Section 9.3. Centering a Fixed-Width Layout

9.3. Centering a Fixed-Width Layout

You may recall from Chapter 4 that designers often like to center a fixed-width layout in the browser window. This little trick helps to reduce the effect of having too much whitespace, which happens when the size of the visitor's screen is wider than that of the design.

To center your fixed-width layout in the browser window, just follow these steps:

1. Select the layout table by clicking the Layout Table tab in the upper left corner of the table. You'll know you've selected it when the Property Inspector reads "Layout table" instead of "Layout cell."

2. You're currently in Layout mode. Go to the Insert panel, and click the Standard button to switch to Standard mode. The table remains selected.

3. Go to the Property Inspector, and choose Center from the Align menu.

4. Switch back to Layout mode.

Dreamweaver centers your fixed-width layout, as Figure 9-14 shows.

Figure 9-14. Center your fixed-width layout

TECHTALK

Autostretch is Dreamweaver terminology for a layout table or layout cell that changes width depending upon the width of the browser window.