Re: When font-size and font size collide

L. David Baron wrote:

> The rule to which you refer (CSS2 section 6.4.4, also in
CSS1) only has
> an effect when the presentational hint and the CSS rule are
on the same
> element.  Otherwise whichever is deeper in the document tree
prevents
> inheritance from the one that is higher.  See [1], where I
explained
> this fully.

You give a useful demonstration of how FONT is an inline HTML
element and subject to styling rules just like any other such
element, but you fail to note an equivocation in the
recommendation:

"6.4.4 Precedence of non-CSS presentational hints
The UA may choose to honor presentational hints from other
sources than style sheets, for example the FONT element or the
"align" attribute in HTML..."

The key word is "may".

NS Nav 4 ignores the SIZE attribute for the FONT element when
an ancestor element has those attributes defined by CSS rules.
But it continues to apply the FACE attribute and the COLOR
attribute. This kind of behavior doesn't make it "easier for
stylistic attributes to coexist with style sheets" and serves
to limit the options available to authors. Some might consider
that a good thing, since it forces authors to specify FONT
attributes in the style sheet. But with IE ignoring 'inherit'
and Navigator getting downright nasty about it, it sure ain't
easy.

David Perrell

Received on Tuesday, 17 August 1999 18:37:35 UTC