Articles tagged as “xhtml” [ page 2 ]

Absolute Horizontal and Vertical Centering via CSS

Recently, a reader named Max encountered some scrolling issues while implementing our absolutely centered layout technique. Of course, by “absolutely centered” we are referring to content that remains positioned dead-center regardless of how the browser is resized. After noticing the scrollbar deficiency, Max kindly dropped a comment to explain the issue: ...the div solution works well, only one problem maybe somebody can help: if you make the browser window smaller then the div is -> the scrollbar doenst fit right und you cant scroll over the whole area... Apparently, because the horizontal/vertical centering method outlined in our original article ...

Bare-Bones HTML/XHTML Document Templates

In this post I have assembled a concise collection of conforming, bare-bones document templates for the following doctypes: Document Templates XHTML 1.0 XHTML 1.0 Strict XHTML 1.0 Transitional XHTML 1.0 Frameset XHTML Basic 1.0 XHTML 1.1 XHTML 1.1 XHTML Basic 1.1 HTML 4.01 HTML 4.01 Strict HTML 4.01 Transitional HTML 4.01 Frameset Doctype Declarations In addition to the complete document templates listed above, this post also ...

Rethinking Structural Design with New Elements in HTML 5

HTML 5, also known as Web Applications 1.0, provides new markup elements that will change the way you design your web pages. The new elements replace commonly used divisions in web documents, facilitating an even greater degree of separation between structure (HTML) and presentation (CSS). Indeed, in many documents, the new elements will structure the document while providing enough hooks to render obsolete previously required divisions, classes, and identifiers. Let’s take a look.. New Structural and Semantic Elements in HTML 5 Structural Elements The new structural elements in ...

Unicode Character Reference for Bloggers

Virtually every article written here at Perishable Press requires at least one or two “special” characters. Some of these characters — such as quotation marks, hyphens, and dashes — are very common, while others — such as the copyright symbol, bullet, and arrow — happen less frequently. As a blogger, I find myself repeatedly using a select handful of very common special characters. Very rarely do I ever find myself blogging a latin “Ä” (i.e., capital letter “A” with a diaeresis). To save time and effort, I need a quick reference that targets only the characters I find useful as a ...

Wrapping Your Head around Downlevel Conditional Comments

If you think you understand the logic behind Microsoft’s downlevel conditional comments, you are sadly mistaken. Sure, they seem simple enough on the surface, but as you really try to wrap your head around how and why they work, the subtle complexities of downlevel conditional comments may leave you dazed and confused... In our previous article on Internet Explorer’s exclusive browser-detection method, downlevel conditional comments (DCC), we present an introductory exposition, defining expressions and providing several generalized code examples. Overall, it is a very useful article but partially fails at explaining ...

The Friendliest Link Targets in the Neighborhood

The target attribute for anchor elements () specifies the location in which the referenced document should load. For example, to open a link in a new window, we would use a target value of _blank. Although this is a commonly employed technique, the target attribute has been deprecated by the W3C and is not valid (X)HTML. Regardless, the target element remains a useful tool for practicing designers and developers. Here, we present the attribute values for the target element: Attribute values for the ...

Standards-Compliance Throwdown: MS-IE5/6 DNS/404 Error-Page Redesign

Default DNS Error page for Internet Explorer First of all, congratulations if you are geeky enough to understand the title of this article. Many would be like, "CSS, MS.. IE, error ..what..?" Whatever. If you get the title, you will get the point of this utterly pointless exercise. If that is the case, prepare for a delightful romp through geekland. Otherwise, save your precious time and stop reading here (exit strategy). Well, okay, for the seriously unenlightened, let us explain the object of our present focus: The default "DNS Error" page for Internet Explorer unfortunately ...

Embed QuickTime Notes Plus

This post contains random notes for embedding QuickTime within web pages. QuickTime Embed Attributes via CSS (X)HTML Code for Embedding/Including QuickTime Other Notes.. There are also several attributes providing "href" functionality: href="http://domain.com/new-movie.mov" target="myself|quicktimeplayer|browser" href="onclick..." (for multiple targets) autohref="true" Here is a canned link to include for those without ...

