Correct screen size layouts

[Tessa Ford]

Is there an easy/quick way to ensure that a site is
happily viewed by all screen sizes? I have heard of using
tables for this, but have tried this and sometimes it
works, sometimes not.

If someone could please let me know what the general rule
of thumb is for this, I would love to know.

Regards

Tessa

 

[Chuck Davis]

When using tables, set the width to 100%. If there are multiple columns,
make sure that the sum of the table cell widths also equals 100%.

Some folks say that CSS can also do this, but you will have to wait for
someone familiar with that process.

 

[Ronx]

Alternatively, to Chuck's suggestion, use a fixed width table, set to 760px
width, and place all content in this table. This will ensure the page
layout is fixed on all resolutions - those browsers using a larger viewport
will have wider margins. However, you cannot use Shared Borders, though
Include pages for common elements (navigation bars etc.) are definitely OK.

 

[Murray]

CSS can do so, but requires more 'learning' than a simple 100% table!

 

[Andrew Murray]

Using tables, set the table widths with percentages not pixels. So the
tables will then expand/contract and adjust to the different screen
resolutions.

 

[Murray]

There's an important omission -

Make sure that no page element is wider than your minimum desired width (add
up contiguous horizontal elements if necessary). For example, if you want
to support 800x600 screens with maximized browser viewports as a minimum,
you must not have any page elements wider than 760px or so.