Re: Tables - Cells - Preview Mode

From: Thomas A. Rowe (tarowe_at_mvps.org)
Date: 02/16/04 

Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 17:53:59 -0500

That is where a database driven web site comes into play, you spend the
initial time (trial and error) to get the pages to look the best you can in
the various browsers and versions, then you use ASP or another server-side
script language to then populate the page content from a database.

If you are using FP2003, then look into using the Dynamic Web Template with
editable regions being defined for the content that will be updated on a
regular basis. 

-- 
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)
http://www.ycoln-resources.com
FrontPage Resources, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
To assist you in getting the best answers for FrontPage support see:
http://www.net-sites.com/sitebuilder/newsgroups.asp
<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1166401c3f4dd$670d9900$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> As a customer of Microsoft, I want products that remove
> or limit as much as possible this "trial and error" your
> talking about.
>
> Trial and error equals time and time equals money, and my
> time is being wasted on trial and error.
>
> I don't mind a reasonable amount of trial and error.
> However, some of this stuff is getting to be just too
> esoteric.
>
> As I will be using this product to output a web page with
> weekly changing content, (or maybe not front page if it
> doens't loose some of it's mystic qualities soon), I
> don't relish the idea of trial and error till 3 am every
> Tuesday night for the rest of my carrer at my
> establishment.
>
> So again, I send out a general SOS to any and all....why
> do my tables look fine in design mode...but go all to
> peices when previewed anywhere....in the browser or in
> the preview tab.
>
> Some concrete examples like...."a nested table with cell
> padding greater than 5 causes problems" or "fixed
> percentages are not to be used in in nested tables, " or
> whatever the causes may be.
>
> Surely there must be a list someplace of why some things
> fail.
>
> Anyone?
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >The Preview is not flawed, it is just not a full
> browser. It function is to
> >just to give you a quick view of what your page look
> like.
> >
> >Dave, here is a site I create 100% with FP2000 using
> tables:
> >http://www.ourcondo.com
> >
> >It just takes time (trial and error), to get the look
> you are after, and I
> >mainly concentrated on trying to make it look great in
> NS4 and fairly good
> >in NS3.04.
> >
> >-- 
> >
> >==============================================
> >Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
> >WEBMASTER Resources(tm)
> >http://www.ycoln-resources.com
> >FrontPage Resources, WebCircle,
> >MS KB Quick Links, etc.
> >==============================================
> >To assist you in getting the best answers for FrontPage
> support see:
> >http://www.net-sites.com/sitebuilder/newsgroups.asp
> >
> >"David B." <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
> in message
> >news:f94301c3f2ae$c0626110$a101280a@phx.gbl...
> >> So the preview tab is flawed?  This feature is not
> >> ready?  After FP97, 98, 2000, and now 2002 Microsoft
> >> still can't get it going?  This is sad.
> >>
> >> Having said this, I do use the Preview in Browser. I
> >> Preview it in Netscape, Safari (for Mac) and MS for
> >> Windows and Mac.  This is what enabled me to discover
> the
> >> problem.  My tables don't work all the time.
> >>
> >> I'm just trying now to find out why they don't work.
> As
> >> the GUI in the page mode is the main feature of Front
> >> Page, allowing a user to create their page, visualy,
> >> while having an idea of the output expected in the
> >> browser, it is very reasonable to expect it to work.
> >>
> >> So when it doesn't work, I come to this great resource
> to
> >> try to get a concreate answer.
> >>
> >> Anyone got an idea excatly where the cookie is crubling
> >> in my tables?
> >>
> >> It is especialy frustrating that I can don't seem to
> get
> >> predictable results as 3 out of 4 of the pages I make
> >> seem fine, but that forth one ends up swallowing
> several
> >> hours of moving cells around, trying diffrent
> >> percentages, distributing cells around and ect.
> >> Understanding of the problem is what I am hoping to
> >> discover from this newsgroup.  With this
> understanding, I
> >> will them be able to create the web content on a
> periodic
> >> basis in a timely fashion.
> >>
> >> If I can't find the answers then I am going to have to
> >> come to the conclusion front page the wrong product to
> be
> >> using and switch to a competing prodcut.
> >>
> >> I want to use Microsoft products, but I need a bit of
> >> back up here.
> >>
> >> And yes, I did agree with you, I must use nested tables
> >> to get the stucture I want.  The problem is there is
