[Web4lib] web page layout in different monitors and browsers

[Chris Gray]

Another option, if you need a fixed display and your content is not 
dynamic (where you might need Flash), is pdf.  The advantage here is 
that the user can resize in any way but the design stays fixed.

The real question is one of appropriate technology.  You have to know 
what you are trying to communicate and how your users will receive it.  
As long as your design facilitates communication, design generalities 
are irrelevant.  At best what the design generalities do is make you 
aware of issues affecting your communication:  users' screen sizes, user 
customization, accessibility issues, etc.

"Vital to good web design is architecting data so the site is usable and 
maintainable. This begins only after a thorough grasp of mission and 
means."  <http://www.alistapart.com/stories/separation/>

The other thing to consider about the fluid vs. fixed issue is that 
fixed design can be much less work (especially when you factor in 
testing appearance and usability across multiple user clients) than 
fluid design.  Fluid design is harder and you may not have sufficient 
resources or there may not be sufficient pay off at the end to warrant 
the extra cost.  In many cases small Web shops without armies of 
specialists are better off ignoring the "industry" chatter and following 
the KISS principle.  Build it first with nothing but HTML and then ask 
yourself if fulfillment of your mission (as opposed to keeping up with 
the Web Jones's) needs anything more.  How much Web design is really 
macdinking?  <http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/M/macdink.html>

Chris Gray
Systems Analyst
University of Waterloo Library

-- 

"You're trying to win an Internet argument.  Nobody ever wins an Internet argument."  -overheard in World of Warcraft chat


Cary Gordon wrote:
> I think that there have been a lot of great suggestions made here that can
> help produce a site which renders more or less the same in most browsers,
> assuming that the user hasn't customized their browser or added their own
> style sheets (hey, we're not the only ones with no lives...). 
>
> If you really want it to render the same way in every browser, there is a
> relatively foolproof method: Create your site totally in Flash. That is why
> Flash sites are popular with folks in the commercial arts, to whom design
> and layout is everything.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Cary
>
> Cary Gordon
> The Cherry Hill Company
> 11664 National Blvd. 143
> Los Angeles, CA 90064
> 310-397-2999 (voice)
> 866-375-2191 (fax)
> http://www.chillco.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Sandra Cahillane
> Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 11:29 AM
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: [Web4lib] web page layout in different monitors and browsers
>
>
> Hello all,
>
> I am having a difficult time explaining to my director why our home page
> looks different in monitors with different resolutions and different
> browsers.  From what I've read, the best way to work around this issue is by
> using % vs. set widths and/or styles.  I've changed our page to all %'s but
> there is still a lot of blank space in a 1280x1024 resolution browser.
>
> I've attached my code and would appreciate it if anyone is willing to take
> a look at it and provide me with feedback.   I need additional backup
> information to convince my director that my explanation of what's going on
> is the generally accepted explanation.
>
> (See attached file: homepage_code.txt)
>
> Thanks,
> Sandy
>
> Sandy Cahillane
> Systems and Reference Librarian
> Bay Path College
> Hatch Library
> 588 Longmeadow Street
> Longmeadow, MA  01106
> (413) 567-4529 or (413) 565-1376
> fax-(413) 567-8345
>
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