font size=" -1",,no showing as small text in IE6

small text showing large in version of IE6

[Roly]

Hi,
I have set the font size to -1 on my website, and thought all was well. Been very pleased with my little site.I have IE6 (version 6.0.2800).

However I viewed the website on a friends PC, he has IE6 (version 6.0.2900) and his browser shows the text size to be much bigger,, even though the size is "-1". As a result this messes up my site viewed on his PC.

Does anyone know about this strange indescrepency. It`s not just on my site- any site(e.g: www.google.com) with -1 font size shows large font on his browser (when obviously we are after small text setting it at -1).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards from Roland

[bondjamesbond]

Well it could be possible that he has his text size setting at "Large" on IE. I think the default text size is Medium on IE which is probably the size you are looking at your site in. This is the default setting on IE so the majority of people do have it set on Medium. If this is the case then there is nothing you can do as it is up to the individual user to decide what size text they want. Just try to make the site as flexible as possible to accomdate it.

[jbinbpt]

Hello Roly,
Welcome to Webmaster World.

For Starters, I would look at at the text size setting in IE.
View -> Text Size->
and compare to your settings. I have mine set to smaller. I believe that it the default.

jb

<added> opps..</added>

[edited by: jbinbpt at 9:32 am (utc) on Jan. 9, 2004]

[thehittmann]

why don't you force the size of the text by specifying the size in pixels

[bondjamesbond]

Thats a bad idea. By forcing users to see a certain text size you are doing just that - forcing the user. This is bad design and also very poor accessiblity. If a visually impaired user, or someone who just cant read your text comes to the site and can't make it bigger (or smaller) then they will just go to another site where the text can be changed.

Of course people who use anything but IE can rescale text even if specifed in pixels so by forcing text size in pixels just so your layout doesn't break is bad design.

[thehittmann]

yes i know that its not a good idea. If he wants everyone to see the same thing he's either gotta force the size, or think about re-designing his site layout.

[Roly]

Thamks very much that`s helpful

Regards Roly

[DrDoc]

And... while we're at it -- ditch the <font> tags. :)

[grahamstewart]

Seconded... <font> is deprecated. Either use the <small> tag or even better come on over to the CSS forum and we'll show you how to do it all 'properly'*

*the term 'properly' implies a modern method, rather than one from the late 80's. :)

[tedster]

Another factor can force font sizes bigger than you expect - the Control Panel advanced setting for "system fonts".

Last year I noticed several notebook computers arriving from the store with system fonts set to "large" instead of the much more widely seen "small". Even though the browser font itself is "controlled" the system font setting still may over-ride.

Flexibility in layout is the key for more universal success.