CSS Div Tables

Since I now strive and insist that we develop in the latest css and xhtml standards, I came across an issue I wasn't sure how to handle.

It started when I was developing the now uploaded new Added Tech website. Being a drainage company specialising in strom water drains and things like that, there were a considerable amount of test data that needed to be displayed. Now back in the day I would have just insterted in into a table and of we go.

So anyway I put the information in a standard html table but the code just didn't look right. The table tags almost made the code look square so the nice clean feeling was suddenly destroyed. That is when I went in search of a solution.

This is what I came up with, this example has only two columns, but on the same site I have successfully ported it to a ten column table.

div

#table {width: 100%; margin: 0; padding:0;}
div#leftcell {display: td; margin: 0; padding: 2px; width: 18%; float: left; font-weight: bold;}
div#rightcell {display: td; margin: 0; padding: 2px; width: 81%; float: left; clear: right;}

The first line emulates the <table> tag. So there is nothing to special about that. To make each div display as a table cell we needed to set display:td; for those that have become familiar with <td> you would have noticed the similarity. The only difference is of course there is no <tr> or table row tag. Instead the last cell (in this case rightcell) we set clear:right; which then makes anything after that appear underneath hence emulating <tr>.

Lets have a look at the xhtml code:

<div id="table">

<div id="leftcell"><p>First Row Left Cell Text</p></div>
<div id="rightcell"><p>Right Cell Text</p></div>

<div id="leftcell"><p>Second Row Left Cell Text</p></div>
<div id="rightcell"><p>Right Cell Text</p></div>

</div>

This is just a simple two row two column design but you can see that changing certain attributes in the css you can create a more advance form.

That is basically the new form of xhtml and css tables. Nice, clean, so what more could you want.

Tags: Content Management System, CMS, PHP, MySQL, Able Net Design, Web Design, Web-Design, CSS, XHTML, Webdesign, CSS, Press Release, PR, Sphere, seo, online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimization, WebTrends, author, tour, web2.0, web 2.0, Ruby On Rails, ruby-on-rails

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.

Completely Mobile

With the arriaval of this wireless solution I have been focusing on the redevelopment of the Able Net Design website.

Of course it will be built in that all important web 2.0 style. So at the moment to keep with the web 2.0 culture I am playing around with some AJAX functionality.
Work will also start to take serious form for my top secret website that I am developing. The main template has been created so it is just a matter of developing the code and functionality.

Simplified Success for those that don't know is the book I am writing at the moment about how to run a successful website. Of course I can't go into every aspect but I can provide some valuable information. Well the update on the book is that it is almost complete. So very shortly you will be able to purchase it.

On that note I have to go. So many blogs to update.

Tags: Content Management System, CMS, PHP, MySQL, Able Net Design, Web Design, Web-Design, CSS, XHTML, Webdesign, CSS, Press Release, PR, Sphere, seo, online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimization, WebTrends, author, tour, web2.0, web 2.0, Ruby On Rails, ruby-on-rails, curveycorners

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.

A metaphoric discovery

The discovery of this metaphor could is probably the best way to explain how SEO tips get out.

The Internet is like the Australian Bush. SEO tips and techniques spread like wild fire.

There is more to this but you will need to wait until the release of my book to get the full metaphor.

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.

Online

My new server which I now offer unlimited hosting accounts, has started to runs it's first websites. By tomorrow I hope to have all the websites transferred which will make life alot easier.

Other websites have been coming online in the last few days so all in all it has been a very busy time.

I have also spent a lot of time researching web 2.0 of course. Layouts and designs for these types of websites have changed so much that I feel the more I know the better I can inform my clients.

Tags: Content Management System, CMS, PHP, MySQL, Able Net Design, Web Design, Web-Design, CSS, XHTML, Webdesign, CSS, Press Release, PR, Sphere, seo, online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimization, WebTrends, author, tour, web2.0, web 2.0, Ruby On Rails, ruby-on-rails

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.

Domain finally up

ablenetdesign-hosting.com is finally up and running.

Which means I have to build a quick website for it. Of course it will be web 2.0 in style. That is something I will work on tonight.

So stay tuned.

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.

New Client

Thats right I picked up another new client today for the CMS. I will be starting on that account with in the next day or so.

