13.2. Introduction to Tables
Although there are no true
classifications, tables can be used in the following general ways:
Table usage
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Illustration
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Data Table
This is a table
at its most basic (and as the creators of HTML intended) -- rows
and columns of textual data. Of course, data tables can be much
larger and more complex than the one shown in this example.
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Text Alignment
Tables are often used to clean up
the
display of text by creating effects common to print, such as columns,
hanging indents, and extra white space. They are also useful for
lining up text and input elements in forms.
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Page Template
Many web designers use a large table as
a container to give structure to a page. One common configuration is
to create narrow columns for navigational items, as shown in this
example. A template for a two-column table follows in
Section 13.7, "Standard Table Templates" in this chapter.
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Multipart Image Container
Tables can be used to hold together a
large graphic that has been divided into
separate sections to accommodate animations, rollovers, etc. In the
example at right, the border was turned on to reveal the individual
sections. Holding images together with tables is discussed at the end
of this chapter.
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The HTML 4.01 specification proposal discourages the use of tables
for page layout, favoring Cascading Style Sheets with absolute
positioning instead. But until style sheets (particularly the
positioning features) are more universally and consistently supported
by the browsers in current use, tables remain a designer's most
reliable tool for constructing complex page layouts.
| | | 13. Tables | | 13.3. Basic Table Structure |
Copyright © 2002 O'Reilly & Associates. All rights reserved.
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