Overflow auto doesn't overflow?

Hey all,

I'm just curious. Overflow auto typically works with p, h1, and other block level elements that occupy space in the normal flow. However, when I try to have it overflow divs (which I know are empty block level elements), I still specify a styling to those divs, speciically a width and height (so now they occupy space), yet the overflow: auto for the container div still doesn't overflow:

<div id="container">
<div id="s01"></div>
<div id="s02"></div>
<div id="s03"></div>
<div id="s04"></div>
<div id="s05"></div>
<div id="s06"></div>
<div id="s07"></div>
<div id="s08"></div>
</div>

#container {
position: relative;
left: 100px;
width: 580px;
border: 1px solid #f00;
overflow: auto;
}

#s01 {
position:absolute;
left:19px;
top:23px;
width:50px;
height:50px;
border: 2px solid #000;
}
#s02 {
position:absolute;
left:138px;
top:23px;
width:50px;
height:50px;
border: 2px solid #000;
}
#s03 {
position:absolute;
left:256px;
top:23px;
width:50px;
height:50px;
border: 2px solid #000;
}
#s04 {
position:absolute;
left:375px;
top:23px;
width:50px;
height:50px;
border: 2px solid #000;
}
#s05 {
position:absolute;
left:493px;
top:23px;
width:50px;
height:50px;
border: 2px solid #000;
}

#s06 {
position:absolute;
left:19px;
top:114px;
width:50px;
height:50px;
border: 2px solid #000;
}
#s07 {
position:absolute;
left:138px;
top:117px;
width:50px;
height:50px;
border: 2px solid #000;
}
#s08 {
position:absolute;
left:256px;
top:117px;
width:50px;
height:50px;
border: 2px solid #000;
}


I am missing a rule here? Thanks for any response. Also, do you think it is better to dynamically build those divs in javascript on page load?

Hello johnmerlino,
Your use of absolute positioning removes those divs, s01 thru 08, from the normal flow of the document. That means #container doesn't see anything to enclose.

You will need to give #container a height for this to work.
Read about the pitfalls of absolute positioning here (http://www.tyssendesign.com.au/articles/css/absolute-positioning-pitfalls/).

The container div is set to position relative so it acts as a reference point to the contained absolutely positioned divs. Is it possible to have it act as a reference point yet also allow it to overflow to enclose its containing absolutely positioned divs as well? If not, is there a workaround, aside from having to give the container a height property? thanks.

Is it possible to have it act as a reference point yet also allow it to overflow to enclose its containing absolutely positioned divs as well?
No. Not without a height.

If not, is there a workaround? thanks.
Don't use ap. Position those elements with floats and margins instead.