Topic: fixed length tables??

I was making a new format for my site, with tables, in dreamweaver. I use blogspot, so it posts information, and all you need to do is have a simple code to insert it when writing the HTML. So in dreamweaver, the entire hundred or so entries i have was squished to something like <$blogentry$>. That type of thing.
When i posted it on the internet, it got the real entries, and stretched the other tables becaue the entries were so long.
Ive been trying to find a way to fix the length of certain table cells, but i have found nothing. Any ideas?

helloelise: Welcome. If I understand correctly they allow you to craete the template that the blog entries are inserted into and you add <$blogentry$> to tell it where to drop these entries into.

I assume the blog is this one:
www.chickenandcheese.blogspot.com

and the problem is that stuff on the right, like rant. are pushed too far down the page?

I'm afraid that I'm struggling to get into the table layout and it might help if we could see the template without all the entries in it. It strikes me that there is a simple solution - ahhhhhhhhh how about the right column needs vertical-align="top" (or however, it is done in tables - wow I really have moved on from them ) to make the text actually appear at the top of the right column.

[edit: You should think about looking into CSS as there are things like 3 deep nested FONT tags which could be simplified and a lot of the layout could be neatened up with a few splashes of CSS - e.g. you should avoid using BLOCKQUOTE unless you are actually adding a block quote.]

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

Thanks for the welcome.
Yes, thats the correct blog- I will try the top aligning; but the thing is, all of the different...er..sections of each column, like rant, visitors, that deal, are all in different cells. But ill try it.
I needed to upload fast so i used geocities (shame shame) but here is essentially the template without the entries, just the entry code. http://www.geocities.com/thefamouselise/dark.htm
i still consider myself a beginner at all things design (and coding, and all that goes with it- ive only been teaching myself, with the help of platyjim) so thank you for responding.

-elise

helloelise: Ahhh thanks for that it is all clearer now. Techncially even if you use tables you only need them for the columns and not for the rows. In this case the more content ou add to that centre cell the more stretched everything will become (as you've noticed ). The fix would be to use DIVs:

<table>

<tr>

  <td valign="top">

    <div>Inspirations</div>

    <div>I'm reading</div>

  </td>

  <td valign="top">

    BLOG

  </td>

  <td valign="top">

    <div>Linkage</div>

    <div>I'm a very emotional person</div>

  </td>

</tr>

</table>

And then you can add the styling back in.

[edit: I am slacking as you are new you should go along to the Reception Room:

:FAQ:

where we'll remove all sharp objects and your laces and belt and issue you with your pills]

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

Sorry. Wow, this makes me feel so unintelligent.
I tried what you said but im not sure if i...uh...tried it right.
It didnt work, so im assuming i DIDNT do it right, but then how do you do it?
Sorry if i sound like a simpleton. www.chickenandcheese.blogspot.com has my edited whatever, which looks exactly the same as it did before.
I noticed i already had <div> tags.
And i tried the top alignment thing, it STILL doesnt seem to be doing anything.
I think im gonna have to can this whole project and START OVER.
But thanks a lot for trying, i really really appreciate it.

helloelise: This is the Asylum - we don't give up that easily

I will need to see the template away from the main blog entry as it is awfully difficult to get through as it is?

It should be an easy fix - just hang on in there (that wasn't my best shot).

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

The problem is that all the data in the left and right table cells are vertically aligned centered. Or rather - they are not specifically vertically aligned at all so they default to center.

It hurts a little to slap some css in a table layout so convoluted as this, but the following worked for me:

<style type = "text/css">

tr *, td * {padding-top: 5px; vertical-align: top;}

</style>

Stick this little bit in the head of your document. It will force ANYTHING in a td element to be vertically aligned to the top of the cell. The asterisk works like a wild card, selecting anything.mYou can omit the padding if you want stuff to rise to the very top fo the cell, or tinker with the padding to vary how much breathing room looks good to you.

As I said, this works for me. If this is not what you want (if you want EVERYTHING in the left and right cells to rise to the top), then you will have to reduce this to a one row, three colum table - the middle cell holds the content, the flanking cells hold the side stuff, which will now all rise to the top of the page. I assume you don't want this effect, but just thought I'd mention it.

Thank you so much steve! i tried your second approach (because i DID want everything at the top). Also, thanks emperor for trying and all. You both seem to be so informed. Does it come with time?
thanks again-
-elise