Re: More stupid basic questions

by "Steven Antonio" <santonio(at)delanet.com>

 Date:  Fri, 23 Jun 2000 14:34:01 -0400
 To:  "HTML Writers' Guild" <hwg-basics(at)hwg.org>
 References:  mailarizona thegrid
  todo: View Thread, Original
> 1.  How many different versions of my site do I have to make, to
> accommodate the different browsers/versions, and whether or not they've
got
> their javascript enabled?

Like most things, there is no simple answer.  It depends on the design and
features you choose to implement, budget, available time, and just how darn
important a particular feature is.  With the right code, you can get some
things to look almost identical in all (graphics) browsers.  Others, such as
frames, can be coded to have the content accessible by all browsers.  It
won't look exactly the same, but it will be usable.  Is it important that
the frames capable and non-frames capable browsers see the same?  Only you
can answer that.  Would not having JavaScript capability make the site less
usable or even useless?  Maybe you want to stay away from that type
scripting and find another way, or just don't do it.  If it can only be done
with JavaScript and it's really that important to you, then perhaps you do
need to make another site that doesn't implement it.... or not, and just let
the JavaScript challenged fall through the cracks (wouldn't be my choice
though).  Again, only you and/or your client can make these decisions.

> 2. How do I know who is who, and send the various people with their
> various configurations to the appropriate version of my site?

Again, not that simple.  Short answer- you can't, not consistently and
reliably.  I prefer it this way, I don't want any information of me or my
computer being accessed wholesale.  CSS is supposed to solve most of these
problems if it ever gets the mainstream support it deserves.

> 3.  Do I have to do anything special to make it look right on a Mac?

I don't know all the issues, but using a browser safe palate is a start.

Steve

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