Poll: Tables or CSS Positioning for layout?

Reasons have been discussed to no end, but what do you use?

[MatthewHSE]

In light of the recent activity in another thread [webmasterworld.com], I thought it might be timely to take a quick poll of what methods we all use for layout purposes. Let's assume that CSS is already being used for more basic purposes, such as replacing the <font> tag - let's talk about layout only.

Let's also try to stay clear of our reasons; they've been discussed enough already that I think it's safe to say we'll all automatically understand the reasons behind the votes!

So, short and sweet, what do people use, and when? Remember, no reasons, just simple statements of what method we use! :)

I'll lead off:

As of very recently, I use CSS Positioning as much as possible, but still haven't totally eliminated the use of tables.

[LinuxGold]

Pure CSS. Boot camp.

[yowza]

I give the client a choice. I tell the client the repercussions of both choices and let her decide; although, I nearly always recommend a pure CSS layout Div layout.

[brucec]

Slowly getting away from tables and moving toward pure CSS-P and DIVs.

I am glad to see that I am not the only one. :)

[Bonusbana]

CSS as far as it goes

[KS_Katz]

CSS Design

Will do a duplicate table design in a /norobots/ directory (that's excludes robots in robots.txt) for old browsers if the client is concerned with browser compatability.

[vkaryl]

CSS - I'm reworking my last "table layout" site as we speak. Not going back....

[pageoneresults]

Usually CSS but will use tables where required. I'm still not up to speed on the more advanced use of CSS and trying to replicate tabular data in divs. I can make just about any html tag look like a table with a little bit of styling! ;)

A border here, a border there, some padding, a little margin, throw in some alternating background colors, text transformation, and I'm good to go.

[aeve]

Tables? Are those the things with columns and rows for price lists and stuff like that?

Adam

[seeber01]

full css with div's and external style sheet

[IONWeb]

ditto to seeber01 ;)

[normaldude]

HTML Tables.

Just like all the market leading websites like Yahoo, Ebay, Amazon, Google, Expedia, Dell, etc. Webmasterworld.com too.

[jusdrum]

CSS.

Unless I need a table.

I believe most sites like those mentioned above use tables because they have a huge investment in their site and they weren't hip to CSS when they started. IOW, converting to CSS would be a crippling cost.

[normaldude]

RE: "..converting to CSS would be a crippling cost."

All the websites I mentioned regularly overhaul the HTML layout of their pages. In fact, Google updated their layout just a few days ago.

[Wertigon]

CSS and divs whenever possible, so far I haven't felt the need to use tables even if I don't completely rule them out yet.

[SuzyUK]

>>for layout purposes

CSS-P mostly ... but also tables, whatever the client requires/requests really.

Suzy

[Moby_Dim]

Mixed.
I do not use a lot of grahics, and the layers tables are simple. If i need to show e.g. an image(s) on the top or.., I use CSS positioning. Thus spiders eat the text first, and all other stuff - second. No need to deny a thing (a method, an idea, etc.) completely I suppose.

[stever]

Mainly CSS-P on latest own and client sites - slowly updating old personal ones...

[Macro]

Tables, tables and tables.

I'm not a full time webmaster and I can't be bothered to spend time learning CSS. It's a complete waste (unless you build sites for a living of course).

[isitreal]

It's completely dictated by the design I have to work with. I use the tag that will take less time for me to get up and running as stably as possible, and that supports the design best. (looking forwards to future positioned div savy designers who will create a design for div/css specifically)

[mep00]

When I'm eating, I use a table since I can't figure out how to use CSS to position my plate. However, when it comes to Web pages, CSS all the way!

[BaseVinyl]

Tables all the way...these CSS cats are like the digital recording artists who don't understand the fact that a good song recorded on anolog is worth way more than 10 crappy songs recorded on digital. Sure there is less hiss on digital but explain that to the Robert Johnsons of the web! Tables rock and CSS is just a new way to present bad stuff faster. Your CSS rules diatribe is like saying that recording on 2 inch analog tape is too ancient to be viable. You can record all your "stuff" on CSS type digital but that doesn't make your technowebpage songs better or worse than a good webpagesong written by a poor snob with a guitar and a radio shack tape deck! Ok...I'm losing it!
:)

[DrDoc]

Just like all the market leading websites like Yahoo, Ebay, Amazon, Google, Expedia, Dell, etc. Webmasterworld.com too

I use CSS as much as possible, just like all the market leading Web sites above would've done if they were started today ;)

[mbcx9rvt]

CSS all the way. But I can understand the points raised above regarding the use of tables. My firm belief is that in the next few years certain large companies will get their act together and produce web browsers that are capable of interpreting CSS properly. So, if you like, I'm future-proofing myself. This said, table's are a great way to learn HTML as they give you a good solid base on the principles HTML uses. CSS can be a little tricky for a new starter.

mbcx9rvt

[Purple Martin]

CSS

[edit_g]

Haven't coded a table since early 2002. :)

[4eyes]

Mostly CSS, but sometimes use tables when it needs to work with NN4.*

Horses for courses.

[XtendScott]

How would pure CSS do a <TR onmouseover="this.className='m_over';" onmouseout="this.className='m_out';"> to highlight a row of data when they mouseover?

I love CSS but tables are also very useful and work without a "fix" for inconsistant CSS issues.

<after thinking a bit>
you could have hundreds of Divs and an outer Div to perform the mouseover effect, thus building a table from Divs. WHY?

[Purple Martin]

How would pure CSS do a <TR onmouseover="this.className='m_over';" onmouseout="this.className='m_out';"> to highlight a row of data when they mouseover?

I use a table for tabular data ;-) the poll is about what you use for layout.

[mep00]

to highlight a row of data when they mouseover

Of course you should use table mark-up for a table--who said otherwise? The question is about page layout, not tabular data layout.