I don't get this (CSS)??? 1

[mike314]

Ok I just started learning CSS and was wondering, alot of the things that CSS enables you to do can easily be done with Dreamweaver MX or some other HTML editor. I mean sure I understand style sheets for certain text, but positioning images from a source (like SRC = "circle.jpeg") precisely using TOP: 35px and LEFT: 134px etc.. can be easily done by the layout right?? I just don't get it. It sucks typing style sheets when you can just be start and do it by layout.

am I crazy or lazy or right????

thanks

 

[dwarfthrower]

am I crazy or lazy or right????

More likely a mix of all three.

Underlying issue would seem to be a misunderstanding as to what HTML editors actually do. Dreamweaver simply provides people with a "front-end" to make it easier to do things (in this case, code HTML and CSS).

The problem is that it would be very difficult to provide a comprehensive front end (one that covers everything that anyone might conceivably want to do) while keeping it relatively streamlined and user friendly. So the old 80/20 rule applies. They provide the most common functionality that most people will want to use most of the time.

The ultimate aim of CSS is to separate the structure of your documents from their design. Using HTML elements to position, colour or otherwise embed design "stuff" into your structural "stuff" causes maintenance issues down the track... A very simple example, it's easy enough in dreamweaver to colour your links green using the layout view, but it's much easier to then go and change them all to red later on if you're using a stylesheet.

It is also important to understand the code that a program like dreamweaver produces for you. So learning CSS is not going to be a waste of your time in the long run.

_{Never be afraid to share your dreams with the world.
There's nothing the world loves more than the taste of really sweet dreams.}

 

[Wishdiak]

It sucks typing style sheets when you can just be start and do it by layout.

Understanding how the elements of code work and interact with each other will give you an understanding of where to look if something goes wrong, and of things that you could do that might not be obvious if you only code using a tool like DreamWeaver.

If you intend to write it once, and never modify the code, then DreamWeaver is probably the easiest way to go. If you intend to change anything at any point in the future, then you'll need to either learn how things work, or consult with someone who already has.

Wishdiak

http://www.wishdiak.com