CSS and DW preview advice
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- vaporstouch
so i was asked to develop a web design concept, and then pass it off to the client so they could build subpages. so i used CSS for layout, 3 columns with fixed widths, float: left; So the design works fine the browsers, but DW WSIWYG mode it all fucks up, stacking on top of one another. So what. Well i get a call from their 'web developer' crying about how is he gonna add images etc. Preview mode is all screwed up.
OK, obviously this guy needs to go back to school, but this is a serious issue cuz the client won't take the "your web designer is an idiot" excuse. What should i do, is there anyway to get the DW preview mode to render the CSS more accurately?
Thanks
- ********0
it shows mine ok...
- vaporstouch0
MX or MX04? I only have MX, and I thnk he does too.
- johndiggity0
what do you mean by stacking? it shows all the divs in order of their z-index on top of each other? are all the positions right at least?
- ********0
MX04.
- xau0
Obviously MX04 will display advanced CSS properties more accurately.
The CSS positioning debate will go on for a long time among web developers.
Sorry, but I recommend using tables... it's for a client... not so you can strut your CSS prowess.
- ********0
I recommend not listening to xau.
- ********0
post it and I'll have a look.
- vaporstouch0
i mean they are all layered on top of one another, left-justified. So the center div is on the left, on top on the left div. The right div is also on top, not in its position either. I have not assigned z-indexes via the stylesheet for any of the div. All the CSS is in an external doc, linked using @import
- johndiggity0
try giving everything the right z index and position using the property inspector.
i think the problem might have to do with the fact you imported that stylesheet and didn't use dw to make it. just a guess, i know shit gets fucked up if dw doesn't write it's own code.
why is the client looking over your shoulder anyway?
- k0na_an0k0
make dw show it in design time?!?
- ********0
if it's cool in the browser leave it.
DW preview means fuck all
- jgjh1510
Just make sure there is a reference to the css file in the open page in dreamweaver. If DW can find the css file, it will render it in design mode.
- xau0
I know support for CSS positioning in DW MX (not 2004) is poor.
Someone said not to listen to me.
Hmmm... I said listen to the client.
So what does that tell you?
Actually, in DW MX 04, I have had issues with positioning... so it's nothing Macromedia has fixed.
Good luck with convincing the client that their designer is inadequate. It will just make you look bad.
- vaporstouch0
the client's 'web designer' needs to add his garbage code in design view, so that is why this is an issue. I thought they had someone with experience, but he sounded like an intern on the phone.
so i just need these columns to position correctly.
- vaporstouch0
xau, actually already i wrote that telling the client their web designer sucks is not an option, thanks. I used CSS for other reasons other than strutting my stuff, you know its not used just to be cool.
moth, you got mail.
- Blofeldt0
well, as we all know here, it isn't your fault, you've done it right.
I'd have a word with the client and say that you're more than happy to change it into tables if they pay you the money to do it.
You should definitley explain WHY you used CSS, and why it's better than tables. Explain that CSS will save them money in the long term. You should definitley say you expected a web developer to versed in CSS.
Or, just tell them their DW is out of date.
I also don't agree with xau on this
- xau0
Get the details before you begin a project.
If you know that someone else will be completing the site, get details on their expectations for what technology you are using to build it.
Most companies hire in-house web developers who are cheap.
Cheap means that they use a wysiwyg, and don't have much experience.
I'm sure the intuition to get more details about their designer's abilities crossed your mind at some point.
But you were too excited about using the latest CSS2 properties on this project.
The 'cheaper in the long-term' rebuttle is null here. Now they have to buy the latest version of DW and/or pay you to change it to tables.
And their web developer has to spend company time to learn advanced css.
It's a good thing he's cheap.
- spiralstarez0
I'm with blofeldt on this...
Tell them you've got it working in all the browsers it should work on...
Unless it was made apparent to you before-hand the software and skillset that their designer would be using, it's not your responsibility...
What if you were a developer that hand-coded everything instead of using a WYSIWYG editor and they used Front-Page?
It's not your responsibility to software match the client unless that was originally communicated. That said it would be beneficial to you to explain to the designer and help them out a little if you can....
If you've delivered a product that works - you shouldn't have to rebuild it in my opinion.
- Blofeldt0
I agree it's a good idea to scope out who will be updating/building the site in advance if it's possible to find the information out. However, i can imagine a client saying "oh or web guy, he's great, don't worry about it" and not letting you talk to them. It's happend to me before.
- instantok0
i think the most that can be asked of you in this situation is to comment the code and give their "developer" a link to http://www.w3schools.com