RE: [WSG] A discussion leads to an idea - Dynamic CSS!
Toying with some Content management systems like phpNuke once, I think the stylesheets are dynamic... ByteDreams -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of theGrafixGuy Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 4:21 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [WSG] A discussion leads to an idea - Dynamic CSS! I met with a programmer today to actually discuss the idea of a Portland, Oregon based WSG - he likes the idea and will talk to others about the idea. However, during our ongoing 3 hour conversation over a few pints, the discussion eventually moved from WSG to web design and then to experimental design. Then an interesting idea hit the table, what is to prevent a person from creating a dynamic stylesheet. Has anyone ever toyed with this idea before and if so what were the results??? Brian * The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list getting help * * The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list getting help *
Re: [WSG] A discussion leads to an idea - Dynamic CSS!
Whilst it is a limited system, the benefits are good and it doesn't have any of the downsides that others have mentioned so far. I may have read the original post wrong, but I think the concept was generating CSS on the fly to tailor a page. In this case, it would probably be better to embed the CSS into the actual page. I have found that some browsers will cache a CSS include which would preclude you just generating a CSS file each time. However, you can reference any normal URL (including a server-side script) to get the CSS (as long as your headers are correct) and you can then tailor the caching in the header returned. Having said all of that, the issues that others have raised in terms of the benefits of caching CSS on the client machine apply. But, if you wanted it to be dynamic then, by definition, you DONT want it to be cached on the client machine - because it may not be the same the next time. You still can separate the CSS from the content though, using server-side scripting. Gary Menzel Web Development Manager IT Operations Brisbane -+- ABN AMRO Morgans Limited Level 29, 123 Eagle Street BRISBANE QLD 4000 PH: 07 333 44 828 FX: 07 3834 0828 To unsubscribe from this email please forward this email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] If this communication is not intended for you and you are not an authorised recipient of this email you are prohibited by law from dealing with or relying on the email or any file attachments. This prohibition includes reading, printing, copying, re-transmitting, disseminating, storing or in any other way dealing or acting in reliance on the information. If you have received this email in error, we request you contact ABN AMRO Morgans Limited immediately by returning the email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and destroy the original. We will refund any reasonable costs associated with notifying ABN AMRO Morgans. This email is confidential and may contain privileged client information. ABN AMRO Morgans has taken reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy and integrity of all its communications, including electronic communications, but accepts no liability for materials transmitted. Materials may also be transmitted without the knowledge of ABN AMRO Morgans. ABN AMRO Morgans Limited its directors and employees do not accept liability for the results of any actions taken or not on the basis of the information in this report. ABN AMRO Morgans Limited and its associates hold or may hold securities in the companies/trusts mentioned herein. Any recommendation is made on the basis of our research of the investment and may not suit the specific requirements of clients. Assessments of suitability to an individual?s portfolio can only be made after an examination of the particular client?s investments, financial circumstances and requirements. ABN AMRO Morgans Limited (ABN 49 010 669 726 AFSL 235410) A Participant of ASX Group * The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list getting help *
Re: [WSG] A discussion leads to an idea - Dynamic CSS!
On 23/04/2004, at 7:20 PM, theGrafixGuy wrote:
I met with a programmer today to actually discuss the idea of a
Portland,
Oregon based WSG - he likes the idea and will talk to others about the
idea.
However, during our ongoing 3 hour conversation over a few pints, the
discussion eventually moved from WSG to web design and then to
experimental
design.
Then an interesting idea hit the table, what is to prevent a person
from
creating a dynamic stylesheet.
Has anyone ever toyed with this idea before and if so what were the
results???
It depends on your definition of dynamic... I've built PHP-driven
stylesheets to serve a stylesheet customised to the browser or user,
but I was concerned about the caching which:
- if it cached, wouldn't be dynamic
- if it didn't cache, would cost bandwidth and performance
It enabled me to do really simple stuff, like store my colour pallet in
PHP variables, allowing for hassle free redesigns and tweaking (body {
background-color: ?=$col1?; ? for example). And more complicated
stuff like testing for certain user-agent strings for tweaking, or even
user-preference based style-sheets and style-sheets to reflect the time
of day, or the weather, or whatever else... the guts of the problem
(which I haven't properly investigated) was caching...
I think a more realistic option would be using PHP to dynamically
*link* to an appropriate STATIC style-sheet (eg ie6.css, or
nighttime.css or winter.css), which would still allow full caching by
the browser.
Now, since I just had my wisdom teeth out last night, I should go back
to the couch :)
---
Justin French
http://indent.com.au
*
The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/
See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm
for some hints on posting to the list getting help
*
Re: [WSG] A discussion leads to an idea - Dynamic CSS!
Then an interesting idea hit the table, what is to prevent a person from creating a dynamic stylesheet. Has anyone ever toyed with this idea before and if so what were the results??? I use code to rewrite my CSS. That way a site admin can choose a different option for layout or colours or whatever. The code rewrites the relevant CSS file(s) and the site changes as per the admin's intent. Whilst it is a limited system, the benefits are good and it doesn't have any of the downsides that others have mentioned so far. Works well for me! Cheers, Lachlan Hardy * The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list getting help *
RE: [WSG] A discussion leads to an idea - Dynamic CSS!
Has anyone ever toyed with this idea before and if so what were the results??? I'm amazed how people seem to suddenly get this A-HA! moment. In the last few months I've read various forum discussions, blog entries and articles about wouldn't it be great to create your CSS via PHP/ASP/etc? I did something like this about 4 years ago. It worked pretty fine, but the main problem is that you risk putting extra strain on the server, as the dynamic stylesheet needs to be created at every single request, and can't be cached on the user's machine. So any bandwidth-saving benefits that the separation of content and presentation might have go up in smoke. You can limit the damage slightly by having a main, static stylesheet that contains the bulk of styling and can be cached, and a second minimal one for the few dynamic properties you want to have. At least this way only the small one needs to be generated and sent to the browser. Patrick Patrick H. Lauke Webmaster External Relations Division Faraday House University of Salford Greater Manchester M5 4WT Tel: +44 (0) 161 295 4779 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] webteam: [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.salford.ac.uk A GREATER MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY * The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list getting help *
Re: [WSG] A discussion leads to an idea - Dynamic CSS!
El vie, 23-04-2004 a las 11:20, theGrafixGuy escribió: Has anyone ever toyed with this idea before and if so what were the results??? Oh, yes. Some fine samples: http://1976design.com/blog/archive/2004/02/03/php-dynamic-css/ http://richardathome.no-ip.com/index.php?article_id=106 -- Manuel González Noriega Simplelógica, construcción web URL: http://simplelogica.net EMAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED] TELEFONO: (+34) 985 22 12 65 Logicola es el weblog de Simplelógica http://simplelogica.net/logicola/ /pThat's right. We said Frontpage./p * The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list getting help *