Feed your Image via Atom or RSS

This quick tutorial explains how to add images to both Atom and RSS feeds. Although both formats allow for image-inclusion, feed-reader support for image-display is currently quite limited. Hopefully, that will change in the near future.. Images for Atom Feeds Images included within Atom feeds must have a ratio of either 1:1 or 2:1. There are no other restrictions as to file type or size. Use the XML element for URL’s targeting 1:1 images. Otherwise, use the XML element for URL’s targeting 2:1 images. Either element should be placed in the element: http://domain.tld/path/icon.ico http://domain.tld/path/logo.gif Images for RSS Feeds RSS supports images with a maximum width of 144px and ...

Embed Flash and Video via the object Tag

Embed Windows Media Player via the object tag Here is the general format for including .wmv files in web pages: Embed Windows Media Player via object and classid Here is the general format for including .wmv files in web pages using classid: ...

Maximum and Minimum Height and Width in Internet Explorer

Behold the seventh wonder of the virtual world: max/min-height and max/min-width properties are possible in Internet Explorer! Indeed, by taking advantage of IE’s proprietary CSS attribute, expression, you too can whip IE widths and heights into desirable proportions. The CSS expression attribute enables JavaScript commands to be executed within Internet Explorer. JavaScript via CSS? Thanks, Microsoft! Why is this so great? Well, because in other, standards-compliant browsers, max/min-height and max/min-width properties are easily accomplished with this simple bit of CSS.. [the contents of this division will be at most 333px in width on compliant browsers] Of course, this is waaay tooo easy for Internet Explorer, which completely fails to ...

Embed External Content via iframe and div

By using an within a , it is possible to include external web content in most any web document. This method serves as an excellent alternative to actual frames, which are not as flexible and definitely not as popular. Indeed, with CSS, the placement, sizing, and styling of div’s provides endless possibilities for embedding external or even internal web content into pages that would otherwise require the use of frames, Flash, or JavaScript. This method works on any modern browser, as well as any old browser that understands both and tags. Simply add the following code to your document and style according to your specific needs:...

Automatic Language Translation Methods

As you may have noticed, Perishable Press recently added automatic language translation to each of our articles. The free, automatic translations are available as a series of image links (via corresponding country flag icons) next to each article’s individual post view. We have found that providing this free service is important as many of our visitors come from countries other than the United States, and therefore may be unable to read our articles as presented in the English language. Although there are several excellent translation services currently available, our research has determined that Google’s free translation service exceeds our expectations and serves as an excellent online translator ...

Auto-Focus Form Elements with JavaScript

After digging through the WordPress source code, I stumbled upon this very useful JavaScript method for auto-focusing form elements upon page load. Here is the JavaScript code (place within the document head): function formfocus() { document.getElementById('element').focus(); } window.onload = formfocus; ...and corresponding (X)HTML markup (abbreviated for clarity): In this example, the first form element (identified by id="element") will be automatically focused when the document loads, thus facilitating the process of entering data in the form. This technique would serve users well on login pages (wink, wink;), or anywhere ...

Exploring the (X)HTML Link Element

Most Web authors are familiar with the <link> element included within the <head> element of many (X)HTML documents. The <link> element enables authors to associate external resources to the (X)HTML document. <link> element references include various types of metadata, navigation, and styling information. This brief post provides examples of these and other important uses of the (X)HTML <link> element....

One Link to Open Them All

Welcome to Perishable Press! This article explains several methods for opening multiple frames with a single link. For more excellent (X)HTML information, check out the (X)HTML tag archive. If you like what you see, I encourage you to subscribe to Perishable Press for a periodic dose of online enlightenment ;) Opening Multiple Frames with One Link Method 1: The first method of targeting multiple frames involves replacing either the entire frameset (via target="_top") or a subset of frames (via target="subset"). For example, any number of frames ...

Absolutely Centered Layout

Absolute Centering with CSS & (X)HTML Designing an absolutely centered layout involves centering a division both horizontally and vertically. When this is done, the centered division (or other element) is centered according to the browser window. To accomplish this, use this (X)HTML: And employ this CSS (commented with explanations): body { background-color: #333; /* cosmetic */ margin: 0px; /* required */ } div#wrapper { background-color: red; /* cosmetic */ height: 0px; /* set to taste */ /* required */ position: absolute; overflow: visible; display: block; width: 100%; left: 0px; top: 50%; } div#center { background-color: #666; /* cosmetic */ border: 3px solid #FFF; /* cosmetic */ overflow: auto; /* set to taste */ position: absolute; /* required */ left: 50%; /* required */ margin-left: -200px; /* half of width */ width: 400px; ...

