Considerations for Using Layout Tables and Cells

Any developer who uses layout tables and cells needs to be aware of, and consider, the following issues in the Web design process.

The layout cell effects demonstrated in this chapter aren't simple shadow and border images similar to a PowerPoint or Excel document. FrontPage adds a great deal of additional HTML to create more table and cell elements where these effects are added as graphic files. It is an impressive piece of programming, but the implications of such an approach need to be considered.

A number of nontraditional browsers present table content in different ways. Because this effect results in multiple cells, the potential for distortion needs to be taken into consideration. In addition, the accessibility issues for such an approach need to be examined as well.

For more on the accessibility issues and Web design, see "FrontPage's Accessibility Features," p. 235.

The second issue, although not specific to layout tables and cells, is in the forcing of the pixel size of a screen layout. When a browser sets content to be delivered at a screen resolution larger than is capable on the viewing device, the browser must either shrink the content or require left-right scrolling. Both effects are most often less than desirable and should be considered during the development process.

TIP

When a layout table is implemented and a specific size for your content is set, your pages are presented how the browser "thinks" you'd like them presented, and not in your original vision. Keep this in mind throughout the design process.

The final consideration relates to the simple concept of font types and sizes. Because layout cells are set both x and y, they don't expand (as traditional cells do) when the content is more than can be contained in the cell. If a user sets her browser for a different font type or sets her screen for a bigger font size, some content won't be contained in the cell as specified. A number of users set their screen to show fonts in a larger size that can't be tracked through traditional server log files, so the impact of this can't be completely understood.

For more on the use of fonts in Web design, see "Developing the Basic Page: Page Properties, Text, Lists, and Hyperlinks," p. 77.