> >> buggy behavior from Front Page using Nested Tables.  I
> >> just want a knowledge base article or something I can
> >> read to help me fathom the phenomonon.
> >>
> >> I've been trying to use 720 pixel based tables, but 750
> >> is a nice number too.
> >>
> >> I have done server sided ASP pages using access
> >> databases, but the server I have to work with doens't
> >> support ASP or have ODBC avaiable, and I would have to
> >> learn pearl or something, which is a possiblity.  I was
> >> going more for some simple batch file or something to
> run
> >> to suck in text from diffrent reports network drives
> or a
> >> folder on one machine so that the page can remain the
> >> same while the content changes....I guess that is one
> >> that is gonna take some time.  Thank you for the
> datbase
> >> suggestion.
> >>
> >> I'm still stuck and confused on why some of my tables
> go
> >> beserk and would love some solid ideas.
> >>
> >> Best regareds,
> >>
> >> David B.
> >>
> >>
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >1. Avoid using the Preview tab, always use Preview in
> >> Browser, as you are
> >> >looking at the page as will be seen on the internet,
> >> plus you are using the
> >> >full browser.
> >> >
> >> >2. If you are going to work with tables, then in many
> >> cases you will have to
> >> >also use nested tables to get the structure you want.
> >> >
> >> >3. Personally, I always use a base table with a fixed
> >> width of 750 pixels
> >> >(with the exception on my site below). Then in most
> >> cases the inside cells
> >> >of the base table are set a fixed width, then any
> nested
> >> table are inserted
> >> >using a %.
> >> >
> >> >4. If you have the option and willingness to learn a
> >> server-side scripting
> >> >language such as ASP, PHP, etc. then you could use a
> >> database help manage
> >> >content.
> >> >
> >> >-- 
> >> >
> >> >==============================================
> >> >Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
> >> >WEBMASTER Resources(tm)
> >> >http://www.ycoln-resources.com
> >> >FrontPage Resources, WebCircle,
> >> >MS KB Quick Links, etc.
> >> >==============================================
> >> >To assist you in getting the best answers for
> FrontPage
> >> support see:
> >> >http://www.net-sites.com/sitebuilder/newsgroups.asp
> >> >
> >> >"David" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> >> message
> >> >news:f71e01c3f27e$17f2b910$a101280a@phx.gbl...
> >> >> Hello All,
> >> >>
> >> >> I have a annoying little problem understanding table
> >> >> behavior in FP, (2000 or 2002).
> >> >>
> >> >> I have a table with cells and some tables inside
> those
> >> >> cells.  I can't seem to get the orginization I want
> >> unless
> >> >> I used these nested tables, but I am open to ideas.
> >> >>
> >> >> Often, what I see in page mode is what I get in
> preview
> >> >> mode, (preview or preview in browser).
> >> >>
> >> >> But every once and awhile I get one that just looks
> >> fine
> >> >> in page mode, but goes nuts when previewed.
> >> >>
> >> >> I can't seem to find the culprit.  It seems like it
> is
> >> a
> >> >> problem with either not specifing pixels or using
> >> >> percentage or something.  But I have tried various
> >> >> combinations and can't fathom it.
> >> >>
> >> >> Here are some examples -----
> >> >>
> >> >> This page looks like I want:
> >> >>
> http://www.virginiamountaineer.com/testsite/page2.html
> >> >>
> >> >> This page looks like I want in page mode, but not
> when
> >> >> viewed in preview or in a browser:
> >> >>
> http://www.virginiamountaineer.com/testsite/page4.html
> >> >>
> >> >> What's up?
> >> >>
> >> >> I have a few buttons and graphics that need
> retouched,
> >> so
> >> >> over look those ugly buggers.
> >> >>
> >> >> Also, any ideas on how to improve this little page I
> >> >> wouldn't mind.. :)  I am trying to come up with the
> >> >> following:
> >> >>
> >> >> 1) Easy format that lends itself to weekly changes
> of
> >> text
> >> >> and photos.  To this end I'me puting the header in a
> >> >> header.htm file and using include page option so
> that I
> >> >> can change it in one place, once I'ts all together.
> >> I'm
> >> >> searching for a way to place news articles in plain
> >> text
> >> >> in a location and have the page build around the
> text
> >> >> automaticaly.  Suggestions would be great.  Same
> with
> >> >> photos. AUTOMATION>>>I crave it.
> >> >>
> >> >> 2) Suggestions on tastefull yet effect placement of
> >> >> advertisment, as we will be selling it hopefully.
> >> >>
> >> >> 3) Some easy method of auto archiving old content
> and
> >> >> maintaining links.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> The page
> >> >>
> http://www.virginiamountaineer.com/testsite/index.html
> >> >> will be replacing this page shortly, I hope:
> >> >> http://www.virginiamountaineer.com/index.html
> >> >>
> >> >> Many thanks,
> >> >>
> >> >> David B.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >.
> >> >
> >
> >
> >.
> >