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1. Re: Positioning text layers in the center
Newsgroup_User May 10, 2008 11:39 AM (in response to NoLongerStuckInVirginia)You have made the classic 'beginner' mistakes in approach:
1. Using absolute positioning as a primary layout method
2. Positioning text over an image and expecting it to 'work' (consider what
happens when someone resizes their text)
> Does anyone have any
> idea how I can solve this problem, that is, I think, how I can make the
> positioning of a text layer relative to the center of the browser page?
It would just require that you understand how positioning works.
Change this -
</head>
to this -
<style type="text/css">
<!--
body { text-align:center; }
#wrapper { text-align:left; width:760px; margin:0 auto;position:relative; }
/* 760px will display on an 800px screen maximized browser window without */
/* horizontal scrollbars. */
-->
</style>
</head>
change this -
<body ...>
(the ellipsis represents any other attributes that might be mentioned in the
body tag, and SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED EXPLICITLY!)
to this -
<body ...>
<div id="wrapper">
and this -
</body>
to this -
<!-- /wrapper -->
</div>
</body>
and see if that helps.
--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
==================
"ObamasMama" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:g04f57$4uo$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> I'm working with a web page formed with a sliced Photoshop file. I want
> to add
> a text field over the Photoshop image (which serves as a background for
> the
> text). The image is about 800x700 pixels and it is positioned to always
> be in
> the center of the browser. Using Dreamweaver to position a text layer
> over the
> image, I can see it being positioned over the image in design view, and it
> looks like it is exactly where I want it. However, when I view the page
> in a
> browser (FF or IE) the html coding for the layer position it relative to
> the
> left hand side of the browser window so it does not appear over the image
> where
> it should be. I can't find or figure out how to change the html code or
> tags
> for the layer to make it position the text over the image -- that is
> centered
> (or relative to the center) of the browser page like the image is. There
> seems
> to be nothing in Dreamweaver to do this. Nothing in the properties panel
> for
> the layer that deals with positioning, other than simple x, y position
> (which
> always seems to be relative to the left of the page). Does anyone have
> any
> idea how I can solve this problem, that is, I think, how I can make the
> positioning of a text layer relative to the center of the browser page?
>
-
2. Re: Positioning text layers in the center
NoLongerStuckInVirginia May 10, 2008 12:21 PM (in response to NoLongerStuckInVirginia)Thanks. I'll give it a try. I knew that it was using "Absolute" positioning, but just couldn't figure out, or find out, how to fix it. (Not only how to get fix it within Dreamweaver's functionailty, but also how I could fix it in the code.)
Perhaps this is something Macromedia/Adobe has or will consider upgrading in future versions of Dreamweaver (I still have only the "MX" 2004 version). -
3. Re: Positioning text layers in the center
Newsgroup_User May 10, 2008 12:37 PM (in response to NoLongerStuckInVirginia)> Perhaps this is something Macromedia/Adobe has or will consider upgrading
> in
> future versions of Dreamweaver (I still have only the "MX" 2004 version).
This is a "your brain" thing, not a DW thing. There would be nothing for
Adobe to fix in DW.
--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
==================
"ObamasMama" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:g04skk$hkj$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Thanks. I'll give it a try. I knew that it was using "Absolute"
> positioning,
> but just couldn't figure out, or find out, how to fix it. (Not only how
> to get
> fix it within Dreamweaver's functionailty, but also how I could fix it in
> the
> code.)
>
> Perhaps this is something Macromedia/Adobe has or will consider upgrading
> in
> future versions of Dreamweaver (I still have only the "MX" 2004 version).
>
-
4. Re: Positioning text layers in the center
NoLongerStuckInVirginia May 10, 2008 3:48 PM (in response to NoLongerStuckInVirginia)So, let me understand, there is a way to add a text layer in Dreamweaver, but no way to properly position that layer in all situations (like mine, for instance)?? In design view, Dreamweaver shows the layers as properly positioned, but in fact, it is not, and there is no way in Dreamweaver to correct it, except for manually editing the incorrect code that Dreamweaver put in to being with.
Or am I wrong, and there really is a way to do this simply with Dreamweaver -- a way after searching through every bit of the program that I could not find. If so, please point it out to me.
