Non-html speakers will be well-advised to skip it.
A technical request for any the CSS/html savvy out there: I’ve had it up to here (hand gesture to the schnozzle) trying to make my fluid, 3-column, standards compliant theme play nicely with legacy IE 5.x and 6.0 apps. If you know what that means, you probably are using some other client to view your html, so a bit of explication is probably in order.
Although I’ve had complaints from Mac/Safari users on column width, it seems that the most of my problems stem from a fluid center body which spills well over into what was supposed to be a fixed-column width starboard sidebar. I’ve also got some comment boxes that don’t know how to stay in bounds.
I’ve got the feeling that I might be able to use an “expressions” convention to cue pre IE7.0 browsers that something is amiss, and I’ve read that javascript can be used to trick the system, but it seems that an ie-specific css has to be designed – has anyone seen any good, comprehensive templates? I’m a little hesitant to throw js at what is essentially a presentation issue.
It’s frustrated, I am.
It depends on how you’re trying to make your design fluid. The easiest way is to define your column width in percentages rather than points or pixels. The problem with pixels is that Macs have more pixels per inch than PCs or linux boxen (96/in vs 72/in). specifying font sizes also makes life interesting since older browsers interpret these things differently. IE also has problems with the box model of CSS design and generally behaves badly. There is javascript which attempts to beat IE into submission, sometimes it works. There is a firefox extension which claims to allow you to see your page as IE sees it and there are some sites which claim to display your page as other browsers see it. As a consolation this problems drives professional developers, like me, crazy too. if you want I can dig out the javascript code which claims to solve many of IEs flaws but my experience with it has not been without problem.
This might help you out
http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2004/02/css-ie-only
and if you really want to dig deep….
http://www.positioniseverything.net/ie-primer.html
My advice is to use a different WP template. There are tons out there, and you shouldn’t have to deal with shoddy css. A couple favorites of mine are:
http://openswitch.org/unsleepable
http://www.obharath.net/blog/
If you need a hand I’m happy to help.
- OB
I’m only a beginner at website design, but this IE-and-CSS problem is so widespread (thanks a lump, Microslut!) that I’ve already been given some tips on how to deal with it. One is to use any of several CSS tricks that let you insert IE-only CSS rules into your stylesheet. One such is described on
this page.
However, another thing I’ve learned is that it’s probably not a good idea to spend too much time trying to get your site working perfectly in older versions of MSIE. If it was me (and actually it is, since I’m revising my own website with CSS and running into some minor IE compatibility problems), I’d do this:
1) don’t worry about IE5, it’s obsolete and very few people still use it anymore.
2) be concerned about IE6, but don’t lose sleep over it, as it’s being steadily replaced by IE7 which is much more standards-compliant.
3) put a note somewhere on your site that says basically “if you’re looking at this in IE6 or older and having trouble, go get Firefox.” With a link. Firefox is free, it’s easy to use, it’s more secure than MSIE, and it’s standards-compliant. They win by getting a better browser, you win by not losing sleep over your template. Who could ask for anything more?
Lex,
I am using an iMac with “Mac OS X, 10.4.9″ w/20 iinch screen, using “Vienna” (newsreader), “Safari 2.0.4″ (Browser), “Onyx 1.7.8″ (utilities) and “Vienna” + “Onyx” are “freeware”. Using “Onyx”, go to “Parameters”, then go to “Safari”, check “Enable Debug Menu”. Close “Onyx”. Open “Safari”. Now go to the “Title Bar” with the “Blue Apple”, then go the far right hand side, you’ll see “Debug”, start at the bottom and you see a place to adjust what format fou want to work with “Safari”. Lex, I hope that gives these people an answer. One last thing, THANK YOU!! Grumpy
Lex,
I’ve really had no problem with your blog using up to date Apple Mac or OS X, at this point it is now 10.4.9. I thought you were keepind this blog on a MAC. This shows you just how dumb this vet really is, at this point in his life. After going to the “Onyx/Parameters/Safari/ Enable Debug Menu” and adjust that setting. Now when you open “Safari/Debug” , then go to “User Agent”. It is third from the bottom. Have a GREAT WEEK!- Grumpy
I don’t know jack about IE 6.0 vs. Firefox, but I do know this; those of us who are looking at a blog at work often have little say over whether we are using IE 6, IE 7, or Firefox. A lot of us are using IE 6 because the PC support group has gotten burned far too many times to jump a version of Microsoft software just because Microsoft says so.
Lex,
Try turning off the right generator and cycling the power on UHF #2. That usually does the trick for me.
Nose