# \[Pro\] text blocks

**URL:** <https://discourse.softpress.com/t/pro-text-blocks/19412>\
**Category:** Freeway\
**Created:** [January 21, 2014, 6:26am UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/pro-text-blocks/19412 "2014-01-21T06:26:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Erik\_M](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Erik\_M](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/Erik_M)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 6:26am UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/pro-text-blocks/19412/1 "2014-01-21T06:26:21Z")

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Hi,  
I’m having a hard time constraining my text blocks. I would like text blocks to automatically reflow within a certain horizontal limit that I stipulate (580 px, for example). To achieve this, I set the text block to align to the left, the width to be fixed (%), the min. size to be 20%, and the max. size to be 580 px. The text is set to helvetica neue light, size small. I’ve noticed that even with the same parameters, different text blocks behave differently. Some behave as expected, and others exceed the max. width when the loaded browser window is enlarged in the horizontal direction. Should I be using different parameters?

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**Author:** ![Ernie\_Simpson](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/a587f6/32.png) [@Ernie\_Simpson](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/Ernie_Simpson)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 7:37am UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/pro-text-blocks/19412/2 "2014-01-21T07:37:11Z")

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It is ever so hard to envision the problem in the abstract - I will say  
that if you are using % widths, it’s a good idea to understand % of what?  
The browser window?

Percentage widths are always in relation to a container of some sort. If  
you wish to restrict them, use max-width (1) as well or (2) instead. That  
way, you are saying - for example - this container will be 80% the width of  
it’s parent, but never exceed the maximum width of 640px. Or by itself, you  
are saying that it will be as wide as possible but not exceeding the  
max-width limit.

–  
Ernie Simpson

On Tue, Jan 21, 2014 at 1:26 AM, Erik M [email@hidden](mailto:email@hidden) wrote:

> Hi,  
> I’m having a hard time constraining my text blocks. I would like text  
> blocks to automatically reflow within a certain horizontal limit that I  
> stipulate (580 px, for example). To achieve this, I set the text block to  
> align to the left, the width to be fixed (%), the min. size to be 20%, and  
> the max. size to be 580 px. The text is set to helvetica neue light, size  
> small. I’ve noticed that even with the same parameters, different text  
> blocks behave differently. Some behave as expected, and others exceed the  
> max. width when the loaded browser window is enlarged in the horizontal  
> direction. Should I be using different parameters?
> 
> * * *
> 
> freewaytalk mailing list  
> email@hidden  
> Update your subscriptions at:  
> [http://freewaytalk.net/person/options](http://freewaytalk.net/person/options)

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**Author:** ![David\_McCallum](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@David\_McCallum](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/David_McCallum)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 9:29am UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/pro-text-blocks/19412/3 "2014-01-21T09:29:31Z")

</div>

> The text is set to helvetica neue light, size small.

Also bear in mind that unless you are using one of the WebFont embedding techniques your visitors will only see helvetica neue light if that font is installed on their system - not likely for most users.

The ‘small’ sizing (relative) is also variable across systems and for consistency you would be better defining your font using a px size.

David

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