The next meeting of the PACS CSS Workshop will be this Saturday, February 23, at 9 am. Our topic this month will be styling forms. We covered this subject in Web Design SIG some time ago, and I have some additional examples to demonstrate. We will be looking to use CSS to make forms more usable for visitors, not just style for its own sake.
The Javascript Workshop is on hiatus this month, so we can go overtime and split that 10-11 hour with Flash. That will give us plenty of time to finish this topic, and then we can try some Q&A or I can show what I am doing with Macromedia Contribute as I try to move some work off to other people.
February 20, 2008
February 02, 2008
Online CSS Reference from SitePoint
SitePoint recently sent me a link to a site called CSS Reference. As they describe it:
In this free online reference, the entire CSS language is clearly
and concisely explained, including browser compatibility, working
examples, and easy-to-read descriptions.
The reference has been written by two of the world's most renowned
CSS experts -- Tommy Olsson and Paul O'Brien -- so you know it's
accurate, up to date, and best practice.
In this free online reference, the entire CSS language is clearly
and concisely explained, including browser compatibility, working
examples, and easy-to-read descriptions.
The reference has been written by two of the world's most renowned
CSS experts -- Tommy Olsson and Paul O'Brien -- so you know it's
accurate, up to date, and best practice.
January 28, 2008
Web Developer Position in Philadelphia Area
This job opening was sent to me from a recruiter whose client, located north of Philadelphia, PA, is a rapidly growing global leader in the e-commerce industry.
The Senior Web Developer II will be act as a liaison for communication
between the Creative and Engineering teams including Graphic Designers,
Marketing Groups, Information Architects, as well as Project Management
Teams. An extensive background with JSP is vital to this position as well
as experience with: HTML, CSS, XML, and Java Script.
Requirements:
2-3 years demonstrated development experience with HTML, CSS, JSP, and
JavaScript.
Proficient with XML.
Fluent in a code-based code editor (such as Macromedia HomeSite).
Proficient with Adobe Photoshop or Fireworks, and in image optimization
techniques
Understanding of browser capabilities and design constraints on the web.
Demonstrable experience managing multiple projects on tight schedules.
Ability to demonstrate previous work via URLs.
Contact:
Christopher Corso
Evolution Staffing
215-922-6263
The Senior Web Developer II will be act as a liaison for communication
between the Creative and Engineering teams including Graphic Designers,
Marketing Groups, Information Architects, as well as Project Management
Teams. An extensive background with JSP is vital to this position as well
as experience with: HTML, CSS, XML, and Java Script.
Requirements:
2-3 years demonstrated development experience with HTML, CSS, JSP, and
JavaScript.
Proficient with XML.
Fluent in a code-based code editor (such as Macromedia HomeSite).
Proficient with Adobe Photoshop or Fireworks, and in image optimization
techniques
Understanding of browser capabilities and design constraints on the web.
Demonstrable experience managing multiple projects on tight schedules.
Ability to demonstrate previous work via URLs.
Contact:
Christopher Corso
Evolution Staffing
215-922-6263
January 26, 2008
January 26 Meeting Report:
Rounded Corners
At our January meeting, we looked at creating rounded corners on boxes using CSS. We looked at small boxes and then full page layouts, both fixed-width and fluid width.
With table based layouts, we made rounded corners by putting curved images in the cells at the four corners of the table. CSS uses the same concept, but the images are backgrounds to the elements of the HTML. For fixed-width boxes, you just need an image with round edges at the top and one at the bottom. For fluid width, there has to be quarter-circle graphics at the four corners in order to allow expansion horizontally.
There are tons of techniques for creating rounded corners. We used examples from The Art & Science of CSS from Sitepoint, http://www.sitepoint.com/books/cssdesign1/, but a search for “rounded corners CSS” will reveal a lot of examples. Some use JavaScript instead of pure CSS. A couple of sites to look at are:
25 Rounded Corner Techniques,
http://www.cssjuice.com/25-rounded-corners-techniques-with-css/
Smiley Cat Web Design,
http://www.smileycat.com/miaow/archives/000044.php
CSSplay, http://www.cssplay.co.uk/boxes/three_cornered.html
And if you don’t want to create your own graphics, try the Rounded Corner and Gradient Generator: http://www.roundedcornr.com/
CSS3 will make the use of images unnecessary because it will include the property “border-radius.” Browsers don’t currently support this property, but in Safari and the Mozilla browsers, there are commands that will let you use border-radius. See these sites:
CSS rounded corners without images - Arve Bersvendsen, http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2004/11/imageless-rounded-corners
CSS3.info, http://www.css3.info/preview/rounded-border/
With table based layouts, we made rounded corners by putting curved images in the cells at the four corners of the table. CSS uses the same concept, but the images are backgrounds to the elements of the HTML. For fixed-width boxes, you just need an image with round edges at the top and one at the bottom. For fluid width, there has to be quarter-circle graphics at the four corners in order to allow expansion horizontally.
