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Chapter 7: Style Sheet Fundamentals
Style Sheets, or more properly Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), are a method for specifying formatting in an HTML document. When you use CSS, you can avoid using most or all of the HTML tags and attributes that control formatting. Why would you want to do this--what's wrong with the formatting tags?
The main advantage of CSS is that it allows you to define the formatting of a Web page separately from the content of the Web page as I mentioned earlier. Let's look at an example. Suppose you wanted to define a special appearance for certain text in your Web pages: larger than normal text in the Bazooka font, blue. Using regular HTML tags you would do it like this:
<font size="4" face="Bazooka" color="blue">This the
text</font>
In fact you would have to use this <font> tag for each and every instance of text that you want formatted this way. So far, so good--but then suppose your boss decides that she really wants this text in Arial font, red. Guess what--you have to go through the entire page, and every page in the Website, and change each and every <font> tag. This is not cool!
But what if you had used a style to define this special text? Then you are in cool city! Here's what the style definition would look like:
.special { font-family: Bazooka; font-size: 14pt;
color: #0000FF; }
And here's how you would apply it to text:
<p class="special">This is the text</p>;
Here's what's important--to change the text all you need do is edit the style and the change will automatically be applied to every instance in the Website. Interested? Then read on.
CSS Versions
CSS comes in two versions. CSS Level 1 has been around since 1996 and presently enjoys wide browser support. CSS Level 1 includes styles for font formatting, text alignment, line spacing, and similar formatting tasks. CSS Level 2 has been available since 1998 but there is only limited support at present. Level 2 provides a lot more power, particularly when it
comes to positioning elements on the page. In fact, some people predict
that CSS Level 2 will eventually replace HTML tables for page layout. It's
possible, but I'm not holding my breath! Because CSS Level 1 support is
so widespread and Level 2 support is patchy at best, I will limit this
chapter to the most commonly needed formatting that is available in CSS
Level 1.
The Short Story
CoffeeCup Software started in a real Coffee House 1996. Our first program was the HTML Editor. Over the last 10 years we have created a lot more Web Design & Flash Software. Our philosophy has always been to create software and services so you can make better Websites. We are dedicated to helping you by offering extraordinary support so we can succeed together. Consider us a partner and a friend, because we really are about Fresh Software and Warm People.
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