Re: WAI Triple-A conformance critique

Hi Mark,

On Sat, 12 Oct 2002 22:24:31 +0100, Mark Leaver wrote:
>I would rather use a table structure to setup the page rather=
 than an
>extensive use of the <DIV> tags with style classes associated=
 with them.
>The reason for this is that you can use CSS to position=
 everything to the
>exact place you want it rather than trying to place through the=
 DIV tags,
>the exact location of each DIV.

I don't follow... That's what I'm doing. That is, I use CSS=
 positioning 
through the DIV tags. These carry the class which tells them=
 where to 
position themselves. Whereas by using a table structure, not only=
 It would 
be difficult to image the text flow on the code (tables have=
 their own 
structure), but also nearly impossible to place elements through=
 CSS.

>If you don't want to use <DIV> tags or table tags, then it would=
 be better
>to use <p> tags and try to go for a XHTML 1.0 STRICT standard=
 rather than
>trying to stick with a HTML 4.01 trans standard doctype. At the=
 end of the
>day it restricts your html tag limits and forces you to use a=
 more
>structured formatting to the page.
>
>But then again, I am a pure programmer type person who would=
 rather see
>adherence to standards than to see minor deviations from the=
 basic
>standard.

hmm... sorry Mark. I'm really not following you :)
My pages validate at 4.01 transitional. My CSS also validates at=
 level 2. 
I'm just one step behind 4.01 Strict, which can in fact validate=
 by just 
using the style property on the image tags for border and sizes.=
 What some 
of you have been telling me is exactly to structure my code. Like=
 avoiding 
<div> when I'm placing an element more close to a H1. But that's=
 about it 
on what comes to the <div> tag. Going to HTML 1.0 seems to me=
 going 3 steps 
behind :)

In fact, HTML 1.0 should be deprecated. I'm not sure at which=
 point the use 
of this doctype wouldn't tag my pages as not valid by current=
 standards.

>Using <DIV> tags with classes is much tidier than using a nested=
 table
>structure to format your page. But at the end of the day you=
 need to know
>your CSS structures inside out to achieve this.

Hmm... agreed. But that's the price to pay. Not much when one=
 considers 
that by using tables, a change in your structure would have to be=
 
replicated throughout the whole site, while with a CSS=
 positioning 
technique, in most cases, you would only have to change the CSS=
 file 
itself.

Best Regards,
Mario Figueiredo
http://www.marfig.com  (portuguese speakers)
http://www.marfig.com/en_index.htm (english speakers)
admin(at)marfig.com

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