text flow from one element to pseudo-element

I haven't been subbed to this list in a while, but I resubbed today 
because I had an idea I thought might be worth discussing. Apologies if 
it has already been discussed.

Previously, there had been some discussion of linking text-boxes so that 
text would flow from one into the other (similar to functionality in 
common layout programs like Quark). The concept was usually dismissed 
because it would effectively require junk empty elements to be linked to 
  the first element containing real content.

Instead I propose a new pseudo-class that can be styled seperately from 
the original element. Similar to column functionality but providing a 
little more control in completely separate positioning, styling, etc. 
I'm not partial to the name I've chosen (text-flow) but it should give 
you an example of what I had in mind:

div.content {
   /* main element styles */
   }
div.content:text-flow {
   /* overflow element styles */
   }

Perhaps there should be the option for multiple boxes? Something like:

div.content {
   /* main element styles */
   }
div.content:text-flow(1) {
   /* 1st overflow element styles */
   }
div.content:text-flow(2) {
   /* 2nd overflow element styles */
   }
div.content:text-flow(n) {
   /* nth overflow element styles */
   }

Anyway, that's what was keeping me awake last night so I thought I'd 
share it with the list. I look forward to your comments.

TIA,
James Craig

-- 
http://www.cookiecrook.com/

Received on Tuesday, 1 July 2003 16:08:27 UTC