What to use, tables, divs or...?

[Chappers]

Hi everyone,

 

After years of using tables, I'm having a mid-table crisis. It was after coming across this problem again:

 

<table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<p class="text">Hello world.</p>
<p class="text">And hello again in a new paragraph block.</p>
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td><p class="text">I want to show you a picture.</p></td>
<td width="110" align="center"><img src=gimp.jpg"></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<p class="text">More text.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>

 

Now the trouble with the above: With just one <td> and all the text contained within different paragraphs <p></p> there is an empty line between each paragraph, separating them neatly.

 

Since I want images at the side of some paragraphs, it means I have to do what the code above shows - end the initial <td> and create others so the image can go in its own. Trouble with that is that the neat gaps between paragraphs is lost and the text just displays in one large block. To add a space between paragraphs, I have to add <br> at the end of a paragraph before closing the <td> and beginning the next. That leaves a much bigger gap than the <p> normally gives and so looks bad.

 

I can't see a way around it, so I got looking into divs again, even though I'd been warned before not to use them. I can't yet remember how to use them to display the code above as I'd want it, but regardless, is it the best way to go?

 

Or is there an alternative to tables and divs? What's best?

 

Someone please help!

 

Thank ye,

James

[dropfaith]

what someone said dont use divs?

 

ive never heard that and wnet to divs as soon as it seemed possible to run on only divs and never even thought about looking back

 

 

divs are way better then tables imo

 

but you could just add

this to your p class

 

in stylesheet

 

p.text {margin-bottom:5px;}

and adjust the height to your needs and then no need for the br tag as you get a controlable gap at the bottom of your p

[Chappers]

But within <td>s where I am using multiple <p>s one after another, wouldn't I then have a gap made up of standard <p> gap and the extra 5px set to bottom margin?

[dropfaith]

yes maybe i misunderstood here im playing with a simpple div of what your doing  il brb

[dropfaith]

okay in the end this will give you a hell of a lot more control using css and divs instead of tables..

i just did a quick mock up of what you had for code

<style>
div.wrapper {width:100%;}
div.full {width:100%;}
div.text {width:75%;float:left;text-align:left;}
div.image {width:24%;float:right;}
p.text {padding:0;margin:0;}
</style>


<div class="wrapper">
<div class="full">
	<p class="text">Hello world.</p>
	<p class="text">And hello again in a new paragraph block.</p>
</div>
<div class="text">
	<p class="text">I want to show you a picture.</p>
</div>
<div class="image">
	<img src="4.png" />
</div>
<div style="clear:both;"> </div>
<div class="full">
	<p class="text">More text.</p>
</div>


</div>

[otuatail]

Could be wrong, but I belive serch engines detest tables. If you want them to improve your rankings keep away from them.

 

Desmond.

 

[revraz]

Tables should never be used for formatting, only for displaying Tabular Data.

 

That is my opinion at least.

[Mchl]

Tables should never be used for formatting, only for displaying Tabular Data.

 

That is my opinion at least.

 

I think that's general consensus by now.

[plasmagames]

Divs all the way. the code is easier to read and edit, the code looks a hell of a lot cleaner. Tables are only for new coders, if you have been using them for a while switch now.

[dropfaith]

newer coders shouldn't use tables if you were new why would you learn the old style of doing things its pointless if your learning css html or anything at least put the effort to learn the newest of the codes

[CroNiX]

Tables should never be used for formatting, only for displaying Tabular Data.

 

That is my opinion at least.

 

I think that's general consensus by now.

Its also been the w3c standard for at least 6 years, so it should be everyone's consensus. 

[plasmagames]

good point so ya get rid of tables use divs only