Web Design and DHTML

Layers...etc

[andmunn]

Just a quick question - i had a website design presented to me by someone. Now, the design looks like it's done all in DHTML with "Layers" being the key word.

I have no idea how to program in layers, and am wondering if there is any adverse effects to having a site in "layers"?

Should i just convert it over to *plain* html?

Cheers,
Andrew.

[thehittmann]

layers will work on NN 4.0+ if done correctly. Ummm if the design works and looks good I dont see a point in changing it. "if it aint broke, don't fix it". This could be a time to learn how to program in layers? I will sticky you an addy with many tutorials on dhtml and layers.

[edited by: thehittmann at 3:19 am (utc) on Jan. 19, 2004]

[tedster]

Just for clarity, the word "layer" is often used generically by WYSIWYG applications as a name for divs that are positioned with CSS along the z-index, and so seem to "layer" on top of each other.

There was also a <layer> element -- used in NN4 only -- which never became part of the HTML standard.

[andmunn]

thanks for the links, lots of great info - the designer said that he could convert the whole page to a basic "table" site without any problems - which would you recommend?

Personally, i am more comfortable dealing with the later, bu thave also read a some conflicting reports regarding search engines and "layers".

If it was b/w tables and layers, which would you use? Please also take into consideration that the site i'm trying to market is one which needs to "display well" on a vast number of computers (some older browsers i'm sure).

[TryAgain]

Just like there is no spoon, there are no layers.

Anyway, for safety; do basic layout with a table: header, left menu, right menu, footer.

Fill in the rest with divs, spans, paragraphs, whatever.

(To note that the more you experiment with floats, the more you will run into problems on different browsers.)

[thehittmann]

If I had an option I would use a tables and not layers. Just hate screwing around with stuff that overlaps and renders bad in different browsers.