I am still waiting to be able to change the DNS on my new domain. I am hopeing I can get all of that setup by tomorrow so hopefully on Monday by the latest I can start to transfer all my hosting accounts to the new server.

As far as my top secret application is going. Well the designs and layouts have begun. These need to be finished first then Ruby On Rails programming can start. The layouts should be complete by this weekend.

Tags: Content Management System, CMS, PHP, MySQL, Able Net Design, Web Design, Web-Design, CSS, XHTML, Webdesign, CSS, Press Release, PR, Sphere, seo, online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimization, WebTrends, author, tour, web2.0, web 2.0, Ruby On Rails, ruby-on-rails

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.

Rounded Divs

I like most other designers have played with images as backgrounds to make divs rounded. To me it always seemed like a lot of work and codeing. And once you got into a bit of a layered design with nested divs you started to run into all sorts of problems.

I think I new there had to be another way when I was updateing a new clients site which had rounded divs yet the designer before me didn't think of indenting the code. As you could imagine it was a mess.

JavaScript was my answer.

I came across a few but I tend to use scripts when their developers take the time to build a quality website. So the one I came up with is CurveyCorners.

There site looked good, they had examples and an active forum which all helps if you get stuck. So I downloaded the latest version and setout to implement it into my top secret application.

The first rounded div was a cinch, then me wanting more I started to play with multiple rounded divs. This started to cause a problem. However it was my fault. Let's just say there were some spelling errors in the code which I wrote.

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.

CSS friend or foe

Today I have been working on my top secret application for the web. Keeping in tune with web 2.0 I have been using complete CSS for layout.

I wouldn't call my self a CSS guru but I have a fairly good understanding about how things work and should work. Of course my staff are much better but because of the nature of the top secret application I must keep this completely to myself.

Of course like any good designer I am working with IE and FF for cross browser compatability. Let me just say it is a pitty that not everyone uses FF.

The first problem I came to was using custom bullets. Thats rights! something that should be easy is not. I am still having problems with it. Someone on the web suggested:

ul { list-style-image: url(images/tick.png) }

That works with FF but not IE. IE still displays that default "disc" bullet along with the new image. So then there was this suggestion:

ul { list-style-type: none }
li { background: url(images/tick.png) no-repeat }

No luck there either. So I finally had to submit a post to the WSG (web standards group) which my company is a member of to hopefully get an answer.

As I mentioned before this design is keeping with the web 2.0 culture of the internet at the moment. So of course rounded divs are needed. I have played with rounded divs using images before but being different and web 2.0ish I wanted to play with rounded divs using JavaScript. So I found curvycorners and am just trying to implement them at the moment. Who knows how that will work.

Just received a reply from a member of WSG.

ul { list-style-type: none; }

ul li { background: url(images/mybullet.gif) no-repeat 0 50%;
padding-left: 25px;
}

This could be the solution. I'll find out later tonight. I'm off to play tennis now.

Tags: Content Management System, CMS, PHP, MySQL, Able Net Design, Web Design, Web-Design, CSS, XHTML, Webdesign, CSS, Press Release, PR, Sphere, seo, online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimization, WebTrends, author, tour, web2.0, web 2.0, Ruby On Rails, ruby-on-rails

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.

A New Domain

Today I registered a new domain for our fantastic new hosting service. It is not a new service but as of today we are able to offer unlimited hosting accounts.

This is a fantastic step forward for Able Net Design and I hope that our clients and future clients get great benefits from this new addition to our company.

Domain: ablenetdesign-hosting.com

We will be posting a Web 2.0 designed page on there as soon as the DNS and hosting are all sync'd up. (Should be very soon).

As for the "secret" web application that I have been developing, there as been a slight change in path. A new idea has come up and I have decided to focus more on that for the time being. This new application won't be built in Ruby on Rails. I have decided to experiment with CakePHP for something new.

Tags: Content Management System, CMS, PHP, MySQL, Able Net Design, Web Design, Web-Design, CSS, XHTML, Webdesign, CSS, Press Release, PR, Sphere, seo, online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimization, WebTrends, author, tour, web2.0, web 2.0, Ruby On Rails, ruby-on-rails

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.