I may not be an "expert" at this, but I recognize and issue and logical flaw when I see one. Maybe this isn't a problem with later versions of Dreamweaver or a problem with "experts' who can manually code everything, but it certainly is an "issue" in the 2004 version, and perhaps for us ordinary folk who use Dreamweaver to help us get the job done without having to manually code everything (which is, of course, why Dreamweaver exists). -
5. Re: Positioning text layers in the center
Newsgroup_User May 10, 2008 6:16 PM (in response to NoLongerStuckInVirginia)>perhaps for us ordinary folk who use
> Dreamweaver to help us get the job done without having to manually code
> everything (which is, of course, why Dreamweaver exists).
I am sorry but that is a faulty premise. DW is NOT a WSYWIG, drag & drop, No
Coding Needed app. It is an advanced HTML+ editor with a multitude of
features that simplify constructing a web page. But DW expects you to
understand the code it writes for you unless you are willing to settle for
the simplest of pages and will forego a lot of detail level control.
--
Walt
"ObamasMama" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:g058of$t1k$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> So, let me understand, there is a way to add a text layer in Dreamweaver,
> but
> no way to properly position that layer in all situations (like mine, for
> instance)?? In design view, Dreamweaver shows the layers as properly
> positioned, but in fact, it is not, and there is no way in Dreamweaver to
> correct it, except for manually editing the incorrect code that
> Dreamweaver put
> in to being with.
>
> Or am I wrong, and there really is a way to do this simply with
> Dreamweaver
> -- a way after searching through every bit of the program that I could not
> find. If so, please point it out to me.
>
> I may not be an "expert" at this, but I recognize and issue and logical
> flaw
> when I see one. Maybe this isn't a problem with later versions of
> Dreamweaver
> or a problem with "experts' who can manually code everything, but it
> certainly
> is an "issue" in the 2004 version, and perhaps for us ordinary folk who
> use
> Dreamweaver to help us get the job done without having to manually code
> everything (which is, of course, why Dreamweaver exists).
>
>
-
6. Re: Positioning text layers in the center
Newsgroup_User May 11, 2008 6:56 AM (in response to NoLongerStuckInVirginia)> So, let me understand, there is a way to add a text layer in Dreamweaver,
> but
> no way to properly position that layer in all situations (like mine, for
> instance)??
Of course there is. I just showed you how to do it. But there's no way to
do it without understanding how (i.e., by being moderately competent in HTML
and CSS).
> In design view, Dreamweaver shows the layers as properly
> positioned, but in fact, it is not, and there is no way in Dreamweaver to
> correct it, except for manually editing the incorrect code that
> Dreamweaver put
> in to being with.
DW's code is not incorrect. It validates, and it's what it should be. DW is
showing the layers WHERE YOU PUT THEM. It cannot tap you on the shoulder
and say "Psst - this is where that layer will be in ANY width browser
viewport, since it is absolutely positioned, and you have not built the page
to leverage that into a centering frame of reference for the position
offset".
> Maybe this isn't a problem with later versions of Dreamweaver
It is a problem that's caused by the operator's unfamiliarity with the
technology being used.
> Dreamweaver to help us get the job done without having to manually code
> everything (which is, of course, why Dreamweaver exists).
And it does that well. But it cannot do the "DO WHAT I MEAN, NOT WHAT I
SAY" part.
--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
==================
"ObamasMama" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:g058of$t1k$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> So, let me understand, there is a way to add a text layer in Dreamweaver,
> but
> no way to properly position that layer in all situations (like mine, for
> instance)?? In design view, Dreamweaver shows the layers as properly
> positioned, but in fact, it is not, and there is no way in Dreamweaver to
> correct it, except for manually editing the incorrect code that
> Dreamweaver put
> in to being with.
>
> Or am I wrong, and there really is a way to do this simply with
> Dreamweaver
> -- a way after searching through every bit of the program that I could not
> find. If so, please point it out to me.
>
> I may not be an "expert" at this, but I recognize and issue and logical
> flaw
> when I see one. Maybe this isn't a problem with later versions of
> Dreamweaver
> or a problem with "experts' who can manually code everything, but it
> certainly
> is an "issue" in the 2004 version, and perhaps for us ordinary folk who
> use
> Dreamweaver to help us get the job done without having to manually code
> everything (which is, of course, why Dreamweaver exists).
