Template will not hold structure

Question

I am trying to create a site template. I get the template the
way I want it using Layout tables and Layout cells. I can apply
text to the template and it looks good. I save the file, test and
everything is fine. I try to apply different data to the template
(this time there is more text) and it moves the navigation section
of my page when I test it. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks!
Tripp

Answer 1

Unfortunately, there's no quick or simple solution other than
to acquire
enough facility with HTML and HTML tables to be able to work
in Standard
View not Layout view.
In my opinion, there are three serious problems with Layout
Mode -
1. Perhaps most importantly, it sits between you and *real*
HTML tables,
and fools you into believing that concepts like "layout cell"
and
"autostretch" really mean something. They do not. As long as
you use
Layout Mode, you'll never learn one of the most important
things for new web
developers - how to build solid and reliable tables.
2. Actually, #1 wouldn't be *so* bad, except that the code
that is written
by Layout Mode is really poor code. For example, a layout
table contains
MANY empty rows of cells. This can contribute to a table's
instability.
In addition, if your initial positioning of the table's cells
is a bit
complex,
Layout Mode will throw in col- and rowspans aplenty as it
merges and splits
cells willy-nillly to achieve the pixel-perfect layout you
have specified.
Again,
this is an extremely poor method for building stable tables,
because it
allows
changes in one tiny cell's shape (i.e, dimensions) to ripple
through the
rest
of the table, usually with unexpected and sometimes
disastrous consequences.
This is one of the primary reasons for the final result's
fragility - read
this -
http://apptools.com/rants/spans.php
3. The UI for Layout Mode is beyond confusing - many options
that you might
want to use are inaccessible, e.g., inserting another table,
or layer onto
the page.
I can understand the new user's desire to use this tool to
make their life
easier,
but the cost is just too heavy in my opinion.
To make good tables, keep it simple. Put a table on the page,
and begin to
load your content. If you would want a different table
layout, instead of
merging or splitting cells, consider stacking tables or
nesting simple
tables instead, respectively.
And above all, do not try to build the whole page with a
single table!
To read more about this approach, visit the DW FAQ link in my
sig, and run
through the table tutorials.
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
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==================
"Mobjack7" <[email protected]> wrote in
message
news:[email protected]...
> Thanks for the fast response Walt. What would you
recommend as a work
> around for this? I have 2 sites I am currently working
on and need to
> find a solution ASAP.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Tripp