css with tables

hargi · 22 Sep 2006 at 09:22

Is it posible to use tables will css?
I had a look at w3schools but didnt see the section on it?
TIA

Augmented · 22 Sep 2006 at 09:45

Yes, it certainly is. CSS rules can be used with [almost] any markup element you want.

Regarding w3schools.com, this seems to be their resource of specific table properties. I'd recommend looking at a better CSS resource, like the official spec at the W3C

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iCraig · 22 Sep 2006 at 10:24

Don't get caught up with the idea that using tables is totally prohibited.

I've seen sites awarded for not using a single table, even on pages containing tabular data. They used heavily nested DIV's instead. :rolleyes:

Tables are an element that, like all elements, have a specific purpose. Their's is to display tabular data. (Such as football leagues, recipes etc)

It's only when you start using tables for other purposes, such as creating the site layout or navigation in tables that it all goes wrong.

paulsheff · 22 Sep 2006 at 12:31

Definitely, I had a site recently that required some tight fitting aligned forms and images that would have been an absolute nightmare to work properly into a tight space with divs, but a styled table did the job perfectly.

Ed · 23 Sep 2006 at 19:04

paulsheff said:
Definitely, I had a site recently that required some tight fitting aligned forms and images that would have been an absolute nightmare to work properly into a tight space with divs, but a styled table did the job perfectly.

Doesn't sound justifiable to me.

hargi said:
Is it posible to use tables will css?

As for tables and CSS, there is a gallery over at iCant but Veerles is much nicer and the example is explained here.

Sic · 23 Sep 2006 at 19:30

spinneR~uk said:
Doesn't sound justifiable to me.

i'd say it's justifiable. i've never tried using CSS, but that's because i see no problem using tables for it.

Ed · 23 Sep 2006 at 20:10

Sic said:
i see no problem using tables for it.

It's not row identifiable data.

Sic · 23 Sep 2006 at 20:12

yes, but the final construct does have a tabular structure

Ed · 23 Sep 2006 at 21:27

Sic said:
yes, but the final construct does have a tabular structure

I can understand where you're coming from but HTML elements have fairly specific purposes when used semantically, despite what the W3 suggest.

Information is data that has been processed. Processing of data is best done using identifiers such as row or column headers. A table is the right tool for the job if data needs processing. If a form cannot be wedged in to a space due to DIVs flying about, it's not the HTML that's at fault, it's the CSS; herein lies the solution.

Tables offer a great means of fixing positions which is why the adoption is widespread and the path to separation of positioning from content a long one, but if programming was easy, everyone would be doing it

paulsheff · 23 Sep 2006 at 21:34

spinneR~uk said:
Doesn't sound justifiable to me.

It's a good job I don't have to justify my work to you then isn't it.

Ed · 24 Sep 2006 at 08:40

paulsheff said:
It's a good job I don't have to justify my work to you then isn't it.

That's the point, it's the users of the site, who or whatever they may be that you do have to justify your site to. As long as it looks OK though, eh...

Sic · 24 Sep 2006 at 10:05

spinneR~uk said:
I can understand where you're coming from but HTML elements have fairly specific purposes when used semantically, despite what the W3 suggest.

Information is data that has been processed. Processing of data is best done using identifiers such as row or column headers. A table is the right tool for the job if data needs processing. If a form cannot be wedged in to a space due to DIVs flying about, it's not the HTML that's at fault, it's the CSS; herein lies the solution.

Tables offer a great means of fixing positions which is why the adoption is widespread and the path to separation of positioning from content a long one, but if programming was easy, everyone would be doing it

i shall have to try CSS then...can't say as it's even occurred to me to not use tables...it's always seemed more logical. i should be building a form at some point in the near future, so i shall ditch tables

paulsheff · 24 Sep 2006 at 14:28

spinneR~uk said:
That's the point, it's the users of the site, who or whatever they may be that you do have to justify your site to. As long as it looks OK though, eh...

Whatever, it was one small part of an otherwise entire layout styled using css.