Hi,
Thanks so much for any input. I am not really sure at this point which method in dreamweaver MX is best for laying out your page.

I have heard designing in layout view can cause problems with different browsers, and any gray area of your page remaining with just color and no content will not be displayed. Is this true?

In design view im very confused about inserting a table and then resizing it. Reasons being Im not sure if once I insert a table and add columns ect, does this layout need to fill up my entire page? Or can I say have a table at the top of my page one in the middle and one at the bottom? It doesn't seem very easy to edit a table once you lay it out and I like to make changes to my websites here and there and it seems if I use a table its going to be very hard to edit in the future. For example if I just want one rather large table in the center of my page for text is this OK?

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated. I have been reading books, and tutorials for two weeks on this but no one has made it very clear to me as what is best to do and how to go about it.

Thanks,
Jill

Hey Jill--
I'm not sure which is the best layout to use. I think that its just your preference. But, you can place a table inside a table inside a table and so on. Try pasting the code below into Dreamweaver and study it. I will try and create a tutorial for you.
--saleblitz


<table width="700" border="0" bgcolor="#CC9900">
<tr>
<td>main table <table width="300" border="1" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td>table 2 with center align</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="200" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="#33CCFF">
<tr>
<td>table one with default align</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>

<img src="solowhost.com/FileUpload/fileupload/store/FLY_sig.gif" border=0>
<b>"I learn so I can help."</b> =- Saleblitz

Edited by - saleblitz on 25 May 2003 22:09:56

Jill--
This is how i created the layout from the previous post. i really hope that this is helping you and not wasting your time.
=========================================
1) Create the table as you normaly would. Set the width properties to 100 percent. This will set a base for you work in. Everything that you add to the page will go in this table.
<img src="www.solowhost.com/FileUpload/fileupload/store/1a.jpg" border=0>

2) Click on the dotted lines that represent the table to select it. Then look at the properties and set the vertical to top. This will obviously make everything in the table stay at the top.
<img src="www.solowhost.com/FileUpload/fileupload/store/2a.jpg" border=0>

3) Then place the cursor inside the table and repeat step 1 but this time set the values to 300 pixels. You should then have something like this:
<img src="www.solowhost.com/FileUpload/fileupload/store/4a.jpg" border=0>

4) Click on the table and set the "Align" to Left.
<img src="www.solowhost.com/FileUpload/fileupload/store/5a.jpg" border=0>

5) Then click once next to the table that you just place in. Press the "left arrow" key on your keyboard to place the cursor on the left side of the table.

6) Repeat step 1 again to make another table. This time set the values to 300 pixels. It will place the table in its "default" location.

7) Click on the table to select it and go to your properties and set the "Align" to right.
<img src="www.solowhost.com/FileUpload/fileupload/store/6a.jpg" border=0>

Note-- you can set any of the "Align" values to Default, Left, Center, or Right to see what they do.

The only thing left is to do is set the colors and how many cells you want for each table.

<img src="syndicprint.com/o_chacon/jtc_sig.gif" border=0>
<b>"I learn so I can help."</b> =- Saleblitz

A.M.E.N.
I am appalled at how difficult it is to get this basic, starting-up, critical information.

if anyone can point us to a really good resource for such basic info - tables / layout tables / layers / warnings... you are an angel!

A.M.E.N.
I am appalled at how difficult it is to get this basic, starting-up, critical information.

if anyone can point us to a really good resource for such basic info - tables / layout tables / layers / warnings... you are an angel!

Hi Saleblitz,
IM so sorry I never stop back to thank you for helping me with the tables. I was able to read your reply but misplaced my password and never got back to thanking you, and was reminded of that when Laura posted to the topic and I got an email notification. I really appreciated all your help. Im still struggling a bit with making tables because they just dont seem to be that easy to resize or position where I want things placed, so at the moment im having a little bit more luck in layout view drawing out the cell and then the table. I gave the layers a try but I dont like them at all, they look one way on page and then when you preview it there in a different position.

I have to agree with Laura, I bought several books and have spent countless hours at some of the tutorials for dreamweaver MX but no one seems to really explain the basics and in terms a beginner can understand. I even bought the Macromedia MX for Dummies and found that it had very little on dreamweaver and more on fireworks, freehand, and flash that comes with it. But even on the other programs it didnt explain how to make anything I would really use. Like making a banner or putting images in a banner ect and making shapes. I have used other website publisher in the past so I have some knowledge but dreamweaver is much harder for me anyway then I expected it to be and I believe its for the same reason that Laura said.

Thanks again,
Jill

Jill, i was actually thinking of checking out the "Dummies" book at a bookstore -- i USED to think i had a knack for absorbing new apps -- DW's about to make me lose my religion *!@#!*! -- If i do find a good "critical basics" source re: DW / DWMX, i'll drop a(nother) line.

Jill, i was actually thinking of checking out the "Dummies" book at a bookstore -- i USED to think i had a knack for absorbing new apps -- DW's about to make me lose my religion *!@#!*! -- If i do find a good "critical basics" source re: DW / DWMX, i'll drop a(nother) line.

Hi Laura,
Thanks! If I come across anything that I feel will help us I will post it here for you as well. I can sure relate to your frustrations. I have this program for about 6 weeks now and im on my third bottle of hair dye to cover up the grays LOL! I keep saying to myself if other people can figure it out eventually I will too but it just seems so overwhelming. Good Luck to you!

Jill

Jill-- Thanks for the big thanks <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I agree with both you and Laura about it being a little hard to understand. I eventually just got the hang of it with no books. I did go through some tutorials but most of the time they were a little confusing.
Jill.. by all means, If I knew that you were trying to use "layers" then i would have discouraged you from doing that. I have never been able to get layers to layout where i want them to.

If you have any questions about dreamweaver or photoshop or just about anything else, then please feel free to email me at
Laura - that goes for you too. Email me and I'll help if I can.

<img src="www.imahosting.com/sigs/lgbrokenfly.gif" border=0>
<b>"I learn so I can help."</b> =- Saleblitz

thanks, saleblitz -- i may well take you up on your offer... next run-through, i'll take copious notes on the brick walls i run into. - lt