Help With Various Dreamweaver Issues

Question

Dear Friends,
This is my first post and I appreciate any help any of you
can give me. My knowledge of web design is minimal, but I do have a
basic understanding. The fundamentals of HTML and web design as a
whole are pretty clear. My weakness, however, shows in the fine
detailed issues that come up throughout the course of designing a
website, and much of it may have to do with a lack of knowledge
with the software I'm using. I love Dreamweaver CS3. It's an
excellent program. I'm totally hooked!
I'm in the process of building a website for a friend who
owns a retail gift store. The site has a total of 41 pages. The URL
is
http://www.southerncharmgifts.net
It has taken me over a month to get this site to the place
where it is now. I've learned a TON about web design, CSS, and the
Dreamweaver program itself. I've been able to work through many of
the issues I've had, but I'm stuck on a few things:
1.
Browser Issues.
I've found it hard to sync the content between browsers:
namely IE and Firefox.
For example:
In IE the sub-menus wrap (as I want them to), but in Firefox
they do not. But in Firefox the sub-menu
box borders are visible (vertical menus), even though the
text doesn't wrap, but it's obviously in the dimensions that are
seen in IE.
In Firefox, the sub-menus are too far from the parent. It
looks bad. But they are perfect in IE.
The background image is centered in IE between the menus and
adverts, but not in Firefox. How do I get the background image to
remain between the menus and adverts? (Note: There is no background
on the home page. Also, wider screens seem to move the background
in IE, too.)
In the horizontal menu "Category" the sub-menu item "Babies"
cannot be selected in Firefox. In IE it works.
There are gaps between items in the horizontal sub-menu. It
appears to be related to items not wrapping, but it doesn't seem
that enlarging the sub-menu box causes the item to not wrap. For
example, under "Category" "Candles & Fragrances" is wrapped and
it seems to be the reason why there is a large gap between "Babies"
and "Eyewear." If I can find a way to get Candles & Fragrances
to NOT wrap it might remove the gap.
2. CSS Issue.
I can't find a way to have the sub-menu hover
underline instead of highlight the items. I want it to
underline.
3. "False" Issue.
In the
vertical sub-menu "by CATEGORY" the word "false" shows up
just below the word "Babies." (It's hard to see, but it's there.)
THANKS!!

Answer 1

> In the limited research and reading I've done in the
last few
> years I've never heard anyone say this about APdivs.
Your limited research has failed to uncover the essence of
proper technique
in creating web pages. Layers are NOT a general layout tool
and will cause
you much more grief than you ever imagined. Here's one big
reason -
http://www.great-web-sights.com/g_layer-overlap.asp
> divs/layers are an excellent tool in Dreamweaver
They are, but only for specialty applications.
> "Is this true or is this
> bregent's personal opinion?"
It is my personal opinion based on seeing hundreds (if not
thousands) of new
users throw themselves on their swords as a result of having
committed to
pages built with layers, on this very forum.
> Starting over from
> scratch isn't an option and the owner of the website
likes my work.
Starting over from scratch need not involve a redesign of the
graphics. But
on a site built from layers, it would certainly involve a
rethinking of the
layout method. Read this -
http://apptools.com/examples/pagelayout101.php
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
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"Mark 8:36" <[email protected]> wrote in
message
news:[email protected]...
>
quote:
Originally posted by:
bregent
> >I'm in the process of building a website for a
friend who owns a retail
> >gift
> store.
> >The site has a total of 41 pages. The URL is
> >
http://www.southerncharmgifts.net
>
> It is unfortunate that you started working on a
production site without
> first
> having a grasp of the techniques and tools required. You
wouldn't start
> building cabinets until you had a basic knowledge and
experience with wood
> and
> woodworking tools, or you'd end up with a large pile of
sawdust. And
> unfortunately that's where you are heading with this
site. You've made the
> basic mistake of laying out the site using AP divs. AP
Divs should be used
> rarely if ever, and only for special purposed. They are
not a primary
> layout
> tool. Honestly, I would start over from scratch. But
first, spend the next
> few
> weeks or months learning proper layout techniques and
working through
> tutorials
> before actually starting on a production site. Good
luck.
>
> Ok, forgive me for doubting what you said here, but this
is the first I've
> heard of this. In the limited research and reading I've
done in the last
> few
> years I've never heard anyone say this about APdivs.
Because I think
> divs/layers are an excellent tool in Dreamweaver. And
with the exception
> of my
> background image problem, which probably can be fixed by
changing the
> perameters, the only problems with the website are the
menus. Everything
> else
> looks good on both IE and Firefox.
>
> So my question for the rest of the forum is: "Is this
true or is this
> bregent's personal opinion?" No offense meant bregent,
but equating a
> months+
> worth of extremely hard work to sawdust is rather
disturbing. I just want
> to
> make sure what you're saying is the general consensus
before I take this
> too
> seriously.
>
> Thanks for your input, though. I appreciate your
honesty. Starting over
> from
> scratch isn't an option and the owner of the website
likes my work. But
> I'll
> keep these things in mind for the future. Take care.
>
>