IE Scrollbar Colors

Changing the color of scrollbars for Internet Explorer may very well be the oldest trick in the book. In fact, this post exists mostly for the sake of prosperity, as we here at Perishable Press strive to eliminate our entire offline library of website design notes by transferring them to the World Wide Web. Although library conversion requires time, patience, and determination, changing the color of IE scrollbars is relatively simple. Simply associate these CSS rules to the (X)HTML documents desiring unique scrollbar colors: /* produces a stylish black scrollbar with light-grey highlights */ * html body {    scrollbar-face-color: #000;    scrollbar-shadow-color: #808080;    scrollbar-highlight-color: #808080;    scrollbar-3dlight-color: #000;    scrollbar-darkshadow-color: #000;    scrollbar-track-color: #000;    scrollbar-arrow-color: #808080;...

XHTML Document Header Resource

This XHTML header tags resource is a work in progress, perpetually expanding and evolving as new information is obtained, explored, and integrated. Hopefully, you will find it useful in some way. Even better, perhaps you will share any complimentary or critical information concerning the contents of this article. Table of Contents Important Information XML Declaration The !DOCTYPE The html tag The head tag The title tag base & item http-equiv link tags meta tags ...

Optimize Convoluted Code via JavaScript

Search engines loathe crawling through convoluted lines of code. Oceans of complex JavaScript scare away the priceless indexing and archiving efforts of most major search engines, which will generally abort a crawl upon encountering such mess. The good news is that search engines actually do not deploy JavaScript, so it is possible to use JavaScript to hide those miles of messy code by using the fundamental document.write function. Place this function in an external JavaScript file, “navmenu.js”: function navMenu() { document.open(); document.write("Convoluted code goes here."); document.close(); } Link to the external JavaScript file by placing this code in the document head: Finally, call the function by adding this ...

HTML Frames Notes Plus

If you think that nobody uses frames anymore, think again. I personally know of one person who threw down some tuf HTML frame action for a personal site. So, in the interest of prosperity, we are hereby establishing this post as our official dumping ground for all HTML frame-related garbage. Break your pages out of someone else’s frames We begin our journey with a totally sick JavaScript method for breaking pages out of the illegitimate frames of some ineffectually pathetic bastard: Likewise, here is an equally effective method that should work in all JS-enabled browsers:...

Accessibility Notes Plus

Just a few useful accessibility notes.. Add accesskey attributes to important list items, content areas, and any other key areas of the document. Use alphanumeric characters as accesskey values, as in this example: hhome mmenu ssearch When an accesskey attribute is present within a link tag, pressing alt+letter on the keyboard is equivalent to double-clicking that link. Generally speaking, the presence of an accesskey attribute within an element brings focus to that element. Thus, radio and check boxes are toggled, links are clicked, and form elements are navigated as the alt+letter combination is pressed. It is also ...

A Complete CSS Template File

To help maintain consistency when developing new CSS-styled websites, we have created a complete CSS template file. The file contains every HTML/XHTML tag known to man. This includes tags such as BASEFONT and CENTER, which have been deprecated; tags such as COMMENT and MARQUEE, which are exclusive to Internet Explorer; tags such as SPACER and SERVER, which are exclusive to Netscape Navigator; and even tags such as !DOCTYPE and BASE, which are included merely for the sake of completeness. As CSS selectors, the tags are (almost all) empty, just waiting to be filled with declarations, properties, and values. Tags that have been deprecated, or that are exclusive to a specific browser, are ...

Stylish Deleted Text

Fashion stylish deleted text in XHTML via the über obscure del tag. Code example: Terminate me. Live example: Terminate me.

Obscure XHTML Tags

Well, maybe not that obscure.. -- Preformatted character data -- Renders as emphasized text -- Renders as strong emphasized text -- Renders font as teletype or monospace -- Defines a definition term -- Defines computer code text -- Defines sample computer code -- Defines keyboard text -- Defines a variable -- Defines a citation -- XHTML Transitional only -- Indicates deleted text -- Indicates inserted text -- Defines a definition list -- Defines a definition term -- Defines a definition definition -- Defines an abbreviation -- Defines an acronym -- Specifies an address -- Indicates inline quoted text -- Override the bidirectional algorithm -- Word break, applied by IE and ...