text positioning using % values

new to css for layout so speak slowly

[fazer600]

Up to now I've only been using my stylesheet really for text size, font, background... but think it's time to take the plunge and get rid of the tables I have been using for layout and fully utilise css.

Now currently my table width is set to 75% so it nicely fits in the centre of the page. I've been playing with an online tutorial and

p
{
position: absolute;
top: 200px;
left: 20%
}

looks nice, but then when i also say right:20% it all goes normal with no indenting.

what would be the correct way to have some text a percentage in from the right and left?

[isitreal]

margin:1em 20%;

that would put a 1 em top and bottom margin on the paragragh, and a 20% left and right one. Don't use positioning until you have a better grasp of how this stuff works, it causes many problems that are not easy to resolve, so if you can use more basic things like margins or padding to get the job done you'll generally be better off.

[fazer600]

cheers for that. if anything's likely to cause problems i'll just steer well clear for the time being then.