Hi Jason asked about the 'helper text' on forms, what Twitter is using is an HTML5 feature known as 'placeholder text' which is intended as a guide to help users fill in forms. Have a read of http://www.whatwg.org/specs/web-apps/current-work/multipage/common-input-element-attributes.html#the-placeholder-attribute
It's not yet supported by all browsers (they know who they are!) but it's possible to detect if it is supported and then use jquery to provide a fallback. There's a tutorial on how to do this at http://webdesignerwall.com/tutorials/cross-browser-html5-placeholder-text <http://webdesignerwall.com/tutorials/cross-browser-html5-placeholder-text> HTH Cheers, Mick __ Pinnacle Web Design http://www.pinnaclewebdesign.co.uk | http://twitter.com/pinnacleweb On 22 April 2011 21:12, Donna Blumberg <[email protected]> wrote: > Here's an instructor's take on tables. > > I'm taking a level 2 web design class from the community college Visual > Communication Dept. The instructor clearly knows his stuff - we're learning > all about the web 2.0 design differences, using css frameworks and more. I > asked him when it's appropriate to use tables. I have a site that has > numerous pages with 2 columns of same-size photos with captions and used > tables to position the photos/captions because I didn't have the CSS > knowledge to do otherwise. > > When I asked him (and he saw the pages), he surprised me by saying that > using tables for that instance was fine. (I also now have a CSS book that > describes how to use css to position rows/columns of photos.) So I think the > general answer is to avoid tables when reasonably possible. Among other > issues, I've read that they take 2 "passes" to fully transmit the layout and > data..And there can be accessibility issues if they are not coded properly. > > Definitely avoid them for general layout, as you want to separate the data > and presentation whenever possible, especially given the variety of screen > widths across various devices such as computer monitors, tablets and all of > the mobile devices. Using CSS allows much more flexibility in your > presentation... and sometimes tables are the most appropriate answer. > > > > > > > On Fri, Apr 22, 2011 at 1:11 PM, buyz lots <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I would call those alerts :) but you are right, it can be done with >> onclick and using javascript to show the elements. As for tables, it just >> make sense to put a form in a table but it may have something to do with >> with ruby. Honestly, I really don't know though. >> >> On Apr 22, 2011, at 1:21 PM, Jason wrote: >> >> Hi there, >> >> I have a quick and simple terminology question. What is the name given to >> the "helper text" that I've seen on some websites alongside textboxes to >> help you fill them in? >> >> They are present at: https://twitter.com/signup and I presume it's just >> cleaver css possibly with some js thrown in. >> >> Secondly, I see twitter does this using tables - which everyone seems to >> hate for layout. What is a better way of doing this? I assume that you fire >> some javascript when the textbox is active etc. But how do you get the >> textbox styled and floating on the right? >> >> Cheers, >> J >> >> -- >> -- >> You received this because you are subscribed to the "Design the Web with >> CSS" at Google groups. >> To post: [email protected] >> To unsubscribe: [email protected] >> >> >> -- >> -- >> You received this because you are subscribed to the "Design the Web with >> CSS" at Google groups. >> To post: [email protected] >> To unsubscribe: [email protected] >> > > -- > -- > You received this because you are subscribed to the "Design the Web with > CSS" at Google groups. > To post: [email protected] > To unsubscribe: [email protected] > -- -- You received this because you are subscribed to the "Design the Web with CSS" at Google groups. To post: [email protected] To unsubscribe: [email protected]
