test website - jus the first phase, looking for code input

[bradyj]

Alright, I have loaded a test website for my company -- as of yet, I have not seperated all the styles to CSS or the Java to an external file, so that I understand... however I have these problems:

for mac:
NN7 does not line up my background image on the 'who we are' page
NN4 doesn't even view the java, and shifts the images down a few pixels making the background images, again, not line up

for PC:
same problems above for IE, NN4 & 7
Opera just tears it to shreds


no rush here, I'm not going to do any final building for quite some time, but I'm looking for input as to what I'm doing wrong here. Most likely something I overlooked that is rather easy.

I'll also be using a 'user group' for the finalized version which will have a php back-end site for account users.

ideas? If I can help in any way, let me know.

the site is www.dotfive.com/belairedisplays/index.html (http://www.dotfive.com/belairedisplays/index.html)

[oracleguy]

Since you are asking for code input, the first thing you need is a .DTD (http://www.codingforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18346) at the beginning of your code.

Also since your questions pretain more to HTML coding than general design, I'm going to move you over to the HTML forum.

[bradyj]

that's funny -- not a big deal, but I was told to move to the 'general web building' section due to the fact I was asking input about my site.

Thanks for the heads up!!

[zoobie]

Don't code for NS 4 anymore. The only ppl who still use it are out of touch. Should simplify things...:D

[bradyj]

I know -- #$&#@ NN4, and I'm ok with losing them... I just want my IE for PC to view ok:D

[Roy Sinclair]

I'd bet that things would line up again if you remove the space between the </a> and the </td> in each of those lines.


<td><a href="main/products/products.html" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('products','','index/productsover.gif',1)"><img src="index/products.gif" alt="products" name="products" width="128" height="34" border="0"></a> </td>


Of course the problem wouldn't have been noticable had the images been split somewhere other than in the middle of a line of text. Your page also begs the question of why are you using images for text in the first place? Those look like common fonts you're using and you must understand that none of the text in the images is going to be indexed by any search engine. In fact your page will probably rate at the bottom of any search if it is even listed at all because only your web page title provides any text at all.

[bradyj]

Roy Sinclair, you're right!! Bless your heart, I woulda' passed over that a million times...

...yeah, you're right about the text... most of it is my bad habit of trying to control the image 100% -- it's the print designer in me. I was planning on replacing the images for text when I did the final CSS and all that good stuff. It is good that you pointed that out.

Any ideas why the bckgrnd image shifts? I am guessing that it is the distance between the tables I have put for the 'who we are' section is not 100% controllable because I have the java and layers in between. Maybe CSS positioning instead?

[ronaldb66]

I 'd strongly suggest abandoning that print-oriented design approach. A browser window is not a predictable, controllable canvas but can have any proportion its user choses to.
Try to approach your design more as a text document, adorned with imagery, and have the different elements on a page follow normal flow, rather then attempting to nail them into place.
Use CSS for positioning, decoration and mouse effects rather then respectively tables, images and javascript; the end result will be much more flexible and much easier to maintain.

[bradyj]

I figured as much so I made what you said last night:
www.dotfive.com/test/test.html

all CSS and text (except the title)

[ronaldb66]

Very nice, very cleanly coded, and very fast loading: excellent piece of work!
I just get a javascript error, but since it's a test I won't hassle you over things not working yet; the point is: you emulated your first version closely, but without the lining-up problems and without using - too many - images: fast and flexible. I'm very curious about where it goes from here!

[bradyj]

Thank you very much!!

Yeah, I noticed the JavaScript error -- I'll see what's going on -- considering I didn't post any javascript in that page, I'll figure it out...

If your curious to see, I'll send you a message and post the final site on here for people to view -- that way you can critique it and give me your opinion.

God bless CSS.