craigslist ad display problem

[paulajune]

Hello. I've tried numerous tactics, but can't get columns to display side by side evenly when I paste HTML into the Craigslist box. When I preview outside of Craigslist, it looks fine. But when I preview the ad before publishing, the text in the left column jumps down, while the image at right stays where it should. Even when I use an HTML template by a third party, the same thing happens:

http://www.classifiedadwizard.net/twocolumntemplate.php.

Here's the most stripped-down, simple code I tried:

<table border=0 cellspacing=0
cellpadding=0 width=482>
<tr>
<td width=320 valign="top"><font face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" color="#666666" size="2">I have experience uploading hundreds of articles for my past client and am looking for work loading and editing content on a freelance basis. The kind of work that results in pages like the one at right. <br />
<br />
You build the page, I load the content. These pages can take as little as 5 to 15 minutes to load, and I'm charging $20/hour. If you are an individual or company with the need for ongoing help and numerous page uploads, I can produce.</font></td>
<td width=10 valign="top">&nbsp;</td>
<td width=152 valign="top"><img src="webExBdrSm.jpg" width="150" height="224" /></td>
</tr>
</table>

Any suggestions?

Thank you so much.

 

[audiopro]

Any suggestions?
Yes, don't use tables for layout, use CSS instead.

Keith

http://www.studiosoft.co.uk

 

[paulajune]

Thanks for the quick reply. Unfortunately, I'm not good enough at CSS. Is that the only way to make it work? Did something change with Craigslist, because I didn't have this problem in the past? Thanks again.

 

[audiopro]

Not sure if anything has changed with Craigslist but it doesn't really show you in the best light when you are not familiar with the current technology. Have a look at some CSS tutorials and forget those tables for layouts.

Keith

http://www.studiosoft.co.uk

 

[paulajune]

I agree that those who are professional web designers should keep up with current technology, and what you say is not untrue. I’m just trying to create a nice-looking Craigslist ad and learned web design back when it first started, before CSS. At that time, I was ahead of my time!

I’ve used the slightest bit of CSS for styling in the past, but don’t have confidence in my brain anymore to learn a whole new language for layouts. I can’t see how the time invested will be worth it when I’m pretty sure I will not be able to retain what I learned, and I’m only talking about creating an ad here and there. If you’re a young person, believe me, you have no idea what can happen with memory later in life. I used to retain everything.

Having said all that, I still have the necessary creativity to be able to create an ad better than the standard CL template. So I’m just looking for a little help out there. Is it actually possible to get the result I want through HTML, anyone? Just want a column containing text to sit side-by-side to a column with an image without the text jumping down. This does not need to be a moral issue. Thank you.

 

[audiopro]

I too have been around for many years and have kept up with technology changes in order to produce the best work I can. You asked for assistance and I provided you with the solution to your problem, sorry if you feel it has turned into a morality issue.

Is it possible to achieve the same results with HTML alone?
I would say yes, the code you are using works ok on it's own but goes haywire when inserted into the Craigslist page.

I would suggest this is either:-

Your created table is too wide for the area within the Craigslist page.

or

The Craigslist page is not formed correctly in the first place.
Trying to debug layouts created with tables was always problematic as even minor changes can affect the whole table.

Try removing the <td> dimensions and see how the table sits on the page then.


Keith

http://www.studiosoft.co.uk

 

[paulajune]

Thanks so much for your tenacity, Audiopro. Just tried removing dimensions and still have the same problem. I guess I give up and will produce an ordinary ad. Thanks again for trying to help.
PJ

 

[1DMF]

Paulajune,

I understand your sentiment, but honestly basic CSS is not difficult to pick up and once you throw away non-semantic thoughts such as tables for layout and look at it using the design , content separation paradigm, it will actually make more sense and give you far better cleaner mark-up to your pages.

I know, because I came to TT with the same mind-set, who needs CSS or standards, tables work and I'm sticking to them, but as I became more proficient in coding, and a few bashings from the TT regulars, I finally came round to their way of thinking, and realised they were trying to help, not insult!

TT and all the great support it has given me has helped keep me in the IT game, and although I'm not at the cutting edge of new technology / practices, I know if I get stuck or need some genuine help and advice, all I have to do is come here and ask.

Hey, the JS forum and this one still give me a clip round the ear for using the javascript protocol instead of attaching event handlers, which is the new black apparently, but I know they mean well

"In complete darkness we are all the same, it is only our knowledge and wisdom that separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you."

"If a shortcut was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be a shortcut, it would be the way!"

Free Dance Music Downloads

 

[paulajune]

Oh, wow - don't scare me with terms like "event handlers"! Just kidding. Thank you so much for your uplifting message. Okay, I will look at a CSS tutorial to see if I have a chance to understand it, not to mention retain it.

