IMHO
For the average (non power) user the key to having printable web pages is:
to either use % width tables (w/ total fixed content not exceeding ~ 580 px)
or fixed width tables of ~ 580 px width.
If nav bars, etc. are not needed to be printed then the "printable" content can be in an include page and a print page link (opening
a popup w/ the include page) can be used
CSS (done correctly) and Print Templates are for the more advanced developers
--
| I'm not sure about the complete technical details of Print Templates.
| However, I have dealt with plenty of Web developers who have needed to use
| them for "real" Web applications because it was simply the only choice that
| would work. However, you are right in your feeling that they may perhaps be
| overkill in many cases discussed here.
|
| --
| Jim Cheshire
| Jimco Add-ins
| Add-ins for FrontPage 2000-2003
|
http://www.jimcoaddins.com
| ===============================
| Co-author of Special Edition
| Using Microsoft FrontPage 2003
|
|
| | > Ohhhhhhhh, I get it.
| >
| > Although we're both talking apples, I'm talking about Red Delicious and
| > you're talking about Golden Delicious.
| >
| > I completely see your point about rendering forms and other page types
| that
| > require precision and consistency. I assumed from the nature of the forum
| > (this being a web page kind of place) that the OP was asking about
| printing
| > a regular web page. In that context, then I stick to my assertion that
| CSS
| > would be helpful in preventing the margin cut off that everyone is used to
| > seeing.
| >
| > Realizing that I've only got about about two paragraphs of knowledge on
| > Print Templates, the way I'm reading it makes it seem that it would be a
| > server side solution since the 'regular web page' printing is handled by
| the
| > browser on the client. If that's the case, and the user needs precision,
| it
| > would seem that PDF would be the best way to go.
| >
| > Is there more to Print Templates that you haven't shared yet, especially
| > regarding client side? Or have I hit the proverbial nail on the head,
| > finally?
| >
| > --
| > Jack Brewster - Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
| >
| > | > > Print Templates address the issue of different printer drivers and
| display
| > > drivers rendering the page differently in memory. CSS cannot address
| this
| > > because it doesn't work at a low level. CSS addresses rendering on the
| > > browser. When it comes to how printing works, it doesn't address the
| > issues
| > > that people encounter.
| > >
| > > Take, for example, an issue of someone who is displaying a form that
| must
| > be
| > > printed precisely and exactly as it appears on the Web page. You can
| > > certainly get this to print on your printer by using a page that uses
| CSS
| > to
| > > position elements and choose what is and isn't displayed. However, once
| > you
| > > browse that on another machine with a different printer and different
| > video
| > > hardware installed, all bets are off.
| > >
| > > For what is being done here, CSS may be a perfect solution. I'm just
| > > offering another one that is less well-known by those who have never had
| > the
| > > need to use the technology. Sometimes the coolest and best solution is
| > one
| > > that you aren't aware even existed!
| > >
| > > --
| > > Jim Cheshire
| > > Jimco Add-ins
| > > Add-ins for FrontPage 2000-2003
| > >
http://www.jimcoaddins.com
| > > ===============================
| > > Co-author of Special Edition
| > > Using Microsoft FrontPage 2003
| > >
| > >
| > > | > > > Not knowing what a "Print Template" is, nor having the immediate
| desire
| > to
| > > > learn C++, I'm thinking that CSS is the way to go.
| > > >
| > > > It should work just fine in most if not all cases as long as it's
| built
| > > > well.
| > > >
| > > > --
| > > > Jack Brewster - Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
| > > >
| > > > | > > > > That's true. However, even then the page will not print properly
| for
| > > > > everyone. If you want full control over how a page prints in IE,
| > Print
| > > > > Templates are really your only choice.
| > > > >
| > > > > --
| > > > > Jim Cheshire
| > > > > Jimco Add-ins
| > > > > Add-ins for FrontPage 2000-2003
| > > > >
http://www.jimcoaddins.com
| > > > > ===============================
| > > > > Co-author of Special Edition
| > > > > Using Microsoft FrontPage 2003
| > > > >
| > > > >
| > > > > | > > > > > Can't find the original post, sorry if I repeat here.
| > > > > >
| > > > > > You can use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to use a different layout
| > for
| > > > > your
| > > > > > page when it prints. This is useful to remove navigation elements
| > > > (menus,
| > > > > > etc.) that may not have any use in print.
| > > > > >
| > > > > > Check out:
| > > > > >
http://www.alistapart.com/stories/goingtoprint/
| > > > > >
| > > > > > --
| > > > > > Jack Brewster - Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
| > > > > >
| > > > > > | > > > > > > Print Templates is the way to go, but you'll need to learn C++
| > > first.
| > > > >
| > > > > > >
| > > > > > > --
| > > > > > > Jim Cheshire
| > > > > > > Jimco Add-ins
| > > > > > > Add-ins for FrontPage 2000-2003
| > > > > > >
http://www.jimcoaddins.com
| > > > > > > ===============================
| > > > > > > Co-author of Special Edition
| > > > > > > Using Microsoft FrontPage 2003
| > > > > > >
| > > > > > >
| > message
| > > > > > > | > > > > > > > Just so we're clear -
| > > > > > > >
| > > > > > > > This isn't a FP problem, this is how the printer is
| interacting
| > > with
| > > > > the
| > > > > > > > device that is sending it the info.
| > > > > > > >
| > > > > > > > You'll go batty trying to make a web page print out
| consistently
| > > > btwn
| > > > > > > > machines.
| > > > > > > >
| > > > > > > > --
| > > > > > > > David Seguin
| > > > > > > > Web Designer / Concepteur de pages Web
| > > > > > > >
| > > > > > > >
| > > > > > >
| > > > > > >
| > > > > >
| > > > > >
| > > > >
| > > > >
| > > >
| > > >
| > >
| > >
| >
| >
|
|
