[scintillate]

i was wondering, how do people make their text displayed on their website consistent / do not change eventhough the viewers pc is using the text size of larger or large on their browser ?? i heard you can do it using css .. but how come mine didn't work? another thing is that what size do you need to make the text size 'small, but not to small'? size 2 is normal in dreamweaver, 1 is too small. how do people make their text size like for eg : http://www.autodesk.com

Please help...

[Bill Posters]

Many designers and developers now using CSS to style and size their copy have ditched size keywords ('small', etc…) in favour of using defined units (pts, px, em, …).
Each option has benefits and drawbacks.

It depends where your priorities lay.
If you're necessarily 'pandering' to usability concerns then you may feel that using em units offers the best overall balance of size control.

Fwiw™, I use 'px' units for one main reason. They give consistent font sizing across all browsers and all platforms (the only unit to do so). I perfectly understand the drawbacks of using px, but continue to use them and continue to recommend them; but then I'm a bloody-minded git who is unwilling to compensate for the ignorance of MSIE/Win and its users.

Here's a good breakdown of the pros and cons of each option.
http://www.ookingdom.com/design/conundrum.html

[scintillate]

great info.. thanks..

merry christmas to all of you..

[Brown]

i hate sites that use px. you cant adjust the font size using your browser's text options. if i'm hungover or its a long day then i need large print books. use percentages.

[Mr Fred]

ems for me

[Bill Posters]

px for me (at a reasonable size to start with).
MSIEWin users only have themselves to blame for any accessibility/usability problems that they encounter with px-sized text. (no offense meant, Brown. )

[Brown]

that's ok. its only about 90% of the web surfing population that you're offending. really bill, i'd thought you'd know better.