More exact definitions

Hi

I wrote a little bit unexact:

Inline

1)  It's a statement about flow. Boxes flow on the line and the may wrap
from artbitrary places.

...
Inline-block

1)  It's a statement about flow. Boxes flow on the line but they can't be
wrapped like a phrase.

Should be:

Inline

1)  It's a statement about flow. The element doesn't create unbreakable
shape. Boxes flow on the line and the may wrap from artbitrary places.


Inline-block

1)  It's a statement about flow. Boxes flow on the line but they can't be
wrapped like a phrase. The element create continuous unbreakable shape. The
element can't be cropped so that a part of it starts from the end of line
and next part in the beginning of the next line.


If all sides have borders, borders are continous for inline-block. Borders
are not rendered for each lines of the possible content like they are
rendered in the case "inline(-phrase)". Margin-top, margin-bottom,
padding-left, padding-bottom can be applied in the case "inline-block".
Shortly "inline-block" behaves like a block except the default flow type
and default width and height values. "Inline" should behave like an
ordinary phrase in line.

Inline-block and block should be defined equal in cases "position:absolute"
and "position:fixed", when the behavior type should be "inline-block" (they
SHOULD BE equal also in the case "float:right" and "float:left").

'Inline-block' display type fits for some form control elements, at least
'input' elements, when they have the type "text", "button". Concering form
control elements, SELECT + OPTGROUP + OPTION needs own display type, imo.
Maybe also other form control elements needs own display types.


FLOAT AND WORD-WRAPPING

It would be nice if there would be "float:center" or even more exact control.
In CSS2 word-wrapping around floating inline(-block) level element is not
satisfactory today. The property 'word-wrap' could control word-wrapping
around  floated or normal positioned inline-block level elements better
than 'clear'. word-wrap:left, word-wrap:right, word-wrap:both,
word-wrap:none (word-wrap:none would have the same effect as 'clear:both').
Shortly text around images or other floating blocks should be able to wrap
like in Word or in some other word-processing applications. Tight wrapping
or wrapping by using ellipse or other shapes might be too much to ask.

It looks BAD if inline-block level object automatic increase the line
height. I would look MUCH better if the text would wrap around the object.

Because unsatisfactory word-wrapping people use complex multilevel layout
tables. IF there would be proper word wrapping, there would not so much
need for use layout tables, positioned element and the property 'float'
would not need to use just at all. Maybe CSS will permamently give
unsatisfactory word-wrapping algorithms. Or maybe after 5-10 years they
might be satisfactory.
tapio1@nic.fi; http://www.nic.fi/~tapio1/
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Received on Monday, 4 November 2002 14:05:35 UTC