables and get the same point across with less code, and less pain. I love the people who go, "People who use tables now, aren't considered REAL web developers.".

I'll use both and take my leave.

edit: Btw. I'm using graphics for my site. So the "easy" ways google tells you aren't really what I want. Using negative margins and all that doesn't look good in all browsers.
#1 Nov 19 2008, 7:46 pm
What exactly were you trying to do? It doesn't sound that complicated.

Anyways, links please :o
#2 Nov 19 2008, 8:02 pm
DarkCampainger wrote:
What exactly were you trying to do? It doesn't sound that complicated.

Anyways, links please :o

I'm using a WAMP server to run it from my desktop, like everything I do online.

But the idea is pretty simple.

Two divs, one a sidebar and the other a content.

Sidebar is 232px wide because of a background image, content the rest of the screen. No matter how much content is put into the contents div (stretching) the sidebar will reach the bottom of the page. (where I have another div which is just a footer)

If you can honestly find a way that doesn't involve all that other mumbo-jumbo of negative margins, and divs within divs. I would love you forever.
#3 Nov 19 2008, 8:05 pm
#4 Nov 19 2008, 11:05 pm
I think CSS is retarded, personally. I can do a whole lot more, and much more easily, with just plain HTML. I mean, having the font properties and things like that assigned for the entire site is good, and being able to change those settings inside certain divs is also good. But trying to create the whole layout of the site with just CSS is obnoxious. I guess that's what they call "progress".
#5 Nov 20 2008, 12:38 pm
CSS isn't perfect, but it's come a long way. Once all major browsers support element positioning with all 4 sides (top,right,bottom,left), it should become much simpler to design layouts such as that. I don't know why it wasn't in the specs from the start :/

That and once all the bloody inconsistencies are fixed. Some browsers putting borders within the box, some around it, some half-and-half. And don't even get me started on padding...

You know what, I think I hate CSS too >:(

Nice find with the link, though. Such a simple solution never occurred to me :P

To have a set-width sidebar, I've just always abused padding:
http://www.zombiecannon.com

I still need to put something up there...
#6 Nov 21 2008, 8:29 am
I like CSS for styling, but I just can't escape tables for layout. They just work. There are times when tables can be frustrating, but they generally work pretty well.

That said, I really need to learn CSS better. I'm really bad about just writing up a page, ignoring CSS except when needed exactly in an element for a style effect(or when tables need some size taming). In which case I normally make the style inline.