scrolling box without using frames?

[j111111]

I am wanting a cell/box in the centre of my web pages, surrounded by other cells & to stay the same size.

The centre box is for text, so depending on the amount of text there is on each page, some will need a scroll bar so the viewer can run through the information without the size of the cell, and page, changing.

I was originally using s template but as the cell for text had to be editable to put different text in for each page, the size changed to fit the text.

I've attempted using frames (which I've never even touched on before) but because this cell is central I need at least 5 frames on my page which is confusing me somewhat.

Is there any way to get this effect without using frames - ie just make a table/cell with a scroll bar?

 

[deecee]

you could make an iframe --

http://www.projectseven.com

-- will have an extension, however it is only compatible with IE5+ and NN 6

your other option would be to use a layer set your overflow to scroll, but I havent had luck with those holding postion when the page gets resized
sleep is good

 

[CTekMedia]

Consider using Flash. Peace

http://www.bluetone.biz

BT

 

[boyfromoz]

Using flash brings out heaps of other issues. Problems with screen resolitions, text can't be crawled by search engines, speed issues.

I haven't found a workable solution to this problem.

 

[deecee]

wouldn't an include work well?
sleep is good

 

[boyfromoz]

With iframes?

Doesn't work in all situations. What if you need the iframe to take up exactly the same size as a % width/height table cell? Just doesn't work.


The table cell will resize, but not the iframe.

 

[deecee]

no if you have ssi or php

<?php include(url) ?>

and have that page that you built be a layer that is the exact dimension of the table you want to embed it in and set overflow=scroll
sleep is good

 

[boyfromoz]

&quot;and have that page that you built be a layer that is the exact dimension of the table you want to embed it in&quot;

this is the problem, only works with fixed width tables.

In most designs I do, fixed width tables is not possible.

 

[deecee]

eh :/

then how about a layer -- but i havent had much luck with having them hold a position when the screen is resized
sleep is good

 

[j111111]

I've struggled with iframes & as there are nearly 40 pages to my site, I'd have to make loads as each one is to hold different text and I've had problems making it fit within the underneath cell's borders. Same with layers, so I'm taking each a bit at a time

I'm undecided on what I should do really - I'm spending a couple of hours on trying to work out frames, then when I've hit a brick wall with that switching to the iframe for a while - going back to each one after a bit of a break is helping.

I think I'll just use whichever one works out first.

Thanks for the help - it seems like the more I learn with this stuff, the more there is to learn.

 

[mxjunkie]

http://www.dreamlettes.net/chiki/scrolltest.html

degrades in NS4

 

[deecee]

who cares about NS4....all I need is the P7 swap class extension?
sleep is good

 

[CTekMedia]

Speed doesn't have to be an issue with Flash (usually much better than JS) and screen resolution issues aren't any different than tables or layers. I agree that bot's will not crawl the text - which may or may not be that important in this case. Peace

http://www.bluetone.biz

BT

 

[deecee]

if you want text to be scrawled just make sure your metatags are good...
sleep is good

 

[CTekMedia]

I have been looking somewhat contentious lately and I sure don't mean to. Most of the question answerers on this forum know more than I do, including nippi and deecee. But in the interest of our mutual education....
Only one major search engine uses meta tags anymore and that one only assigns a slight weight to it. Lots of good text, how many hits you get and how many (weighted by importance) links other sites have to yours seem to be the only factors that really count anymore. Peace

http://www.bluetone.biz

BT

 

[deecee]

tru, but i like first impressions and metas are top of the list...also I heard a rumor somewhere that notes in your code are picked up? If this is true could someone let me know.

as for flash, i like it and use it somewhat for movies and simple flash navigation or site structure, but the only this that gets me, and its really irksome is how ti screws up bitmaps so often and what not, but if you really want to get picked up on search engines (and the only one i really care for is google) then get you site listed on as many other sites as possible
sleep is good

 

[deecee]

O one more note...most of the stuff ive learned has been on this forum, and ive only been creating websites and what not for the last year or so )

but bluetone I dont have an ego and pointing out an error of mine is always welcome as that's how I learn
sleep is good

 

[CTekMedia]

Cool.

I haven't had a problem with Flash and bitmaps but I really wish Macromedia would make Flash less difficult to work with.

I have found an alternative design environment that produces completely compatible .swf files. Check out Swish - it is very much laid out the same, is soooo much easier and faster to work in but doesn't do some of the advanced stuff. However you can crank out a design in Swish and then send it over to Flash for final tweaks.

Costs $50 bucks and things that used to take me all day I finish in an hour.

http://www.swishzone.com/

Peace

http://www.bluetone.biz

BT

 

[deecee]

yup know about it al ready lol
sleep is good

 

[boyfromoz]

A site that I manage used to be N0.7 on Google for particular search criteria. in the last 2 months tts slipped to 13, whilst at the same time adding 90 incoming links.

The problem is my client has asked for all text on her site to be removed and replaced with images of text. Google now rates ehr site as less important.

Having crawlable text is paramount to a search engine ranking.

I must disagree on flash loading faster than javascript. I put all my javscript in one external file in most cases. When it loads once, that's if for the whole site.

I'm with Deecee. I'm totally self taught, learnt a lot from this forum.