[Web4lib] outputting a pre formatted list from a database to a web page

[Andrew Hankinson]

Just a quick idea off the top of my head, but you could use <span> tags,
styled to display as block elements:

<span class="title">Public Houses</span><span class="number">31</span>

.title {
   clear: both; /* so that it doesn't fall in with a previous float */
   float: left; /* so that it goes hard left against its container item */
   display: block; /*so you can control width */
   width: xxx;
   text-align: left;
}

.number {
  display: block;
  width: xxx;
  text-align: center;
  float: left;  /* So that it floats against the proper column */
}

I haven't tried this, so no guarantees. There's also "display: table" and
other CSS oddities that might help you out - someone else on the list might
have another idea.

Andrew

On 8/22/06, John Fitzgibbon <jfitzgibbon at galwaylibrary.ie> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I have a list which forms part of a description. The description is in a
> field in an Access database. This field is outputted to a number of web
> pages; the database serves as a back end to a number of web pages.
>
> In one of the fields, I now need to add a list consisting of two
> columns. I will have to store the HTML tags with the list in the Access
> field. However, I don't want to use the div, or table element because
> frequently, the field is output to a web page where it is enclosed by
> span tags. Block elements are not allowed within inline elements such as
> span.
>
> My plan is to store it in Access along with the <pre> tag and, thus,
> output it using the <pre> tag having each column separated by a tab. The
> problem with this is that the data in column one is sometimes quite long
> forcing the data in column two further right like so.
>
> <pre>
> Inns or Hotels  1.
> Public Houses   31.
> Mail Coach Offices      2.
> Dispensary      1.
> Trades - townland Callings -
> Surgeons        2.
> Apothecaries    2.
> Wine and Spirit Merchants       3.
> Grocers and Wine Merchants      3.
> Spirit Merchants, Grocers and Ironmongers       4.
> Tobacco Manufacturers   1.
> </pre>
>
> I wish to line up the data in column two. Is there any character other
> than a tab that I can use?
>
> Is using the pre element within an inline element allowed?
>
> Any ideas would be welcome.
>
> Regards
> John
>
> John Fitzgibbon
>
> p: 00 353 91 562471
> f: 00 353 91 565039
> w: http://www.galwaylibrary.ie
>
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