Use of Tables for Web Page Layout

[Andy]

Hi,

I am presently using XHTML and CSS for all my web page design needs.
However, I still find people use tables to layout content (entire
pages) instead of CSS.

Are tables still being used for web page layout? Lidl's website comes
to mind (http://www.lidl.com).

Would it not be better to use CSS in all cases or are there some
instances when layout with tables would be better - such as for a
person starting out?

Cheers,

Andy R.

 

[richard]

Hi,

I am presently using XHTML and CSS for all my web page design needs.
However, I still find people use tables to layout content (entire
pages) instead of CSS.

Are tables still being used for web page layout? Lidl's website comes
to mind (http://www.lidl.com).

Would it not be better to use CSS in all cases or are there some
instances when layout with tables would be better - such as for a
person starting out?

Cheers,

Andy R.

Screw tables. Screw CSS.

It's gotta be flash or nuthin.

 

[Jukka K. Korpela]

I am presently using XHTML
Why?

and CSS for all my web page design needs.

(X)HTML and CSS surely can't cover all the needs. You're not presenting real
facts (like your own URL).

However, I still find people use tables to layout content (entire
pages) instead of CSS.

Does it matter? Why?

Are tables still being used for web page layout?

They are.

Lidl's website comes to mind (http://www.lidl.com).

So you knew the answer, didn't you?

The main problem with Lidl's sites (they actually have a collection of
sites, for different countries, with an almost content-free splash page for
country selection) is that they are messy and not really up-to-date. (I'm a
half-regular Lidl customer and still can't use their web site for the simple
purpose of checking what food offers they have at present. And
http://www.lidl.fi is currently, June 21st, advertizing offers that are
valid on June 17th.) Does it really matter how they do layout, compared with
such problems?

Would it not be better to use CSS in all cases or are there some
instances when layout with tables would be better - such as for a
person starting out?

Much of layout with CSS is far more contrived, tricky, and error-prone than
simple HTML layout tables.

 

[dorayme]

Are tables still being used for web page layout?

Yes, heaps.

Lidl's website comes
to mind (http://www.lidl.com).

A confusing example for your question. It is full of js and flash and
mistakes and has no CSS at all (see below)

Would it not be better to use CSS in all cases or are there some
instances when layout with tables would be better - such as for a
person starting out?

CSS is not something opposite to Tables. Tables are an HTML element and
can be styled with CSS. Best practice these days is to try for as much
semantic markup as possible and to style with CSS and have the CSS a
separate file. The table element is a specialist element for displaying
relationships between items in various lists and the more skilful you
become, the better are you able to confine the use to its specialist
function.

A site that is easy to use and without most error and good in all sorts
of ways can be made with tables and is a better thing in the world than
a broken, absurdly complex, one made without tables. For a practical
website maker, do not flee from tables for layout to the extent that you
do worse (while playing at being "professionally correct"). Adopt the
policy of using tables only when you can't do without them in a
reasonable time available to you as a developer. There are other things
that loom more important.

 

[dorayme]

Screw tables. Screw CSS.

It's gotta be flash or nuthin.

And RunBasic?

 

[richard]

And RunBasic?

If one has the savvy to work with it.
Give it a couple of years. If enough interest comes about, flash will
have competition. Take a look at how even "windows" advanced from it's
humble beginnings.

 

[dorayme]

If one has the savvy to work with it.
Give it a couple of years. If enough interest comes about, flash will
have competition. Take a look at how even "windows" advanced from it's
humble beginnings.

Windoze? Yeah, that really gives me hope then... oops I better get outta
here, I can hear Ed coming with a diatribe against me, before he has had
his morning coffee! <g>

 

[Travis Newbury]

I am presently using XHTML and CSS for all my web page design needs.
However, I still find people use tables to layout content (entire
pages) instead of CSS.

Man if you asked this question a few years ago the CSS zealots would
have castrated you for even suggesting using tables for anything other
than tabular data.... (I am quite surprised at some of the
responses)

I personally find tables easier to work with for layout than CSS fixed
width sites. If I need a variable width site, then it is CSS.

 

[dorayme]

Man if you asked this question a few years ago the CSS zealots would
have castrated you for even suggesting using tables for anything other
than tabular data.... (I am quite surprised at some of the
responses)

Early returns, early returns. Just wait till all the votes are counted
here, the warriors are merely tired and keeping their powder dry.

 

[Jonathan N. Little]

Early returns, early returns. Just wait till all the votes are counted
here, the warriors are merely tired and keeping their powder dry.

<sniff><sniff> Come on! It should be obvious there was no real question
in the OP.

 

[dorayme]

<sniff><sniff> Come on! It should be obvious there was no real question
in the OP.

Yes, true. But you know how we used to be, seagulls and someone throws a
bit of something on the ground and it turns out to be nothing much or
even not food. <g>