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HomeHomeOur CommunityOur CommunityGeneral Discuss...General Discuss...New! ZenCSS DNN skin - 7 colors skin packNew! ZenCSS DNN skin - 7 colors skin pack
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3/13/2008 12:48 PM
 

My opinnion is this: both div and table are html elements. Css is styling language for both div and table (and all other) html elements. You can also make the site structure with <ul><li> elements. I understand it is new religion among web developers to glorify div element above table, but that actually has nothing to do with css.

I prefer using divs instead of tables as well when it is possible. As I said in previous post (which is btw not yet published while i write this one) it is not a big problem to create a custom skin with div elements when the site structure and modules selection are known and final. The problem is to make a general purpose skin with divs, and that is because of variety of modules that could be later implemented in it. Our expirience has shown that tables are still better solution for that. We are hosting over 100 portals with more than 60 modules from various vendors installed on our DNN host server.

I would be really happy to see the example of pure div based DNN skin that works well in all browsers with many different modules, without JavaScript and hacks. If any of you could send me a link to it i would be grateful.

Quote: "well thats what a css file is for :)" - my point exactly.

If I took the name ZenDIV for my skin this conversation would make more sence, but as much as I know about zen and about css I still stand behind ZenCSS name for my skin.

Thank you for your feedback.

 
New Post
3/13/2008 8:01 PM
 

I think the skin is good.

In my view, pure css layout is a desirable technical ideal, but using tables where needed for solid cross browser and legacy browser support is a perfectly valid and realistic solution.

Having just wasted a week battling bugs and hacks for a ton of stupid browser problems (in all browsers btw), I have no issue at all with putting a table in place here and there.. it just works.

Rob

 
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3/14/2008 2:25 AM
 

Agree with Rob,

I used to have a CSS skin (DIV only, mind you). But after so many days hacking & fighting and fixing prolems that kept popping out until I got mad, I turned to use table instead. Table skin is much more solid and stable, and displays almost the same across browsers. However, I still mix some divs with tables in the skin. Will that be ok?

Duc

 

 

 
New Post
3/14/2008 5:11 AM
 

Interesting conversation indeed. Thank you all for the feedback and suggestions.

As usual, I would like to look at the issue from the business side of the story. So, let's analyze DNN skinning from that perspective:

What are our customers needs?

  • Simple, consistent, good looking, easy to maintain, cross-browser compatible, search engine friendly, highly customizable visual layout for DNN portal (a.k.a. DNN skin) at the lowest possible price.
  • Would they be interested in the skin structure at the tehnical level? I don't think so.
  • What would be the benefit for them from this or that approach? I don't see any.
  • Do we know what modules will our customer use and how are they structured? Definitely no.
  • Would our customer be disappointed if his or her site, after adding some third party or even some core modules suddenly become 10 000 px wide? You can bet on it.

What are our business needs?

  • Satisfied customer at the lowest possible cost.
  • Do we need a bug report and a free fix or customization request for each and every skin sold worldwide? Not for sure.
  • Would we have any real benefit of the fact other fellows DNNers recognize us as the gurus-look-what-we-can-masters? Maybe. Or maybe not. What do you think? 
  • Should I spend any more time on this elaboration? No, I belive things are clear enough from the business side of the story.

We could also discuss XHTML compliance, using stored procedures in SQL server, .NET vs Java, Windows vs Linux or any other IT "religious question".  
But we will not.
You know why?
Because we are dealing with informations rather than underlaying platforms, and with customer needs rather than buzzwords and fashion.

Have a nice weekend!

Hrvoje Komljenović


 
New Post
3/21/2008 7:10 AM
 

New ZenCSS Contaier Pack II (125 containers) is now released.

Check the DEMO site here.

Buy ZenCSS Container Pack 2 on Snowcovered.com

 
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HomeHomeOur CommunityOur CommunityGeneral Discuss...General Discuss...New! ZenCSS DNN skin - 7 colors skin packNew! ZenCSS DNN skin - 7 colors skin pack


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