Over the years, I guess I've become frustrated with changing things just to change them sometimes. Some of us learn the tiniest bit of technology just to frame our content, which is what we truly love. I love design, art and writing, and have a bit of resentment that "they" keep changing my tools for presenting them. The change in the Office suite is a good example. In the corporate world, we became accustomed to where all the menus were and certain shortcut keys, then "they" forced the new ribbon arrangement on us. So we went from quickly performing tasks to spending time searching for basic functions. I heard grumbling all over the office.

Anyway, I appreciate you listening, and definitely am grateful for this forum. Thanks again,
PaulaJune

 

[audiopro]

PaulaJune
I too had the same mind set as 1DMF with regard to tables but once I had played around with CSS, there is no way I would ever go back. We still use tables for their intended purpose, tabular data but the advantages of CSS over tables for general layout is well worth the learning process.

I am with you on the menu thing as a drop down list of text commands is the simplest way to select a function. The ribbon thing, not only makes finding a specific function difficult but it also takes up half of the useable page. I can only think that the people who design the software these days don't actually use it for any meaningful purpose.

Keith

http://www.studiosoft.co.uk

 

[paulajune]

Good Morning, Audiopro.

Yeah, I met a software designer a few years back who admitted she wasn't a user.

I see your point regarding CSS and will try to keep an open mind.

Thanks again, Folks, for your encouragement!
PJ

 

[mmerlinn]

I am with you on the menu thing as a drop down list of text commands is the simplest way to select a function. The ribbon thing, not only makes finding a specific function difficult but it also takes up half of the useable page. I can only think that the people who design the software these days don't actually use it for any meaningful purpose.

One of my pet peeves are people that fix what is not broken. Often the fixes bankrupt what was once a profitable company or the fixes render an application useless. I am not against improving something, but if the improvements make the item useless, then there is something seriously wrong. Anyhow, I think the following quote is quite appropriate.

Left uncontrolled, "designers" can render any environment totally useless.

In a similar vein, Apple discarded the dropdown menus in favor of a dock, which is a horrible way to navigate. No matter where the dock is located, it is always in the way, and everything on it is hard to find. One can only hope that some day this "latest and greatest" way of navigating will revert to what is simple and what works.

It seems to me that much of this kind of stuff is created because the IT departments need something to justify their continued employment.

Paulajune, you are never too old to learn. But age does make one wonder whether the learning curve is worth the effort. For example, at my age (late 60s), I often will keep doing as I have been doing rather than trying to keep up to date. Like why should I spend years becoming a master at something, only to die before I can actually benefit from it? In other words, if the learning curve is longer than about 20% of my life expectancy, it is really kind of pointless spending the time.

mmerlinn

http://mmerlinn.com

Poor people do not hire employees. If you soak the rich, who are you going to work for?

"We've found by experience that people who are careless and sloppy writers are usually also careless and sloppy at thinking and coding. Answering questions for careless and sloppy thinkers is not rewarding." - Eric Raymond

 

[paulajune]

Hi, Mmerlinn. I'm sorry I've taken so long to respond. I definitely appreciate all your sentiments regarding the change in applications for no good reason (except, of course to make money on an upgrade).

With regards to learning and age, I think learning something new is worth it if you know you will perform the tasks often enough to remember them. I was crabby about having to learn CSS realizing that I will probably not do enough Craigslist ads or other webby stuff to justify the time put in. I agree with all of you that continual learning as we age is necessary, and I have continued to do that for aspects of my life that will be repeated over and over. For instance, my current work-from-home job entailed training and a new skill set. I've mastered it and done fine. Other things I realize I have the tendency to forget pretty quickly after learning.

I still think I have the right to be irritated when functionality is actually removed from methodology many of us have used for years, like Craigslist did with the tables. Sure, possibly CSS is better, but they didn't need to completely throw away less superior options. I need validation! Just kidding. I still haven't pursued the CSS route, but intend to, at some point. Thanks to all of you who responded.

 

[spamjim]

I realize I'm late to the party but the original problem seems too simple to warrant so much discussion. Even without knowing more about Craigslist, when we see a comment like "When I preview outside of Craigslist, it looks fine.", we should all realize that Craigslist employs input filters. Those filters include CSS.

https://www.craigslist.org/about/help/html_in_craigslist_postings/

https://www.craigslist.org/about/help/html_in_craigslist_postings/details

http://webmoxy.com/designing-an-attractive-craigslist-ad/

Suggesting the use of CSS on a site that does not allow CSS or JS is a bit silly.

 

[spamjim]

Those filters include CSS.

Or more accurately:

Those filters include CSS restrictions.

Those filters exclude CSS.

 

[paulajune]

Thanks so much for that, Spamjim. So glad I didn't invest time unnecessarily. I will use the info from that third link you list, hopefully being able to create a custom template from an existing MailChimp template. Before I got into all this, I had looked up different templates, but the one you found is better than the others. If I ever get this done, I'll report back my success. Thanks again!