Web Design Forums

roto · 05-12-2003, 12:45

Ok, I'll just get right into a question I'm sure is rather rudimentary...I have a td with a certain class defined (for this example, it is for the text contained within it) and I want to change one word to red (for this example)...

The classes are:
.text { font-family:verdana; color:#000000; }
.textred { font-family:verdana; color:#FF0000; }

Would the following be the best way to do it:

Code:

blah blah blah before code
<td class="text">
This text is black according to the "text" class...but I need this <span class="textred">word</span> to be red.
</td>
blah blah blah after code

I really don't want to use flash or read a book, and I also don't want annoying tags everywhere in my code -- they remind too much of even more annoying tags. This has always bothered me, but if this is the accepted way to do it, then so be it and I will let it rest.

smallbeer · 05-12-2003, 12:55

If you're doing it to emphasis the text use the tag and style it.

em {
color: red;
font-weight: normal;
}

roto · 05-12-2003, 14:27

nope, just red...

smallbeer · 05-12-2003, 14:34

Then just use a span.

Bill Posters · 05-12-2003, 16:40

Nah, you were right first time, sb.

 tags may appear useful, but they are meaningless.
They're certainly not 'the best way' to achieve what you're after, oto.
Use styled tag as sb suggested and it'll emphasise the red word in other circumstances too.

Whenever possible, use meaningful tags in your markup, not meaningless ones.
Why are you emphasising the word in the first place?

roto · 05-12-2003, 22:28

It is just a theoretical question. I'm more after WHAT would be the best way to JUST make the text RED (not italic) and/or the best way to accomplish adding a different style within a style. If tags are meaningless, I'm asking about substitutes, and IF they are meaningless...why do they exist? I'm curious...

gwx · 06-12-2003, 02:39

Ermm... Do Tags work in IE and NN7? I thought they only work in Netscape 4xx?

Brown · 06-12-2003, 05:47

they work for all.

span tags are meaningless when taken away from a stylesheet. stylesheets are there to seperate style from content. take a look at your markup without the style sheet attached. if you use a styled tag then your browser will still know to give emphasis to this word. if you're not wanting to put the word in red for emphasis then why is it highlighted in red? surely you are emphasising the word's existance on the page?

this can't be a theoretical question.

smallbeer · 06-12-2003, 05:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by ®oto

It is just a theoretical question. I'm more after WHAT would be the best way to JUST make the text RED (not italic) and/or the best way to accomplish adding a different style within a style. If tags are meaningless, I'm asking about substitutes, and IF they are meaningless...why do they exist? I'm curious...

is not . It just so happens that 's default weight is set to italics. The point that I, and Bill after me, was making is that by making a certain word within a paragraph red you ARE emphasising it, even if you don't realise, and therefore should us the proper markup.

Brown · 06-12-2003, 05:49

must be something in the hat?

smallbeer · 06-12-2003, 05:55

That wasn't you outside my window lastnight was it!?

Brown · 06-12-2003, 06:02

shaking the tree

Bill Posters · 06-12-2003, 06:02

jftr, tags were devised with a 'structural' effect in mind, but will also support the 'presentational' effect you want.
Seeing as you are creating a presentational emphasis rather than a structural one, it is recommended that you use a semantic, presentational tag (i.e. ) as these tags can then be used to emphasise that text in alternative web reading/browing software (i.e. Lynx, Jaws, ...).

Or to put it another way...

ditto.

[edit]

That'll learn me to have breakfast mid-post

[/edit]

gwx · 06-12-2003, 07:35

Should use or <div>?

Bill Posters · 06-12-2003, 07:39

Should read the thread properly.

> > Should use

smallbeer · 06-12-2003, 07:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwx

Should use or <div>?

should I use a fork or spoon? It depends what you're eating!

</wise monkey>

smallbeer · 06-12-2003, 07:54

Or

div is for block level elements, span is for inline elements.

roto · 06-12-2003, 08:32

Alright...it all makes more sense now...TA

(and it doesn't seem like such a basic/rudimentary question anymore)

gwx · 06-12-2003, 12:43

smallbeer, u have a queer way with words

Bill Posters · 06-12-2003, 13:10

gwx, 'smallbeer' is rhyming slang where sb comes from.
Right, sb?

05-12-2003, 12:45	#1 (permalink)
roto This is it - ground zero. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Paper St. Posts: 4,345	<span> Tags...the best way to format a style within a style? Ok, I'll just get right into a question I'm sure is rather rudimentary...I have a td with a certain class defined (for this example, it is for the text contained within it) and I want to change one word to red (for this example)... The classes are: .text { font-family:verdana; color:#000000; } .textred { font-family:verdana; color:#FF0000; } Would the following be the best way to do it: Code: blah blah blah before code <td class="text"> This text is black according to the "text" class...but I need this <span class="textred">word</span> to be red. </td> blah blah blah after code I really don't want to use flash or read a book, and I also don't want annoying <span> tags everywhere in my code -- they remind too much of even more annoying <font> tags. This has always bothered me, but if this is the accepted way to do it, then so be it and I will let it rest. __________________ fun: HGC v.4 \| last.fm: DT \| me \| *oi! fck u roto: ...via meebo! New to interweb design?** Your friends at dt can help.

