Robert_J_Ellis
08-05-2005, 03:27 AM
Ok, well; I laboured for days getting IPB to behave properly, doing research etc; gathering ideas.
Well, here's what I have, and it fixes everything.
So; the first thing to understand about IPB; is that it sets internet explorer and others in compliant mode. What this means is that there's new rules to follow, and you have to be very selective about what you use and what you do'nt.
Accessibility will always be a factor with a bb, so try and keep realistic goals. Subdreamer by nature does a few things innately that affect IPB when it skins your forum. Adds a style which sets every table cell to 0 pixels -yuck-
Adds the "line-height" property to tables, table rows, and table cells. Changes the IPB Wrapper somewhat.
Now with subdreamer designs, until we get compliant browsers our forumskins will most likely have to consist of tables so that we do'nt end up making more trouble for ourselves than they are worth. Someday, right ?
A table driven design consists of a few factors; table cell values,
css or inline styles,
images
Funky text formatting
spacer images ( yes, I know )
Table cell values
Well, keep your table cell values consistent for one. For instance many still believe that internet explorer ( 6 for example ) automatically aligns objects to the left. Well this just is'nt so in compliant mode. Things will be justified to the center. Rather easy to combat this; with an inline style try :
text-align : left
This for example can place the menu in the right spot, and your logo etc.
There are a few css values in IPB that make sense, but from a design sense are somewhat alarming. In this instance - though firefox does not support this; IPB attempts to justify images to the center. Sort of like the valign tag; try this outt ( in this example I send an image to the right, and then to the bottom )
<td>
<img src="./././your_image.gif" width="15" height="8" style="text-align:right; vertical-align:bottom" />
</td>
That solves your problem. Make sure to keep in mind that this reflects all images, but you do'nt neccessarily need to assign this value to stuff by a rule of thumb if it does not need to be positioned.
Next, we will also find that in compliant mode that our images produce a text-line. This only means that it creates a baseline so that an image aligns correctly with text. Your worst nightmare if you're using a spacer image.
lets say this is an image : []
Here's what IE does in compliant mode:
[]
_
see that line below it ? that's the bottom of your cell. To prevent this; use this code:
<img src="./././spacer.gif" width="3" height="5" style="display:block" />
Yes. Display:block ensures that it does not create a baseline and that the marriage between your table cells and your images lasts; Not using this this code just makes for a long distance-relationship.
Though I've documented this before; subdreamer also makes all table cells have an innate padding value of 0 pixels. I'm sorry but this just wo'nt do. Easy enough to make sure that your table cells have no padding by add your own inline style versus screwing up the look of your board.
<td width="100%" height="5" style="padding:0px">
Another thing to consider is the html header tags such as:
<h1></h1>
You know, at one time I thought there was a need for seperate files for ipb, but maybe that was a little rash. I guess with the stuff I found, it's easy nuff to get things iree.
Make sure that you control things in a css file. Ah, you say; But then I have to write stuff in a style on the forumskin too ! >.<. Well, this is just not true.
Do'nt fear Do'nt Fear ! I have come up with a way for you to hardcode css files within your subdreamer skins. To such an extent that you can also control your forumskin and your site in the same files. I shall be releasing a blank template for you and you and you to use. I'd wish that there be a small credit out to me, and I'd be pleased if somehow this became an integral part of subdreamer. I mean I like the product, but better is better.
For instance; with these yummy files you can release skins that have : multiple header images
multiple category colours along with the ability to control the dropdown menus too!
Add form / button effects without messing with your forum.
A whole lot more control over things.
It's a lot less hard when you can simply write stuff up in a few files to control everything, dontcha think ?
Anyways, I need a little break; and then I'll write more.
:lol: - Robert
Well, here's what I have, and it fixes everything.
So; the first thing to understand about IPB; is that it sets internet explorer and others in compliant mode. What this means is that there's new rules to follow, and you have to be very selective about what you use and what you do'nt.
Accessibility will always be a factor with a bb, so try and keep realistic goals. Subdreamer by nature does a few things innately that affect IPB when it skins your forum. Adds a style which sets every table cell to 0 pixels -yuck-
Adds the "line-height" property to tables, table rows, and table cells. Changes the IPB Wrapper somewhat.
Now with subdreamer designs, until we get compliant browsers our forumskins will most likely have to consist of tables so that we do'nt end up making more trouble for ourselves than they are worth. Someday, right ?
A table driven design consists of a few factors; table cell values,
css or inline styles,
images
Funky text formatting
spacer images ( yes, I know )
Table cell values
Well, keep your table cell values consistent for one. For instance many still believe that internet explorer ( 6 for example ) automatically aligns objects to the left. Well this just is'nt so in compliant mode. Things will be justified to the center. Rather easy to combat this; with an inline style try :
text-align : left
This for example can place the menu in the right spot, and your logo etc.
There are a few css values in IPB that make sense, but from a design sense are somewhat alarming. In this instance - though firefox does not support this; IPB attempts to justify images to the center. Sort of like the valign tag; try this outt ( in this example I send an image to the right, and then to the bottom )
<td>
<img src="./././your_image.gif" width="15" height="8" style="text-align:right; vertical-align:bottom" />
</td>
That solves your problem. Make sure to keep in mind that this reflects all images, but you do'nt neccessarily need to assign this value to stuff by a rule of thumb if it does not need to be positioned.
Next, we will also find that in compliant mode that our images produce a text-line. This only means that it creates a baseline so that an image aligns correctly with text. Your worst nightmare if you're using a spacer image.
lets say this is an image : []
Here's what IE does in compliant mode:
[]
_
see that line below it ? that's the bottom of your cell. To prevent this; use this code:
<img src="./././spacer.gif" width="3" height="5" style="display:block" />
Yes. Display:block ensures that it does not create a baseline and that the marriage between your table cells and your images lasts; Not using this this code just makes for a long distance-relationship.
Though I've documented this before; subdreamer also makes all table cells have an innate padding value of 0 pixels. I'm sorry but this just wo'nt do. Easy enough to make sure that your table cells have no padding by add your own inline style versus screwing up the look of your board.
<td width="100%" height="5" style="padding:0px">
Another thing to consider is the html header tags such as:
<h1></h1>
You know, at one time I thought there was a need for seperate files for ipb, but maybe that was a little rash. I guess with the stuff I found, it's easy nuff to get things iree.
Make sure that you control things in a css file. Ah, you say; But then I have to write stuff in a style on the forumskin too ! >.<. Well, this is just not true.
Do'nt fear Do'nt Fear ! I have come up with a way for you to hardcode css files within your subdreamer skins. To such an extent that you can also control your forumskin and your site in the same files. I shall be releasing a blank template for you and you and you to use. I'd wish that there be a small credit out to me, and I'd be pleased if somehow this became an integral part of subdreamer. I mean I like the product, but better is better.
For instance; with these yummy files you can release skins that have : multiple header images
multiple category colours along with the ability to control the dropdown menus too!
Add form / button effects without messing with your forum.
A whole lot more control over things.
It's a lot less hard when you can simply write stuff up in a few files to control everything, dontcha think ?
Anyways, I need a little break; and then I'll write more.
:lol: - Robert