Web Design Forums

shaftb · 18-12-2007, 09:54

Which is the best to use or "standard" to use? I am still using GoLive CS2, and eventually I'll make the jump to Dreamweaver CS3, but currently this is what I have.

I'm in the process of converting all my old sites that are in framesets to CSS layouts. I noticed some of my older pages were in HTML 4 Transitional, and I'm going to make them XHTML 1.0 pages, but should I do Transitional or Strict. Thanks.

Bill Posters · 18-12-2007, 10:02

Strict variations are more likely to trigger absolute best behaviour in UAs, so, imo, they are the only ones worth using.
(Whether you should go HTML 4.01 Strict or XHTML 1.0 Strict is another issue.)

herkalees · 18-12-2007, 10:03

Simple really - if you consider your website(s) in a 'transitional' phase between the old and new, use that.

On the other hand, if your website(s) can easily be written, without breaking expectations, in completely 'strict' code, use that.

shaftb · 18-12-2007, 10:13

Ok, so since I'm somewhat new to switching these over, I should play it safe and go XHTML 1.0 Transitional?
I appreciate it guys.
Any big things I should watch out for? I know the basic of all tags and attributes should be lowercase, and attributes must be enclosed with double quotes, and all tags must EVENTUALLY close. Anything else??

pgo · 18-12-2007, 10:20

Well, that's for XHTML.

Also, make sure you have a doctype declaration at the top.

Technically, you really should be sending XHTML as application+xml/xhtml to browsers that can handle that mime-type instead of text/html, but you can use text/html without invalidating your code. I do it as I don't see enough benefit in sending things as application+xml/xhtml so long as IE doesn't understand that.

Finally, I agree with Bill Posters. Strict doctypes are the way to go as they'll trigger standards-compliance mode in most user agents. It's not that difficult.

Try this: build your site to be valid (X)HTML Transititional then switch the doctype to Strict and see what happens.

dmidwinter · 19-12-2007, 01:26

Go with strict if you are re-writing your code - it's the best way to go

18-12-2007, 09:54	#1 (permalink)
shaftb Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 337	XHTML 1.0 Transitional or Strict Which is the best to use or "standard" to use? I am still using GoLive CS2, and eventually I'll make the jump to Dreamweaver CS3, but currently this is what I have. I'm in the process of converting all my old sites that are in framesets to CSS layouts. I noticed some of my older pages were in HTML 4 Transitional, and I'm going to make them XHTML 1.0 pages, but should I do Transitional or Strict. Thanks. __________________ Daughter of Aphrodite-Hear my words and take Heed-I was born on Olympus-To my father a Son-I was raised by the demons-Trained to reign as the One.

18-12-2007, 10:03	#3 (permalink)
herkalees Semantics, yay. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Salem, Massachusetts Posts: 1,128	Simple really - if you consider your website(s) in a 'transitional' phase between the old and new, use that. On the other hand, if your website(s) can easily be written, without breaking expectations, in completely 'strict' code, use that. __________________ Writing on markup, CSS, and other web geekery Professional, accessible, and search engine friendly web site development by Boston Web Studio

18-12-2007, 10:13	#4 (permalink)
shaftb Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 337	Ok, so since I'm somewhat new to switching these over, I should play it safe and go XHTML 1.0 Transitional? I appreciate it guys. Any big things I should watch out for? I know the basic of all tags and attributes should be lowercase, and attributes must be enclosed with double quotes, and all tags must EVENTUALLY close. Anything else?? __________________ Daughter of Aphrodite-Hear my words and take Heed-I was born on Olympus-To my father a Son-I was raised by the demons-Trained to reign as the One.

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18-12-2007, 10:02	#2 (permalink)
Bill Posters trouble free and loverlee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: YooKay Posts: 2,934	Strict variations are more likely to trigger absolute best behaviour in UAs, so, imo, they are the only ones worth using. (Whether you should go HTML 4.01 Strict or XHTML 1.0 Strict is another issue.)

18-12-2007, 10:20	#5 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	Well, that's for XHTML. Also, make sure you have a doctype declaration at the top. Technically, you really should be sending XHTML as application+xml/xhtml to browsers that can handle that mime-type instead of text/html, but you can use text/html without invalidating your code. I do it as I don't see enough benefit in sending things as application+xml/xhtml so long as IE doesn't understand that. Finally, I agree with Bill Posters. Strict doctypes are the way to go as they'll trigger standards-compliance mode in most user agents. It's not that difficult. Try this: build your site to be valid (X)HTML Transititional then switch the doctype to Strict and see what happens.

19-12-2007, 01:26	#6 (permalink)
dmidwinter Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8	Go with strict if you are re-writing your code - it's the best way to go

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