# RPL vs. handmade box model

**URL:** <https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421>\
**Category:** Freeway\
**Created:** [November 16, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421 "2010-11-16T22:01:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![derekzinger](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@derekzinger](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/derekzinger)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421/1 "2010-11-16T22:01:08Z")

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I’ve just purchased 5.5 and am starting a new site which I’d like to be done in “box model” style. I’ve learned how to do this manually in Freeway, and was wondering what others like me think of the Relative Page Layout action.

For experienced box modellers who have had the chance to try out the RPL action, how does it compare to manually building the site? I’m sure it’s extremely easy to use, and can save me literally hours of time, but are there any downsides you’ve discovered? Do any of you still prefer to build inline sites manually? Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Account](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Account](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/Account)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421/2 "2010-11-16T22:11:15Z")

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I might not be the best person to reply as I prefer to hand code, but  
that said, I have used the RPL action for testing purposes and it is  
rather amazing how easily an inline layout can be built. But (big  
but), for very complex layouts it does seem to struggle, at least in  
my experience, and it does not allow for liquid layouts. If you can  
keep your layout relatively simple and fixed in width, it’s a great  
asset.

Todd

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**Author:** ![chuckamuck](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@chuckamuck](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/chuckamuck)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421/3 "2010-11-16T22:16:35Z")

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You can also combine techniques with part built as box model and part not, but output with RPL applied. The sticky issue though is you still have to be cognizant how a box model functions for that portion. Also it is best not to overlap edges too much.

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**Author:** ![derekzinger](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@derekzinger](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/derekzinger)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421/4 "2010-11-16T22:27:12Z")

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Good to know about liquid layouts. Thanks, Todd.

Chuck, I can imagine overlapping items would throw a wrench into RPL. Especially here, the grid is our friend!

One of the things I wonder about with the RPL action is if I lose a bit of ability to sort out problems. Margins, especially, can wreck a bit of havoc if not done just right, but then again, the action likely creates everything perfectly from a code standpoint, so, apart from bogging down a bit with overly complex layouts, how many problems will there likely be?

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**Author:** ![chuckamuck](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@chuckamuck](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/chuckamuck)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421/5 "2010-11-16T23:12:37Z")

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Yes, there would be some lack of control over certain things. I can see my suggestion working for headers/menu bars that remain static more or less using the RPL, with the box model area being the content area that would expand with a footer. Upper portion being master page oriented and the rest would be per page box model.

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**Author:** ![derekzinger](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@derekzinger](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/derekzinger)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421/6 "2010-11-16T23:18:00Z")

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Great suggestion. Thanks, Chuck.

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**Author:** ![TeamSDA1](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@TeamSDA1](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/TeamSDA1)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421/7 "2010-11-18T16:42:51Z")

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Hi Chuck,

So just to confirm, the action is OK with combining box model with regular layers?

I did notice this done in one of the templets that came with the new 5.5. Was leery of this as I thought the whole site had to be build with standard drag and drop CSS layers.

Thanks, TeamSDA\_Dave

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**Author:** ![derekzinger](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@derekzinger](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/derekzinger)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421/8 "2010-11-18T16:49:15Z")

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SDA, as I understand it, non-inline layers, handmade box model and RPL action can all be combined on the same page.

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**Author:** ![Joe2](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/3e96dc/32.png) [@Joe2](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/Joe2)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421/9 "2010-11-18T18:11:32Z")

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Take a look here for an example of inflow items (commonly called box model) being used to make the header, body and footer stretch the full width of the page, and the RPL Action positioning the rest of the items.

[http://www.freewaytalk.net/thread/view/75369#m\_75371](http://www.freewaytalk.net/thread/view/75369#m_75371)

Joe

On 18 Nov 2010, at 16:49, derekzinger wrote:

> SDA, as I understand it, non-inline layers, handmade box model and RPL action can all be combined on the same page.
> 
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**Author:** ![TeamSDA1](https://discourse.softpress.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@TeamSDA1](https://discourse.softpress.com/u/TeamSDA1)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://discourse.softpress.com/t/rpl-vs-handmade-box-model/9421/10 "2010-11-18T18:53:40Z")

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Thanks Guys for the input.

Dave

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