Layers view differently on a Mac

[Guest]

Hello!
After building several pages using layers in FP2003 they do not view correctly. The text is sized differently in design mode(I'm guessing due to font size and resolution), but previews fine in IE on a pc. The problem is, the layers are all over the place when viewed in IE5 on a mac. What causes this and how can I prevent this from happening?
Thank you,
Barry

 

[Jim Buyens]

-----Original Message-----

Hello!
Howdy.

After building several pages using layers in FP2003 they
do not view correctly. The text is sized differently in
design mode(I'm guessing due to font size and
resolution), but previews fine in IE on a pc. The problem
is, the layers are all over the place when viewed in IE5
on a mac. What causes this and how can I prevent this
from happening?

There's really no solution for this other than:

o Never count on anything being the same size in all
browsers.
o Test, test, test.

In many cases, using Layers requries writing JavaScript
that sniffs the browser type and page dimensions at browse
time, and then positions the layers accordingly. The
Behaviors feature in FP2003 can do some of this for you,
but in some cases you'd still need to write your own code.

In general, layers are much better for pop-ups and other
gadgets that appear and disappear, but don't require
precise positioning. For general page layout, HTML tables
usually remain the best approach.

Jim Buyens
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
*----------------------------------------------------
|\---------------------------------------------------
|| Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
||---------------------------------------------------
|| Web Database Development Step by Step .NET Edition
|| Microsoft FrontPage Version 2002 Inside Out
|| Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
|| (All from Microsoft Press)
|/---------------------------------------------------
*----------------------------------------------------

 

[Jon Spivey]

Hi,
In general follow a few rules to use layers
1/ never set a height for a layer (unless you know exactly what you're doing
and why) - IE on mac (as well as other browsers, but not IE on PC) will
complain if you set a height to a layer and the actual content is taller
than the height you've set. The safest way is to just delete the height
setting that FP adds when you hit insert layer.
2/ make sure the width of your layer matches the width of your content,
placing a 300px image inside a 200px layer will cause problems
3/ watch where FP places your layer code - I always flip to code view and
copy and paste the layer code just below </body>
4/ Use a full doctype - this will at least give reasonably predictable
results in modern browsers
Bear in mind IE mac is a totally different browser (developed by a different
team) than IE pc.

As Jim said there's no substitute for testing but if we could see the page
you're working on we could probably give you better help

--
Cheers,
Jon
Microsoft MVP - FP

Hello!
After building several pages using layers in FP2003 they do not view

correctly. The text is sized differently in design mode(I'm guessing due to
font size and resolution), but previews fine in IE on a pc. The problem is,
the layers are all over the place when viewed in IE5 on a mac. What causes
this and how can I prevent this from happening?

 

[Guest]

Jon
Happy New Year! Thanks for your reply. Other than the problem, layers are great
I have tried moving the code and I originally set the parameters by moving the layer where it needed to be. Still no luck with the Mac. I noticed today that even the MSN site did not view correctly on my mac ie5.2, text overlapped pics. You can view my site at: http://www.pma101.com/marketingadvertising/index.htm
Let me know if you have any ideas.Thank you
Barr

----- Jon Spivey wrote: ----

Hi
In general follow a few rules to use layer
1/ never set a height for a layer (unless you know exactly what you're doin
and why) - IE on mac (as well as other browsers, but not IE on PC) wil
complain if you set a height to a layer and the actual content is talle
than the height you've set. The safest way is to just delete the heigh
setting that FP adds when you hit insert layer
2/ make sure the width of your layer matches the width of your content
placing a 300px image inside a 200px layer will cause problem
3/ watch where FP places your layer code - I always flip to code view an
copy and paste the layer code just below </body
4/ Use a full doctype - this will at least give reasonably predictabl
results in modern browser
Bear in mind IE mac is a totally different browser (developed by a differen
team) than IE pc

As Jim said there's no substitute for testing but if we could see the pag
you're working on we could probably give you better hel

--
Cheers
Jo
Microsoft MVP - F

Hello
After building several pages using layers in FP2003 they do not vie

correctly. The text is sized differently in design mode(I'm guessing due t
font size and resolution), but previews fine in IE on a pc. The problem is
the layers are all over the place when viewed in IE5 on a mac. What cause
this and how can I prevent this from happening

 

[Guest]

Go Packers! I saw your cheeze and I went to USM with Brett.