Another CMS account

Yesterday I picked up another WebFast cms account. Which is fantastic. So version 3.0 should start to be developed in the next few weeks.

Currently I am listening to a podcast from Matt Cutt. I have only listened to part 1 and there were some small things I learnt about google, but nothing to majour to report.

I'll have them for download very soon. I am also thinking about creating my own podcasts in the next few months.

However that is a project down the track. My next major project to complete is the Book.

Tags: Content Management System, CMS, PHP, MySQL, Able Net Design, Web Design, Web-Design, CSS, XHTML, Webdesign, CSS, Press Release, PR, Sphere, seo, online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimization, WebTrends, author, tour, web2.0, web 2.0, Ruby On Rails, ruby-on-rails

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.

The last post

Many of you would know that I was writting an article for a newspaper. Well the previous article is it.

So it will be published this month.

Tags: Content Management System, CMS, PHP, MySQL, Able Net Design, Web Design, Web-Design, CSS, XHTML, Webdesign, CSS, Press Release, PR, Sphere, seo, online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimization, WebTrends, author, tour, web2.0, web 2.0, Ruby On Rails, ruby-on-rails

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.

The website and Country Australia

I am sure most of you are thinking that web designers are the new insurance salesmen. Their constant phone calls about this new must have service for your business never seems to let up. So after awhile you get tired of saying “no” and you decide you need a website.

Does this sound familiar yet?

You have heard that your neighbor's ten year old is good at computers and could probably knock you one up, and it will cost you ten bucks and a milkshake to get it done. Seems like a bargain. It's built on a computer it's on the Internet what is the difference.

The difference between your neighbor's ten year old and a professional web designer is staggeringly huge.

Think about it in a non technical example. Would you let someone with absolutely no experience handle your investments or taxes. I think not. Well the same goes with your online marketing efforts.

That ten dollars and the milkshake will end up costing you more in loss of income then the cost of getting a website properly designed and developed by someone like me who knows what they are talking about. No offense to your neighbor.

The fact is that getting a properly designed website is not that expensive, and these days, there are special options that reduce or even abolish the upfront costs in most cases.

So now your thinking that all sounds great but what can a website do for me?

Alright say you own a bed and breakfast. Most couples, families, and basically anyone who is going to stay in your region is going to look on the Internet for accommodation. That is a known fact. Now if first impressions are the most important wouldn't you think that your website should portray how good your B&B is. You might know it but everyone else doesn't.

The idea would be, to show as many good quality photos of views, rooms and anything else that is a B&B's draw card. Just think with this one marketing tool you have suddenly opened up your B&B to every traveler all around the world.

Without having to have expensive brochures and advertisements distributed throughout the travel agencies and travel magazines.

Now everyone with a B&B is thinking, yeah that makes sense, but what about those that don't have a B&B. We are talking about the Restaurants, Art Galleries, and other actives.

Well you benefit from a website just as much. Funnily enough those same people that look for accommodation also look for the regions actives. If they can't find sufficient information on what your region has to offer, they really aren't going to visit are they.

So your properly designed website, is now starting to help everyone in the region, not just yourself.

Before you know it with the help of a great application that provide content management services, you are able to add your own pictures and pages to your website. You can start a page on your B&B's website offering links to other activities in the region. Your visitor is now getting a picture painted of what to expect when they visit. They have seen some of the shops and restaurants, and already know what they want to see and where they want to go.

I suppose it is because I am a web developer people are constantly talking to me about websites. What they have liked and disliked, why doesn't it function like this or why can't I get information on this.

It would be safe to say that most people often ask me why home tourism doesn't really utilise the web. They all say it would be so easy if they could just book their whole holiday during their lunch break or at night from their home computer.

My answer to their question is simple, but it has taken me a long time to work it out. Know one has taken the time to explain to country Australia how a website can help them.

So in my following articles I will be delving deeper into how a website can help you.

Tags: Content Management System, CMS, PHP, MySQL, Able Net Design, Web Design, Web-Design, CSS, XHTML, Webdesign, CSS, Press Release, PR, Sphere, seo, online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimization, WebTrends, author, tour, web2.0, web 2.0, Ruby On Rails, ruby-on-rails

WebFast CMS version 2.0
Gain control of your website NOW!.