Chapter 4. Establishing CSS Guidelines

What You Will Learn

In this lesson, you will:

• Specify page properties in CSS

• Create Contribute-friendly style classes

• Update older CSS naming conventions

• Limit available styles

• Attach design-time style sheets

Approximate Time

This lesson takes approximately one hour to complete.

Lesson Files

Media Files:

None

Starting Files:

LessonFiles/Lesson_04/depts/maternity/goinghome.htm

LessonFiles/Lesson_04/depts/pt/index.htm

LessonFiles/Lesson_04/css/bg_ct.css

Completed Files:

FinalFiles/Lesson_04/depts/maternity/goinghome.htm

FinalFiles/Lesson_04/depts/ pt/index.htm

FinalFiles/Lesson_04/css/bg_ct.css

FinalFiles/Lesson_04/css/bg_filter.css

FinalFiles/Lesson_04/css/bg_member.css

Although it hasn't happened overnight, the use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is certainly a revolution in the making. More and more Web designers are turning to CSS to provide a more flexible and accessible layout. Much of the impetus toward CSS is a rejection of convoluted, difficult-to-modify table-based design. The rise of CSS is further enhanced by the increasing emphasis on Web standards and accessibility.

The Web designer's tool chest is keeping pace with CSS. In Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004, CSS took center stage with advanced rendering, automatic style creation, and tag-level style inspection. Macromedia Contribute 3 embraces Dreamweaver's CSS advances and provides a few of its own, especially in the area of style sheet controland control is the primary area of concern for Contribute-enabled sites.

Most Web designers work intensely to create an overall design for a site, right down to the smallest details. Turning over content control is one thing, but few designersor their clients who approve the designare pleased with the variations possible in an unfettered environment. Luckily, Dreamweaver and Contribute form a potent combination that offers a full range of design-control optionsfrom disabling any styling to allowing the user to create her own styles.

Dreamweaver's Rename CSS feature is great for making obscure style names Contribute-friendly.

To visualize the problem and the solutions outlined in this chapter, imagine handing a key for your car to every member of a large group. By applying the techniques covered in the following lessons, you'll learn how to use Dreamweaver and Contribute to install a governor for the gas pedal, restrict the number of exits on the highway, and supply a detailed map. With thoughtful planning and thorough follow-through, your fellow travelers will arrive at your intended destination safely and in style.