I’m a graphic designer. After dealing with Dreamweaver, I decided to look for a software that allowed me to put elements on a page as any designing program, like Illustrator. That’s why I’ve purchased FW Pro.
I’m still in the learning phase and have some doubts about the different ways of laying out a page. I would appreciate if anyone can answer me this questions and what’s the most professional way of doing this with FW Pro.
I understand that there are these 3 methods:
1- Table layout (CSS button switched off).
A very easy way to design a page, but as I’ve read not very recommended
2- CSS button switched on.
Very similar to the first method. You can place any element on the page. I feel very comfortable with this method.
3- CSS button switched on, BUT INLINE BOX MODEL
As per the comments, this is the way to go, but I see that is a bit tricky and I’m afraid it is going to take me back to “Dreamweaver’s nightmares”…
I have a doubt about this method. Once I have the inline box model built, can I draw any HTML or graphic element inside any part of this inline box model? (drag and draw method, a combination of 2 and 3 methods)
Yes you can. But those elements that you draw in this manner will not
respect one another or the other contents of the box you draw them on.
So if the object you are drawing cannot grow when HTML text size is
increased (like an image or a movie), then you are golden. But if you
are drawing an element that will contain text or other text-sized
elements, then you will have the overlapping content items nightmare
of model #2.
I just answered a question related to this last week.
I have a doubt about this method. Once I have the inline box model
built, can I draw any HTML or graphic element inside any part of
this inline box model? (drag and draw method, a combination of 2 and
3 methods)
If you want to design pages that don’t fall apart, you have two
choices really – table layouts or inline (box model) layouts. The
other type – the one Freeway will make for you if you don’t watch out
– is just prone to failure in case the text size is changed.
Now table-based layouts get heaped with scorn by purists, and in
certain lights, that’s well deserved. But they are rock-simple and
rock-solid, and there are places where you actually want to use them,
for example in HTML e-mail. But if you’re not making a layout for a
bunch of standardistas, and if you just want to get something done by
Tuesday and sleep well knowing that it can’t be broken, by all means
use them!
Walter
On Apr 25, 2010, at 3:31 PM, nacho valle wrote:
Thanks, Walter.
What method do you recommend me to use from the beginning to design
professional web sites?
Either design with a full inline layout, with CSS button on, or use a
table layout (with CSS button off). The in-between method of using a
CSS-positioned layout (CSS button on, but just draw things where you
want them to appear) will also work as long as nobody scales the text
in their browser.
Those are the trade-offs. Which one is more professional is anybody’s
guess. A professional uses tools to accomplish or facilitate a
customer or user goal. No two of those are alike, so as Our Dear
Leader (Richard Logan) likes to say, it’s “horses for courses”.
Walter
On Apr 26, 2010, at 6:23 AM, nacho valle wrote:
Thanks again, Walter.
So, your recommendation is to go with
CSS button switched off
inline box model
Not to design pages with the CSS button ON (layers)?