Re: Question/Suggestion : min-left, min-right etc...

On Jul 11, 2008, at 8:32 AM, Tab Atkins Jr. wrote:

>
>
> On Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 11:48 AM, Kevin Cannon <kevin@multiblah.com>  
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Hi there,
>
> Searched through the archives and couldn't find anything like this.  
> Does anyone know if there's any properties like this proposed in CSS3?
>
> The min-width, max-width properties are excellent and add a lot to  
> creating fluid layouts, however min-left would be invaluable.
>
> It would allow you to do things like this, for example placing a  
> banner on the top right, but preventing it overlapping the logo on  
> the left.
>
> #logo {
>   position: absolute;
>   top: 0;
>   left: 0;
>
>   width: 100px;
>   height: 70px;
> }
>
> #banner {
>   position: absolute;
>   top: 0;
>   right: 0;
>   min-left: 110px;
>
>   width: 700px;
>   height: 120px;
> }
>
> Would something like this be feasible at all?
>
> Regards,
>
> - Kevin
>
> Well, when it actually becomes a reality the Template module will be  
> exactly what you need.  Using absolute positioning for layout is  
> *still* a bit of a hack (though a fairly stable one and imo much  
> less of one than the float abuse that often takes place) - Template  
> will let you specify clearly that you want two slots, with #logo  
> filling the left one and #banner filling the right one, and that you  
> want the left slot to be at least 110px wide.

min-left/right/top/bottom would be much simpler and more obvious, and  
useful for times when you are already using the very familiar  
positioning properties. I've often wished for this, not just for  
laying out entire pages, but for smaller areas that required absolute  
positioning. It would probably also be useful for relative positioning.

>
>
> Now, that's years away, but it solves the *actual* problem you're  
> having (you need a proper form of layout control) rather than the  
> particular issue you're experiencing right now (absolutely  
> positioned elements just barreling over each other).
>
> On that note, I've been curious about the Template module ever since  
> I saw it - it honestly seems to be a holy grail for designers (pun  
> intended, obviously).  It would finally free us from all the  
> weirdness and hacks that are float-based or absolute-positioning- 
> based layouts and make the few remaining reasons to do a table-based  
> layout obsolete (mainly, a stable way to generate equal-height  
> columns), while greatly expanding our creative options.  What's it's  
> status, WG?
>
> ~TJ
>