[WEB4LIB] 800x600 and fluid elements

[Allison Zhang]

Technically, we are talking about setting up the layout using tables. For 
fixed 800 pixels, we use <table width=800> and for the fluid design, we use 
<table width =100%>, which  will fit in any monitor size. If a page 
contains a lot of graphics, the fix resolution may be better for the 
layout, because the width of the graphics are fixed and cannot expend with 
the table width or the size of the monitor. If the contents are mostly 
text, the fluid design may be better because the text expends according to 
the monitor size. You also have to think about if you want the users to 
print out your web pages.

The best way is to test. You may want to ask the designer to create two 
testing pages, one page with the fixed 800 resolution and another with the 
fluid design. You can see how the pages look in different monitor 
resolutions by changing the monitor resolutions on your computer. (Start - 
Settings - Control Panel - Display - Settings - Desktop Area: drag the 
slide to the lowest resolution and click OK. Then try different resolution 
settings). If you do want the users to print your page, you may want to 
print the page in different resolution settings.



Allison Zhang
Manager, Digital Collections Production Center
Washington Research Library Consortium
901 Commerce Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
Phone: 301-390-2049
Fax: 301-390-2020
Email: zhang at wrlc.org
www.wrlc.org





At 05:56 AM 11/18/02 -0800, Smith, Barbara wrote:
>We're working with a designer who is creating a series of designs for some
>new e-products, including two that involve filling in a lot of forms.  (One
>is an online reporting form, the other is an online application.)
>
>The designer recommends 800x600 resolution, with static logo header and bars
>to separate different sections.  Nothing would be fluid.  The contractor for
>one of the projects thinks that fluid bars and forms make more sense,
>because they expand with the change in resolution.  If I use 1152 x 864
>resolution on a 19" monitor, I can see a whole lot more of the form than
>what's available in the limits of 800x600.  But if the static parts of the
>design (logo header and bars) don't expand to match the screen resolution,
>they appear truncated and not very attractive.  I'm the referee, and I don't
>have much skill or knowledge in Web design and implementation.
>
>How are others dealing with this question?  In terms of design and
>usability, is it better to stay within a smaller footprint?
>
>It would be really helpful is you can suggest some Web sites that have been
>effective in either 800x600 or fluid designs that can adjust well to any
>setting.
>
>Thanks in advance, Barbara
>
>
>Barbara G. Smith,  Technology Officer
>Institute of Museum and Library Services
>1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 223
>Washington, DC 20506
>
>voice:    202/606-5254
>fax:       202/606-1077
>e-mail:  bsmith at imls.gov
>on the Web:  www.imls.gov



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