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Re: Complex site design using only divs

for

From: Tim Beadle
Date: Dec 8, 2005 3:40AM

On 08/12/05, Catherine Brys < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> I am working on a new design for our site. I would like to use only <div>s
> AND use the float attribute (no absolute or relative positioning).

What's wrong with positioning? It's as valid an approach as floating.

> Do you know any sites which have a grid layout (e.g. similar to
> http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Business/) and use 'floating' <div>s only?

www.capgemini.com ?

> It seems hard to obtain a grid layout with 'floating' <div>s because one
> <div> 'does not know' how high/wide its neighbours are.

Indeed, which is where this blog entry by Jeffrey Zeldman may help
influence your thinking. I quote:
"Grids are used to balance the design of books, ads, posters, and
paintings. They are also often used in web design, particularly when
it is executed via HTML tables or Flash. The grid has a long and noble
history in the design of two dimensional media. But it is not the only
way to design web pages and it is certainly not the _webbiest_ way."
(emphasis his).

http://www.zeldman.com/daily/0403b.shtml#rulesbaseddesign

My recommendation would be, therefore, to ditch the grid. CSS allows
so much more, and if you're going to allow for varying font, window
and screen sizes, then grids don't really fit the bill. They work fine
for fixed molecules of ink on fixed-size pieces of paper, but not on
the web.

> I don't want to use scripting.

Again, I'd say: why not? If it's used to progressively enhance the
user experience, then it's a very valuable tool to achieve effects
like this:
http://www.themaninblue.com/experiment/ResolutionLayout/
( Blog entry: http://www.themaninblue.com/writing/perspective/2004/09/21/ )

Hope that helps!

Regards,

Tim