Tables and Frontpage 2003

Tables are the design cornerstone of the basic page layout process. Their use in HTML allows for page layout capabilities that are compliant to all browser types and more like the page layout capabilities similar to other desktop applications.

Tables are different from other forms of page layout (such as layers) because they don't require x, y positioning or CSS and enable a greater flexibility in implementation. With tables, you can still provide layout elements to your site but let the elements be flexible in relation to the screen size your site is being presented on.

FrontPage 2003 introduces the concept of layout tables and cells. Layout tables and cells are HTML tables and cells with a few extra tags to provide additional layout and markup capabilities. The effects provided by the use of layout tables and cells are considerable and can result in a very attractive look and feel.

Pages can be made entirely of layout tables and cells or contain a combination of traditional HTML tables and cells with the newer layout tables and cells. Both options will be discussed side by side throughout this chapter.

FrontPage has always excelled in working with tables, and FrontPage 2003 includes a new Tables toolbar and the layout tables and cells task pane that can guide you through the process of developing a site with this technology.

This chapter starts by looking at the process of designing page content with tables and how the tools provided by FrontPage 2003 enable the developer to quickly implement tables in their site design process. After that, we'll look at the new layout tables and cells tools and how they are used and implemented. Once that is done, we'll look at the pros and cons of using both technologies in the Web design process.