Doctype help... [Archive] - CodingForums.com

Ben@WEBProp

07-01-2003, 07:31 PM

Alright, so I admit it, I truly am a newbie...but I'm here to learn, right?

I guess I need one of these DOCTYPE thingy's, but how do I tell which one is right? Please don't send me to another thread or some W3C page, cause I have already tried those things and I still don't get it. The site is at http://www.webpropertiesinc.com. I think I need the HTML 4.01 (newest) in frameset. But what is MathML, SVG, and what is so different in XTML? I got alot of coding from other people, and I know that I do have some css in there (eventually it will be on all my pages). But my page is in frames. So should I use the transitional or frameset? Please don't give one word answers either. I need as deep -yet fairly easy to understand- of an explanation as you can give me.

Thanks!

-Ben

meow

07-01-2003, 07:40 PM

You should use Frameset only for the doc that contains the actual frameset. For the framed pages you want Transitional from what I saw. :)

HTML 4.01 or XHTML, both are fine. But you write HTML so for this you should use HTML DTDs.

pardicity3

07-01-2003, 07:44 PM

By your post I would assume that you have already read this thread (http://www.codingforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18346) and these sites [HTML 4 DTD's (http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_whyusehtml4.asp) | XHTML DTD's (http://www.w3schools.com/xhtml/xhtml_dtd.asp) | What XHTML is (http://www.w3schools.com/xhtml/xhtml_intro.asp)]. If you have read those sites and still need more info, read below.

If you are using frames in your site then you should be using a frameset DTD. This becomes very crucial when you get into XHTML and learn you can't use the target="" attribute without first specifing a frameset DTD.

By looking at your code you are going to want an HTML 4.01 DTD (see above link). This is because you are not using XHTML. Unless you are using XHTML don't use an XHTML DTD. Of course, it would be prudent of you to start coding in XHTML, but it's your choice :).

As for SVG and MathML and that good stuff. You probably don't need to worry about them much. I only have limited knowledge, but SVG is a vector graphics langauge (somewhate akin to flash) and MathML provides a way to include mathematical expressions into your web page. I know you said you didn't want links, but I just told you everything that can be found on the first two paragraphs here (MathML) (http://www.w3.org/Math/) and here (SVG) (http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/Overview.htm8).

Hopefully this will get you on your way. If you have anymore questions ask away.

Meow beat me to the punch with a much more compact version of me post :)

bradyj

07-01-2003, 07:46 PM

* The HTML 4.01 Strict DTD includes all elements and attributes that have not been deprecated or do not appear in frameset documents. For documents that use this DTD, use this document type declaration:
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">

* The HTML 4.01 Transitional DTD includes everything in the strict DTD plus deprecated elements and attributes (most of which concern visual presentation). For documents that use this DTD, use this document type declaration:
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">

* The HTML 4.01 Frameset DTD includes everything in the transitional DTD plus frames as well. For documents that use this DTD, use this document type declaration:
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Frameset//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/frameset.dtd">

<edit> essentially, it is the bottom * that you want to use. Copy the info in brackets and paste it at the top of you webpages... and of course your here to learn! If I have been posting aggressively, I apologize -- I try to give the proper criticism from both sides. Take it as beneficial, and not personal -- you'll receive your best information from the negative side more often than not.</edit>

meow

07-01-2003, 07:53 PM

Originally posted by pardicity3

Meow beat me to the punch with a much more compact version of me post :)

You don't know how glad that makes me. I'm a slow writer and am usually the one that posts lasts and looks silly. Nice to be on top for once. :o

Ben@WEBProp

07-01-2003, 09:17 PM

Thanks guys! Let me see if I have this....
I ***** slap the HTML 4.01 Frameset DOCTYPE line in the very very start of my frameset page (index.htm), even before the <html> tag. Then, on every single one of my other pages, I put the HTML 4.01 Transitional DOCTYPE into the very start of all my other pages...right?

So all the doctype does is ensure that everything is interpreted correctly?

BradyJ- Don't worry about any agressive posting. If everyone told me that a crappy page looked good, I would get no where. So far, you're the only one who has taken the time to give me some criticizm. :thumbsup:

Thanks

-Ben

oracleguy

07-01-2003, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by Ben@WEBProp
Thanks guys! Let me see if I have this....
I ***** slap the HTML 4.01 Frameset DOCTYPE line in the very very start of my frameset page (index.htm), even before the <html> tag. Then, on every single one of my other pages, I put the HTML 4.01 Transitional DOCTYPE into the very start of all my other pages...right?

So all the doctype does is ensure that everything is interpreted correctly?

Yes and Yes.

Ben@WEBProp

07-01-2003, 09:53 PM

Sweet! Thanks a ton!
Sorry about the whole * thing, I just saw Pulp Fiction a couple of days ago and I liked it so much I think my dialoge is changing a bit. Thanks for the help though!

bradyj

07-01-2003, 11:22 PM

**** Yeah, you got it:thumbsup:

Ben@WEBProp

07-01-2003, 11:51 PM

Hahaha, right on!

The only problem now is that I have guidlines to follow:eek:. I don't want to sound ignorant or anything, but I didn't know there was like some sacred council that mediated what was "legal" and "illegal" amoung webmasters! Ya, I went through that validation thing again and...well...here:

http://www.codingforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22614

you'll see...