>
>
-
7. Re: Positioning text layers in the center
NoLongerStuckInVirginia May 11, 2008 7:50 AM (in response to NoLongerStuckInVirginia)I disagree and you are missing the point. I put the text layer where I wanted it. Dreamweaver lets you do this visually. Dreamweaver then takes what you did and assigns code to it. It assigned the wrong code, and there was no way to tell it how to do it right (it could be a simple as adding an input selection to the properties box, or even just having the software look at the code for the image you just put the layer on top of.) If you place something on top of an image of anything else, it should code that layer relative to that image (or to the positioning of that image), and not to page, and not position it in a way that ignores where you placed it (and not having anything that describes what it is doing with this feature -- you have to learn that Dreamweaver won't do what you logically expect it to do by trial and error.
It is indeed a matter of the software not doing what I said -- and the software not doing what the software said it would do. What I meant was exactly what I said, and I used the facility in the software exactly as described. And nothing in the Dreamweaver's help and tutorials suggested that the software would do anything but what I said by placing the layer where I want it.
It is an oversight, at the very least. I've seen and used a lot of software in my day and I know a software issue when I see one. This is something that Adobe can address if only for convenience sake. I doesn't have to be the way it is. Using the software interface as is and as intended, the actual function of this facility is not intuitive or consistent, and nor does it fit what you would logically expect, and not adequately supported in the software help files.
Dreamweaver is generally speaking a great piece of software and have used it now for 4 years. It is complex and it is easy to see how something like this can fall through the cracks. It is minor and easy to fix to make your users' lives easier, and save them a lot of time and frustration. Merely denying that there is an issue and claiming that the user "just doesn't understand" is arrogant and not helpful, and ignores the way a large portion of users use the software -- by following the software instructions and guidance. -
8. Re: Positioning text layers in the center
Newsgroup_User May 11, 2008 8:51 AM (in response to NoLongerStuckInVirginia)Disagree all you want.
--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
==================
"ObamasMama" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:g0714a$o30$1@forums.macromedia.com...
>I disagree and you are missing the point. I put the text layer where I
>wanted
> it. Dreamweaver lets you do this visually. Dreamweaver then takes what
> you
> did and assigns code to it. It assigned the wrong code, and there was no
> way
> to tell it how to do it right (it could be a simple as adding an input
> selection to the properties box, or even just having the software look at
> the
> code for the image you just put the layer on top of.) If you place
> something
> on top of an image of anything else, it should code that layer relative to
> that
> image (or to the positioning of that image), and not to page, and not
> position
> it in a way that ignores where you placed it (and not having anything that
> describes what it is doing with this feature -- you have to learn that
> Dreamweaver won't do what you logically expect it to do by trial and
> error.
>
> It is indeed a matter of the software not doing what I said -- and the
> software not doing what the software said it would do. What I meant was
> exactly what I said, and I used the facility in the software exactly as
> described. And nothing in the Dreamweaver's help and tutorials suggested
> that
> the software would do anything but what I said by placing the layer where
> I
> want it.
>
> It is an oversight, at the very least. I've seen and used a lot of
> software
> in my day and I know a software issue when I see one. This is something
> that
> Adobe can address if only for convenience sake. I doesn't have to be the
> way
> it is. Using the software interface as is and as intended, the actual
> function
> of this facility is not intuitive or consistent, and nor does it fit what
> you
> would logically expect, and not adequately supported in the software help
> files.
>
> Dreamweaver is generally speaking a great piece of software and have used
> it
> now for 4 years. It is complex and it is easy to see how something like
> this
> can fall through the cracks. It is minor and easy to fix to make your
> users'
> lives easier, and save them a lot of time and frustration. Merely denying
> that
> there is an issue and claiming that the user "just doesn't understand" is
> arrogant and not helpful, and ignores the way a large portion of users use
> the
> software -- by following the software instructions and guidance.
>
>
-
9. Re: Positioning text layers in the center
Newsgroup_User May 11, 2008 9:03 AM (in response to NoLongerStuckInVirginia)Hello,
It's a nice idea, but the way HTML functions and what web browsers are
capable of and not capable of, is why Dreamweaver cannot do what you
suggested without making things much worse, and annoying, for many others.
What you've described as a software issue couldn't be further from the
truth.
DW is limited by how HTML and CSS works, that's why it can't do what you
suggest.
You said, "DW should be able to position the text relative to the image."
Understanding how positioning in HTML and CSS works, your next questions
should be:
Where is the image getting it's position from? Does it need to?
For code to compute positioning, it needs parameters.
