CSS + Other Language Questions

[Jonny M]

I've decided to move on a bit and ditch tables in favour of using CSS (like the Hexus frontpage). Should I also look to use XTHML over HTML? The site I'm going to do won't be too demanding, but it will be nice to practice these things now if they are going to replace tables and HTML, and also which versions (XHTML 1.0/1.1, and which level of CSS 1/2).

Thanks

Also, any guides on CSS would be great, as well as the advantages they have over using tables etc.

[Iain]

Aim for XHTML Transitional 1.1. If you can get 1.1 Strict then even better. Please note that if you use flash in your site then you will never achieve XHTML compliance, a problem I faced with the HEXUS page due to the ads.

CSS is designed to replace tables for layout, not tables for tables if you see what I mean. It's an important point to note.

Guides to CSS at
http://www.glish.com/css
http://www.alistapart.com
http://www.sitepoint.com/subcat/90

[Jonny M]

So basically the only table I will need now is to display a data table. The layout will be done with CSS.

What's the main differences between strict and transitional?

Thanks

[Jonny M]

www.caged.net/dofe

Is what I have so far. What I need to know is, how can I make that bar on the left fill 100% of the browser window height? I've put height: 100%; in, but this only makes it expand to fit 100% of the content in. I can set it to a pixel value, but it's going to be different on each page and will depend on the font size selected.

[Nemeliza]

Just thaught id let you know your site doesnt aligh properly in opera 7
Im not all too familiar with css but ill look into it.

[Jonny M]

Yer I know. Got it lining up in IE6 and the newest version of Firebird. Strange thing is the text alignment is slightly out. Seems they interpret pixels differently as well :/

[Jonny M]

Sorted it now, changed padding to 0 0 0 0

[Jonny M]

Argh, why is Internet Explorer so rubbish. It's the only one that insists on making sure the alt tags on images pop up when you get the cursor anywhere near them. If I wanted a pop up message, I'd use the title attribute .