Every now I think I understand something and then . . . I don’t. Can someone explain clearly the distinctions between:
CSS layout (Is that the drag and drop method? The DIV thing? The “leave the blue button on” thing? If so, how does one make a footer that works on each page?)
Inline layout (the approach that always requires percentages and floats? And kind of a modular look?)
Box model layout. (Is this the same thing as inline?)
Responsive layout (the ready-made thing that will automatically appear perfectly in mobile devices?)
There’s another; can’t even recall the name now.
I see discussions all over the board about these. I’ve read the manual, or at least most of it. Still, though, I get confused.
And can one or two approaches be used simultaneously to achieve good results without going crazy with deep learning curves?
I have to bash together two more relatively simple websites and if I can wedge in the learning curve would like to appreciate better which way is the best for someone for whom web design is not the primarily job function.
I need a pretty easy design approach (short of a template) to minimize problems I’m having with my neck because of pounding too much on a keyboard and hunching over my monitor. MRI next week, so I need to find the best of both worlds.
Inline layout (the approach that always requires percentages and
floats? And kind of a modular look?)
Not “always” requires percentages or floats. You can make a fixed or
flexible width, or both. Not just one way.
Box model layout. (Is this the same thing as inline?)
Yes, exactly the same thing.
And can one or two approaches be used simultaneously to achieve good
results without going crazy with deep learning curves?
This is more about attitude than knowledge. What you perceive as a negative
is actually not a negative – it is your perception of the thing that
prevents you from succeeding at it. I know because I once had the same
perception.
Instead of letting your mind tell you what to do, why not try ignoring it -
just for a month. Open yourself to the possibility that you CAN learn even
simple inline construction (or box model construction, if you like). For
just awhile, ignore the part of your brain that says “this is too hard” or
“this is not MY job” – or anything else but “okay, I will try that”. If
you do that, I guarantee you will find that you are capable of so much more
than that little voice in your head ever imagined possible. Again, I know
because I have been there and done that.
It’s not easy, I won’t kid you there – but it’s not impossible either. The
hardest thing in the universe is not inline-construction, or CSS, or gasp
even PHP (am I sure about that?). The hardest thing is to stop listening to
that little voice inside that tells us “you can’t do that!” or “see, I told
you that you’d fail!”.
If you opt for easy, there are some very easy options. You can hire others
to do this work for you. You can decide to love whatever you can make and
ignore anything outside your current skillset. None of that helps, though,
with the voice in your head… that thing never shuts up.
That voice in my head — yep, you may be exactly right. I have some old Dan Jasker videos (wish he was still making them) and I’ll take a look and see if I can free my mind from whatever is blocking me from delving deeper. You’re always a gem, Ernie. Thanks!