Thanks for your response, although it wasn't much help. The layers are positioned on top of tables and the background for better positioning. You can view the page at: http://www.pma101.com/marketingadvertising/index.htm and maybe by looking at the code sniff out the problem. Any help is appreciated.
Barry


----- Jim Buyens wrote: -----

-----Original Message-----
Hello!
Howdy.

After building several pages using layers in FP2003 they
do not view correctly. The text is sized differently in
design mode(I'm guessing due to font size and
resolution), but previews fine in IE on a pc. The problem
is, the layers are all over the place when viewed in IE5
on a mac. What causes this and how can I prevent this
from happening?

There's really no solution for this other than:

o Never count on anything being the same size in all
browsers.
o Test, test, test.

In many cases, using Layers requries writing JavaScript
that sniffs the browser type and page dimensions at browse
time, and then positions the layers accordingly. The
Behaviors feature in FP2003 can do some of this for you,
but in some cases you'd still need to write your own code.

In general, layers are much better for pop-ups and other
gadgets that appear and disappear, but don't require
precise positioning. For general page layout, HTML tables
usually remain the best approach.

Jim Buyens
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
*----------------------------------------------------
|\---------------------------------------------------
|| Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
||---------------------------------------------------
|| Web Database Development Step by Step .NET Edition
|| Microsoft FrontPage Version 2002 Inside Out
|| Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
|| (All from Microsoft Press)
|/---------------------------------------------------
*----------------------------------------------------

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

Have by any chance, viewed your site in a NS 4 browser?

--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, Forums, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================

Go Packers! I saw your cheeze and I went to USM with Brett.

Thanks for your response, although it wasn't much help. The layers are

positioned on top of tables and the background for better positioning. You
can view the page at: http://www.pma101.com/marketingadvertising/index.htm
and maybe by looking at the code sniff out the problem. Any help is
appreciated.

 

[Jim Buyens]

Go Packers! I saw your cheese and I went to USM with Brett.

Yeah, guilty. I'm a natural-born cheesehead, eh.

Thanks for your response, although it wasn't much help. The layers
are positioned on top of tables and the background for better
positioning. You can view the page at:
http://www.pma101.com/marketingadvertising/index.htm and maybe by
looking at the code sniff out the problem. Any help is appreciated.

I looked at your page. You can and should create the same visual effect
without using layers.

I would create a table that contains 8 columns, and use the columns
to allocate:

1. The gray space left of the Web Hosting Made Easy graphic.
2. The Web Hosting Made Easy graphic.
3. The gray space right of the Web Hosting Made Easy graphic.
4. The white and gray arc left of Billboards Show The Way.
5. The box that displays the Billboards Show The Way content.
6. The box that displays the DVD Sales SkyRocket! content.
7. The white and gray arc right of DVD Sales SkyRocket!
8. The gray space at the far right.

For the Advertising bar, I would merge all 8 cells in a column, then add
a blue-background table that displays the Advertising content.

Same for the Marketing bar and the Page bar.

Yes, it's somewhat less intuitive than creating each visual element
independently, and then dragging it into place.

But more visitors will receive your message correcctly, and more visitors
will gain a positive impression of your company.

Your choice.

Jim Buyens
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
*----------------------------------------------------
|\---------------------------------------------------
|| Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
||---------------------------------------------------
|| Web Database Development Step by Step .NET Edition
|| Microsoft FrontPage Version 2002 Inside Out
|| Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
|| (All from Microsoft Press)
|/---------------------------------------------------
*----------------------------------------------------