Dreamweaver - Layers to Tables

Author

Layers to Tables

boneykingofnowhere

2004-11-24, 4:15 am

Hi
Ive just started using Dreamweaver 4 and have a couple of queries...

1) On some pages when i convert layers to tables and then preview in browser,
a couple of objects get moved around. They look fine on the page before i
preview, and i use 'Most Accurate' when converting. Why? Or how do i stop it?!

2) When using templates, how do you convert them from layers to tables as the
option is just disabled?

Thankyou for any help i get!!
x

Dan Vendel *GOF*

2004-11-24, 4:15 am

boneykingofnowhere wrote:
> Hi
> Ive just started using Dreamweaver 4 and have a couple of queries...
>
> 1) On some pages when i convert layers to tables and then preview in browser,
> a couple of objects get moved around. They look fine on the page before i
> preview, and i use 'Most Accurate' when converting. Why? Or how do i stop it?!
>
> 2) When using templates, how do you convert them from layers to tables as the
> option is just disabled?
>
> Thankyou for any help i get!!
> x
>

Simple reply:

Do not *EVER* use that inane option, neither to convert from tables to
layers or vice versa. It's a gadget that has been in DW since version 3
(I think) and it's likely out of sheer sentimental reasons that MM
didn't boot it out in DW4.

It is counterproductive and will steer you into wrong paths of web design.

--
Dan Vendel - *GOF*
"Eagles may soar, free and proud, but weasels never get sucked into jet
engines."
Contact: http://www.proformica.com/contact.shtml
Call or chat me via Skype ID: danvendel, but DON'T ask questions that
you can ask here! (get Skype at http://skype.com)

Murray *TMM*

2004-11-24, 4:15 am

> So, are there any issues with overlapping layers or can most browsers cope
> with this now? And what do you do about centring the site in the browser?

No browser that supports absolute positioning (i.e., "layers") would ever
have a problem with overlapped layers. It's the visitors to your page that
will, however.

Generally speaking, the easy way is the wrong way. It's easy to layout a
page using layers since you can position things exactly where you want them.
But when the page is completed you may discover lots of problems.

1. If there are centering or flexible tables (or other content) on the
page, then as the browser viewport dimensions are changed, these things will
move. Layers, on the other hand, being absolutely positioned, will not.
This accounts for the HUNDREDS of posts every week here with subject lines
like "Can I lock my layers into position and stop them from moving?" - of
course, the layers are not moving, while the page content is.

2. If there is text in the layers, and if your visitor chooses to resize
that text, then adjacent layers can begin to overlap content. This can
destroy a carefully concocted layout.

3. If the 'layers' are inadvertantly placed inside other page content, then
you will surely encounter browser/platform rendering inconsistencies that
will drive you nuts.

4. All the other nitsy little problems that I have forgotten to mention.

Are you sure you want to do web pages? 8)

This is one of the important things that makes new developers scream about
wanting to build pages but not wanting to learn code. You just can't do
it.....

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
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"boneykingofnowhere" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:cnibud$3re$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Ok sorry, after doing a search i realise its not a good idea to convert to
> tables so ill just stick with my layers!!
>
> So, are there any issues with overlapping layers or can most browsers cope
> with this now? And what do you do about centring the site in the browser?
>
> And ive got a gradient from Cyan to White down the left hand side of the
> page.
> Ive tried using a css to stop the repeating, but i can only attach it to
> an
> element. Is there any way of attaching to the complete page?
>
>