So, DW could write the AP div with the text in it to be the same size as the
image, and give it a left and top position of "0" so it aligns to the image.
Of course, the browser reading this now needs to know the position of the
image in order to give the AP div with the text a position relative to it.
Should it be relative or absolute? I suppose DW could decide for us based on
what is around it.
But what if we change the layout later...anyway, let's say it picks AP.
AP Divs are removed from the code flow, just another thing that requires
more code in certain circumstances.
So, this software enhancement now has to add more code..unless it's a very
simple layout. It get's worse.
What is this container positioned relative to? Maybe it doesn't have to be.
But maybe it does.
Nevermind, let's assume it's a complex layout and the container requires
positioning. Now DW has to write code giving the container's code defining
it's position.
Do you understand the problem?
And the more complex the layout, the worse it is.
There are too many variables.
And then you run into the brick walls.
How about that fluid, expanding header or body content that now needs to be
assigned a position?
I suppose DW could ask you this question: "Based on the way you selected to
position your text, do you want this image with the text over it to move
with this or that element when the browser window is expanded?"
DW could have more pop ups saying: "Because part of your page 6 levels up
from the text you wanted to place over an image will no longer function as
designed, please redesign your layout."
Another message Dreamweaver would have to popup would be "In AP Divs, when a
user has a different text size in his or her browser, the text may or may
not overflow out of the AP Div."
The only software issue I see in DW regarding this is that there should be a
message popup when someone first selects AP Divs.
"As HTML includes absolute positioning of elements, Dreamweaver includes
them. If you are not familiar with HTML, please go to this link to read all
about the problems that could happen based on a multitude of variables
unrelated to Dreamweaver. It is up to you to implement AP Divs correctly."
It would be great if we could someday do this, but again, it isn't DW..it's
the medium.
Take care,
Tim
"ObamasMama" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:g0714a$o30$1@forums.macromedia.com...
>I disagree and you are missing the point. I put the text layer where I
>wanted
> it. Dreamweaver lets you do this visually. Dreamweaver then takes what
> you
> did and assigns code to it. It assigned the wrong code, and there was no
> way
> to tell it how to do it right (it could be a simple as adding an input
> selection to the properties box, or even just having the software look at
> the
> code for the image you just put the layer on top of.) If you place
> something
> on top of an image of anything else, it should code that layer relative to
> that
> image (or to the positioning of that image), and not to page, and not
> position
> it in a way that ignores where you placed it (and not having anything that
> describes what it is doing with this feature -- you have to learn that
> Dreamweaver won't do what you logically expect it to do by trial and
> error.
>
> It is indeed a matter of the software not doing what I said -- and the
> software not doing what the software said it would do. What I meant was
> exactly what I said, and I used the facility in the software exactly as
> described. And nothing in the Dreamweaver's help and tutorials suggested
> that
> the software would do anything but what I said by placing the layer where
> I
> want it.
>
> It is an oversight, at the very least. I've seen and used a lot of
> software
> in my day and I know a software issue when I see one. This is something
> that
> Adobe can address if only for convenience sake. I doesn't have to be the
> way
> it is. Using the software interface as is and as intended, the actual
> function
> of this facility is not intuitive or consistent, and nor does it fit what
> you
> would logically expect, and not adequately supported in the software help
> files.
>
> Dreamweaver is generally speaking a great piece of software and have used
> it
> now for 4 years. It is complex and it is easy to see how something like
> this
> can fall through the cracks. It is minor and easy to fix to make your
> users'
> lives easier, and save them a lot of time and frustration. Merely denying
> that
> there is an issue and claiming that the user "just doesn't understand" is
> arrogant and not helpful, and ignores the way a large portion of users use
> the
> software -- by following the software instructions and guidance.
>
>
-
10. Re: Positioning text layers in the center
Newsgroup_User May 11, 2008 12:06 PM (in response to NoLongerStuckInVirginia)I agree with you Tim, except for one thing. I think AP divisions (aka
layers) should be removed from DW's features. If a person really needs
them, they should code their own.
--Nancy O.
Alt-Web Design & Publishing
www.alt-web.com
"TC2112" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:g075c8$s0u$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Hello,
>
> It's a nice idea, but the way HTML functions and what web browsers are
> capable of and not capable of, is why Dreamweaver cannot do what you
> suggested without making things much worse, and annoying, for many others.
> What you've described as a software issue couldn't be further from the
> truth.
