[patcyr001]

Hi,

Background:
I'm new to web application devlopment but I'm currently setting up a flea market online on my spare time (for fun and maybee later try to put it online) using php, html using Dreamweaver and fireworks. I'm doing everything myself (database design, graphics and programming ... maybee it's not too sophisticated but it's a challenge and I like it) I'm pretty advance (database design,edits, image upload, etc) but yesterday I tried to view what I have done so far using Netscape 8 and there are pretty good misalignment of my stuff on my web pages. Using IE 6 everything is fine ! I knew I would have to test that but I did not anticipated such a gap between the 2. And I have to learn everything php, dreamweaver etc... etc so that was another thing to look for.

The way I work for my input data screen pages is that I developped a backgroung graphic with Fireworks and then use it as a background in my html or php pages(for each page that I have like login, enter a vehicule etc ). It seams like alignment is not working the same in IE and Netscape (I've now read about it !!!) but I'm still puzzled on how to proceed to get the same results on both browser. Currently I build my html table on top of the firework backgroung trying to "align my fields in the backgound graphic" (which works pretty well when I'm only using IE to show my pages. I know when I use fireworks I can export using different table methods but I also have to put my php code in there but I'm then confuse on the alignment of the slice.

Perhaps someone could tell me the best way to go about it. I don't mind restarting what I have done because my php programming should be the same anyway (so that is not lost)

I'm not use to forums I hope someone can help me with the little information I provided...
Many Thanks

Patrick

[dtrenz]

design your site in such a way that different browsers, resolutions, and font-sizes won't screw it up.

by this i mean, don't try to make a background image of a form and then pray that the input elements line up correctly. Instead, make images for the inputs, so that no matter where they float off to, the image will at least float with it.

another thing would be to design for a standards compliant browser, like Firefox. Things are more likely to work if you design for Firefox and then test on IE, not the other way around.

it sounds like you are too dependant on graphics and I'll bet that you are using the WYSIWYG editor in dreamweaver, and possibly even tables (gasp) for layout/positioning.

i think we need a sticky topic that we can point new designers to, so we don't have to keep telling them to learn xhtml/css.. etc etc.

[patcyr001]

Hi dtrenz,

Thanks for your input, I don't know if you have a minute to look at my background attachment and let me know by experience how you would go about placing fields in this "background page". Would you do all the placement of fields manually (like you said(ie coding it using html table for EACH blue and yellow box) having a background image for each table (right now I have one table with 1 BIG background doing the whole page) DO you use slicing a all ? or any other method ?
Sorry for my ignorance but so far I discovered a lot by myself but there is nothing like experience !
Thanks a lot

[patcyr001]

oups I think I forgot the attachment ...