Chapter 11: Advanced Layout with Tables and Layers

Overview

10-Second Summary

• Take control of your page s design with Layout Tables.

• Duplicate precise graphic designs with tracing images.

• Combine page elements in new ways with layers.

• Automatically detect and edit layout tables.

• Ensure that your layout works in a designated browser size .

• Preview your page in multiple browsers for maximum visibility.

In a business environment, you are often called upon to duplicate a printed layout, or to create layouts that have to fulfill a complex set of requirements. Yet, it s often difficult to control the look of Web pages with great precision. Designers who are used to working in the field of traditional graphic arts are used to being able to position photos, headings, and other elements wherever they feel it suits the overall look of the finished page. You have to make old school graphic designers understand that, on the Web, pages appear differently depending on the viewer s browser, monitor, or operating system. Some colors, borders, and fonts don t appear at all, because the browser being used to display a page doesn t support them. But by using Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 s new design tools, including table layouts and layers, you quickly and easily gain a new level of control over the design of a Web page.

Enterprising Webmasters like you can use tables to satisfy the requirements of your company s managers and graphic designers. You can create tables that align photos and text, and add white space or spot color where needed. Layers enable you to move content around on the page dynamically, without having to fall into rows or columns . Once you have arranged your page s contents just the way you want, FrontPage gives you the ability to preview it in different browsers, and at different sizes, so you can ensure that the widest range of customers or business partners will be able to see your finished Web site just the way your company wants it to appear.