> DW is limited by how HTML and CSS works, that's why it can't do what you
> suggest.
>
> You said, "DW should be able to position the text relative to the image."
> Understanding how positioning in HTML and CSS works, your next questions
> should be:
>
> Where is the image getting it's position from? Does it need to?
> For code to compute positioning, it needs parameters.
> So, DW could write the AP div with the text in it to be the same size as
the
> image, and give it a left and top position of "0" so it aligns to the
image.
> Of course, the browser reading this now needs to know the position of the
> image in order to give the AP div with the text a position relative to it.
> Should it be relative or absolute? I suppose DW could decide for us based
on
> what is around it.
> But what if we change the layout later...anyway, let's say it picks AP.
> AP Divs are removed from the code flow, just another thing that requires
> more code in certain circumstances.
> So, this software enhancement now has to add more code..unless it's a very
> simple layout. It get's worse.
> What is this container positioned relative to? Maybe it doesn't have to
be.
> But maybe it does.
> Nevermind, let's assume it's a complex layout and the container requires
> positioning. Now DW has to write code giving the container's code defining
> it's position.
> Do you understand the problem?
> And the more complex the layout, the worse it is.
> There are too many variables.
> And then you run into the brick walls.
> How about that fluid, expanding header or body content that now needs to
be
> assigned a position?
> I suppose DW could ask you this question: "Based on the way you selected
to
> position your text, do you want this image with the text over it to move
> with this or that element when the browser window is expanded?"
> DW could have more pop ups saying: "Because part of your page 6 levels up
> from the text you wanted to place over an image will no longer function as
> designed, please redesign your layout."
> Another message Dreamweaver would have to popup would be "In AP Divs, when
a
> user has a different text size in his or her browser, the text may or may
> not overflow out of the AP Div."
>
>
> The only software issue I see in DW regarding this is that there should be
a
> message popup when someone first selects AP Divs.
> "As HTML includes absolute positioning of elements, Dreamweaver includes
> them. If you are not familiar with HTML, please go to this link to read
all
> about the problems that could happen based on a multitude of variables
> unrelated to Dreamweaver. It is up to you to implement AP Divs correctly."
>
>
> It would be great if we could someday do this, but again, it isn't
DW..it's
> the medium.
>
> Take care,
> Tim
>
>
> "ObamasMama" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
> news:g0714a$o30$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> >I disagree and you are missing the point. I put the text layer where I
> >wanted
> > it. Dreamweaver lets you do this visually. Dreamweaver then takes what
> > you
> > did and assigns code to it. It assigned the wrong code, and there was
no
> > way
> > to tell it how to do it right (it could be a simple as adding an input
> > selection to the properties box, or even just having the software look
at
> > the
> > code for the image you just put the layer on top of.) If you place
> > something
> > on top of an image of anything else, it should code that layer relative
to
> > that
> > image (or to the positioning of that image), and not to page, and not
> > position
> > it in a way that ignores where you placed it (and not having anything
that
> > describes what it is doing with this feature -- you have to learn that
> > Dreamweaver won't do what you logically expect it to do by trial and
> > error.
> >
> > It is indeed a matter of the software not doing what I said -- and the
> > software not doing what the software said it would do. What I meant was
> > exactly what I said, and I used the facility in the software exactly as
> > described. And nothing in the Dreamweaver's help and tutorials
suggested
> > that
> > the software would do anything but what I said by placing the layer
where
> > I
> > want it.
> >
> > It is an oversight, at the very least. I've seen and used a lot of
> > software
> > in my day and I know a software issue when I see one. This is something
> > that
> > Adobe can address if only for convenience sake. I doesn't have to be
the
> > way
> > it is. Using the software interface as is and as intended, the actual
> > function
> > of this facility is not intuitive or consistent, and nor does it fit
what
> > you
> > would logically expect, and not adequately supported in the software
help
> > files.
> >
> > Dreamweaver is generally speaking a great piece of software and have
used
> > it
> > now for 4 years. It is complex and it is easy to see how something like
> > this
> > can fall through the cracks. It is minor and easy to fix to make your
> > users'
> > lives easier, and save them a lot of time and frustration. Merely
denying
> > that
> > there is an issue and claiming that the user "just doesn't understand"
is
> > arrogant and not helpful, and ignores the way a large portion of users
use
> > the
> > software -- by following the software instructions and guidance.
> >
> >
>
>

