New webdesign - TABLES are dead already, DHTML

[argonauta]

ok,

i've been an IT person for about 5 years now. Mostly working with databases, but always learning bout design and web stuff. Latelly i've dedicated myself more to FLASH than anything else....

now that i come back to webdesign (HTML and CSS) i've seen many things have change.

As an example, i've read that it's recomended not to use tables anymore, instead use layers (DIVS) to possition stuff on screen.

Well, there's my question: you still design coding in HTML the old fashion way, or you come to use CSS more and more? do u still use TABLE tags? is there something else that people nowadays are using as a MUST in HTML design, that we all should know about?

Hope this is the correct forum for this question. Hope i can get some answers to

[serpent star]

css is cool, but I really don't think it's a must just yet.

as far as I know there are still some browser incompatabilities with css so yeah, while it is more efficient is isn't perfect and I'm not ready to completely html formating just yet.

[jamble]

I keep meaning to change my ways and use divs but I've not read up on it yet enough to be able to completely build a div rather than a table based site.

I will do soon but I just never seem to find the time

[RazoRmedia]

theres nothing wrong with tables.

theres also no reason why tables and divs can't both be used alongside each other.

tables will never be replaced in my opinion. Do you remember when everyone used to say flash / XML / any new technoloy will replace html? Well its the same with tables and divs.

[SubwayDesigns]

I think css is great, just for the freedom it gives you to position elements wherever you want them without having to embed tables.
Of course, downside is browser incompatibility for now - hopefully this will get better in the future.

But I don't think tables will ever dissapear, they still come in handy when you need to layout content in simple columns or rows. CSS might take over for positioning though.

[thodya]

Pick the right tool for the job. CSS-P is great for positioning the main components of the page, but when it comes down to finicky stuff tables are just far more reliable across different browsers and less time consuming to code for.

[sk8Krog]

I don't use DIVs at all. I dont really know what the advantage is but all I know is Tables are still working for me.

[argonauta]

cool, thanks for your opinions.

For what i've seen, the site that defends the use of CSS against tables is a list apart

i'm trying to find documentation on the differences of css implementation for different browsers, so if any of you got nice links, i hope you post them here.

[serpent star]

To each his own. I think it's kinda sheik to say you abhore tables ATM.

[thodya]

The biggest advantage to using div tags is search engine optomization. With divs you can code your content in the beginning of the html document, and use CSS-P to place it where it should go.

In other words, in a very simplified version, using tables:

<table>
   <tr>
      <td>Whole bunch of header stuff, menus, etc.</td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
      <td>Content Here.</td>
   </tr>
</table>

In a more realistic version, there would be lots of stuff up above the actual content, meaning the search robot has a lot further to go before it reaches the keywords you're promoting.

Whereas with divs:

<div id="content">
Content here.
</div>
<div id="design">
Whole bunch of header stuff, menus, etc.
</div>

As you can see, there's a lot less formatting junk before the spider reaches the content.

Something to think about anyway.

[hurricaneone]

For what it's worth, I make this whole dilemma a moot point by avoiding html and it's whacky, half-breed spinoffs, only using it to deliver my cross-browser and OS compatible Flash content.

Yeah, baby. Sweet.

[Gloomycus]

search engine optimization is overrated.

[RazoRmedia]

Originally posted by Gloomycus
search engine optimization is overrated.

bit of a generic statement there?

ever tried designing for casinos / porn sites ?

[thodya]

Originally posted by Gloomycus
search engine optimization is overrated.

I think you might have some explaining to do with a statement like that. No, number 1 listings aren't the be all, and end all, but getting on the first page in some industries is no easy task, and is sometimes a necessity.

[EllisStudios]

Yeah I still work with everything. XML also I feel sucks I don't know why I just don't like it a whole lot always causes problems for me I like my good old fashioned HTML it does the job just fine.

HTML will never be dead and clients like it because they always can find some one familiar with it.

[Gloomycus]

Originally posted by RazoRmedia
ever tried designing for casinos / porn sites ?

no and i don't ever intend to.