05-12-2003, 12:55	#2 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,240	If you're doing it to emphasis the text use the <em> tag and style it. em { color: red; font-weight: normal; } __________________ That's fuckin' ingenious, if I understand it correctly. It's a Swiss fuckin' watch.

05-12-2003, 14:27	#3 (permalink)
roto This is it - ground zero. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Paper St. Posts: 4,345	nope, just red... __________________ fun: HGC v.4 \| last.fm: DT \| me \| *oi! fck u roto: ...via meebo! New to interweb design?** Your friends at dt can help.

05-12-2003, 14:34	#4 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,240	Then just use a span. __________________ That's fuckin' ingenious, if I understand it correctly. It's a Swiss fuckin' watch.

05-12-2003, 16:40	#5 (permalink)
Bill Posters trouble free and loverlee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: YooKay Posts: 2,930	Nah, you were right first time, sb. <span> tags may appear useful, but they are meaningless. They're certainly not 'the best way' to achieve what you're after, oto. Use styled <em> tag as sb suggested and it'll emphasise the red word in other circumstances too. Whenever possible, use meaningful tags in your markup, not meaningless ones. Why are you emphasising the word in the first place?

05-12-2003, 22:28	#6 (permalink)
roto This is it - ground zero. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Paper St. Posts: 4,345	It is just a theoretical question. I'm more after WHAT would be the best way to JUST make the text RED (not italic) and/or the best way to accomplish adding a different style within a style. If <span> tags are meaningless, I'm asking about substitutes, and IF they are meaningless...why do they exist? I'm curious... __________________ fun: HGC v.4 \| last.fm: DT \| me \| *oi! fck u roto: ...via meebo! New to interweb design?** Your friends at dt can help.

06-12-2003, 02:39	#7 (permalink)
gwx Dr. Macromedia Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Alpha Centauri Posts: 106	compatiblity? Ermm... Do <span> Tags work in IE and NN7? I thought they only work in Netscape 4xx?

06-12-2003, 05:47	#8 (permalink)
Brown volkswagen yellow & gold Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: london, england. Posts: 6,215	they work for all. span tags are meaningless when taken away from a stylesheet. stylesheets are there to seperate style from content. take a look at your markup without the style sheet attached. if you use a styled <em> tag then your browser will still know to give emphasis to this word. if you're not wanting to put the word in red for emphasis then why is it highlighted in red? surely you are emphasising the word's existance on the page? this can't be a theoretical question.

06-12-2003, 05:49	#10 (permalink)
Brown volkswagen yellow & gold Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: london, england. Posts: 6,215	must be something in the hat?

06-12-2003, 05:55	#11 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,240	That wasn't you outside my window lastnight was it!? __________________ That's fuckin' ingenious, if I understand it correctly. It's a Swiss fuckin' watch.

06-12-2003, 06:02	#12 (permalink)
Brown volkswagen yellow & gold Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: london, england. Posts: 6,215	shaking the tree

06-12-2003, 06:02	#13 (permalink)
Bill Posters trouble free and loverlee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: YooKay Posts: 2,930	jftr, <span> tags were devised with a 'structural' effect in mind, but will also support the 'presentational' effect you want. Seeing as you are creating a presentational emphasis rather than a structural one, it is recommended that you use a semantic, presentational tag (i.e. <em>) as these tags can then be used to emphasise that text in alternative web reading/browing software (i.e. Lynx, Jaws, ...). Or to put it another way... ditto. [edit] That'll learn me to have breakfast mid-post [/edit]

06-12-2003, 07:35	#14 (permalink)
gwx Dr. Macromedia Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Alpha Centauri Posts: 106	Should use <span> or <div>?

06-12-2003, 07:39	#15 (permalink)
Bill Posters trouble free and loverlee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: YooKay Posts: 2,930	Should read the thread properly. > > Should use <em>

06-12-2003, 07:54	#17 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,240	Or div is for block level elements, span is for inline elements. __________________ That's fuckin' ingenious, if I understand it correctly. It's a Swiss fuckin' watch.

06-12-2003, 08:32	#18 (permalink)
roto This is it - ground zero. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Paper St. Posts: 4,345	Alright...it all makes more sense now...TA (and it doesn't seem like such a basic/rudimentary question anymore) __________________ fun: HGC v.4 \| last.fm: DT \| me \| *oi! fck u roto: ...via meebo! New to interweb design?** Your friends at dt can help.

06-12-2003, 12:43	#19 (permalink)
gwx Dr. Macromedia Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Alpha Centauri Posts: 106	smallbeer, u have a queer way with words

06-12-2003, 13:10	#20 (permalink)
Bill Posters trouble free and loverlee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: YooKay Posts: 2,930	gwx, 'smallbeer' is rhyming slang where sb comes from. Right, sb?

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