Re: [Fwd: Using tables to format]

"Ian B. Jacobs" wrote:
> 
> > Stephen.Markham@eddept.wa.edu.au wrote:
> >
> > Having just done a short course on CSS, I was disappointed to see you
> > had used a "table" for your formatting structure in your 'home page'.
> > It was drummed into us by our tutor, that tables should be used for
> > what they were intended, 'tabular forms'. "CSS is the new way in which
> > to format and use space across your website" he said. I can understand
> > why people would use a table for formatting a page, its very
> > functional and easy, to name just 2 reasons. If  W3C wants to spread
> > the word of CSS then please be more inventive by demonstrating to us
> > the 'power' of CSS in formatting a website. (without tables)

Stephen,

Please refer to previous comments on this topic sent to this list:
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/site-comments/2000Oct/0016

The short answer is: W3C would love to use CSS for horizontal layout,
and cross-browser support is nearly there. When we redesigned the home
page, we were not satisfied with the results. The number of deployed
browsers that support CSS may be significant enough that we should
scrap the table. We have not tried the experiment recently.

Daniel Glazman has already proposed a redesign:
  http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/site-comments/2000Oct/0033,
but to my knowledge, we have not tried to implement it yet.

Having said this, I (and I believe W3C) support the principle that 
tables should be used for data, not layout. 

 - Ian


> > Stephen Markham
> >
> > Catalogue Support Officer
> > Curriculum Materials Information Services
> > Ph: +61 8 9264 4503
> > Fax: +61 8 9264 5708
> > Email: Stephen.Markham@eddept.wa.edu.au


-- 
Ian Jacobs (ij@w3.org)   http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
Cell:                    +1 917 450-8783

Received on Friday, 20 July 2001 12:23:09 UTC