There are tons of techniques for creating rounded corners. We used examples from The Art & Science of CSS from Sitepoint, http://www.sitepoint.com/books/cssdesign1/, but a search for “rounded corners CSS” will reveal a lot of examples. Some use JavaScript instead of pure CSS. A couple of sites to look at are:
25 Rounded Corner Techniques,
http://www.cssjuice.com/25-rounded-corners-techniques-with-css/
Smiley Cat Web Design,
http://www.smileycat.com/miaow/archives/000044.php
CSSplay, http://www.cssplay.co.uk/boxes/three_cornered.html
And if you don’t want to create your own graphics, try the Rounded Corner and Gradient Generator: http://www.roundedcornr.com/
CSS3 will make the use of images unnecessary because it will include the property “border-radius.” Browsers don’t currently support this property, but in Safari and the Mozilla browsers, there are commands that will let you use border-radius. See these sites:
CSS rounded corners without images - Arve Bersvendsen, http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2004/11/imageless-rounded-corners
CSS3.info, http://www.css3.info/preview/rounded-border/
January 23, 2008
January 26 Meeting Announcement
The next meeting of the PACS CSS Workshop will be this Saturday, January 26, at 9 to 10 am.
This month, we will talk about using CSS to make rounded corners. If you look at any current website, you can see that the old boxy layouts have often given way to rounder looks. It's not just for looks, though. Varying the style of elements on a page can help draw attention to those elements, and there is something visually comfortable about a softer looking page.
There are actually many techniques for making rounded corners. We will cover the basics and show some easy, cross-browser options that work on fixed-width and flexible boxes.
We will of course have the usual lineup of web-related meetings, and we should have a book or two to raffle off during the day.
This month, we will talk about using CSS to make rounded corners. If you look at any current website, you can see that the old boxy layouts have often given way to rounder looks. It's not just for looks, though. Varying the style of elements on a page can help draw attention to those elements, and there is something visually comfortable about a softer looking page.
There are actually many techniques for making rounded corners. We will cover the basics and show some easy, cross-browser options that work on fixed-width and flexible boxes.
We will of course have the usual lineup of web-related meetings, and we should have a book or two to raffle off during the day.
January 11, 2008
FeedDemon RSS reader is now free
FeedDemon is an excellent RSS reader that is written by Nick Bradbury, the talented developer who also created the TopStyle web editor. Bradbury's products are published by NewsGator, which announced this week that FeedDemon and several other products in its RSS Web 2.0 Suite for Individuals are now free. Check out FeedDemon, and be sure subscribe to CSS Workshop site's RSS feed.
December 30, 2007
End of Support for Netscape web browsers - The Netscape Blog
I can't help blogging this news from Netscape. I was surprised when version 8 of the Netscape browser came out because I thought all of Netscape's browser development had been turned over to the Mozilla Foundation. Version 8 was neat, though. It let you switch between the Firefox engine and the IE engine, so in one browser, you could check how a page would look in those two browsers. Version 9 removed that feature, so I really did not see a reason to use Netscape over Firefox. And I guess few others did either.
Still, the end brings back memories of the excitement of the early days of public access to the Internet. Netscape was not only significant for bringing graphical browsing to the public, it was also the beginning of the tech boom of the 90's. The Netscape IPO was the start of the idea that there was a ton of money to be made by financing Internet applications. I remember seeing Marc Andreessen being interviewed the morning of the initial offering after he had just become a multi-millionaire, or maybe a billionaire.
The thing about Netscape that scared Microsoft was the idea of the browser as a platform for applications, making the operating system irrelevant. That idea is still being pursued. One can only wonder what might have developed if Netscape could have maintained its market share and stayed independent instead of being subsumed into AOL.
Still, the end brings back memories of the excitement of the early days of public access to the Internet. Netscape was not only significant for bringing graphical browsing to the public, it was also the beginning of the tech boom of the 90's. The Netscape IPO was the start of the idea that there was a ton of money to be made by financing Internet applications. I remember seeing Marc Andreessen being interviewed the morning of the initial offering after he had just become a multi-millionaire, or maybe a billionaire.
The thing about Netscape that scared Microsoft was the idea of the browser as a platform for applications, making the operating system irrelevant. That idea is still being pursued. One can only wonder what might have developed if Netscape could have maintained its market share and stayed independent instead of being subsumed into AOL.
December 23, 2007
January Meeting Rescheduled
Please note that due to a scheduling conflict at the school where PACS meets, the January meeting will be held on Saturday the 26th, one week later than previously scheduled.
December 13, 2007
December 15 Meeting Announcement
The next session of the PACS CSS Workshop will be this Saturday, December 15, at 9 - 10 am.
We finished up on styling tables at the last meeting. This month, the topic is IE Hacks. I will use an example that I picked up at a seminar to show a couple of problems with Internet Explorer when it comes to positioning elements using CSS. I thought the presentation was a good overview of a subject that I keep hearing about but never really had a good handle on.
See you Saturday.
We finished up on styling tables at the last meeting. This month, the topic is IE Hacks. I will use an example that I picked up at a seminar to show a couple of problems with Internet Explorer when it comes to positioning elements using CSS. I thought the presentation was a good overview of a subject that I keep hearing about but never really had a good handle on.
See you Saturday.
December 09, 2007
Bookmarklets, Links and Favelets for the Busy Webdeveloper | saulrosenbaum.com
Saul Rosenbaum is a frequent guest speaker at the PACS Web Design SIG. He will in fact join us at the December 15 meeting.
Saul showed us a number of interesting online utilities and resources when we was last with us, and he was good enough to share with me his list of Bookmarklets, Links and Favelets for the Busy Webdeveloper. Some of these he demonstrated at our meeting, and all of them will give you great ideas and save you lots of time and effort.
Thanks, Saul.
Saul showed us a number of interesting online utilities and resources when we was last with us, and he was good enough to share with me his list of Bookmarklets, Links and Favelets for the Busy Webdeveloper. Some of these he demonstrated at our meeting, and all of them will give you great ideas and save you lots of time and effort.
Thanks, Saul.
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