[WEB4LIB] Web Page Width - To Restrict or Not to Restrict

[Dobbs, Aaron]

Hi Sarah,

>From a purely personal standpoint, I appreciate sites that allow dynamic
width sizing.  I run ~1280x1024 with the window maximized (dual monitor
- only maximised on one monitor) by default so I don't have to scroll so
much.

Dynamic width and a flexible layout make for some fun page views.  
Having half my screen blank due to artificial width limitations is
distracting.

-Aaron
:-)'

PS the s & z in maximi[s/z]ed above are on purpose - to [dis?]please the
limeys and the yanks equally :)  (help! I'm channeling Archie Bunker!)

"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes??
-- Juvenal 

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Smith, Sarah
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 1:48 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Web Page Width - To Restrict or Not to Restrict

 
There's some discussion in my organization as to whether to restrict the
width of web pages on a site or let them grow per resolution. I've
noticed many sites restrict actual content width (including menus,
headers, footers) to fit at 800x600 resolution. I've made sure the pages
are viewable (they scale down) to fit width-wise in an 800x600 setting,
but I also allowed them to "grow" to fill up the width of a 1024x768 (or
other size) screen/resolution setting. Are there any guidelines as to
whether one *should* or *should not* set a specific (max) width? Thanks,

Sarah