[thelist] CSS-Only Forms That Don't Suck

Jeff Howden jeff at jeffhowden.com
Wed Jun 15 20:05:01 CDT 2005


I've been working hard for the last couple of weeks trying to come up with a
CSS-only layout for forms that doesn't suck.  Prior to deciding to take on
this task, I'd searched all the various CSS haunts, but all I found were
ideas partially completed, poorly implemented, burdened by
browser-x-be-damned mentalities, required JavaScript, or just downright
crap.

I believe that what I've got so far trounces anything currently available,
but I know it can be better.  There are some known issues, most notably some
problems in Safari.  If possible, I'd like to address these problems.  I'm
not at all keen on using hacks as that lessens the lifespan and increases
the maintenance requirements of the solution.

For those so inclined, feel free to comment on accessibility and/or
usability issues you see.  That is not my main focus at the moment (it will
be addressed once the CSS kinks are entirely worked out), but I do welcome
the feedback.

I realize the CSS is fairly cumbersome at the moment.  This is a result of
excising this example from a project I was working on recently that
precipitated this CSS adventure.  I plan on cleaning up the two external CSS
files shortly.

http://dev.jeffhowden.com/css_forms/

For those rushing off to validate the HTML and/or CSS, I'll save you the
trouble by letting you know that the HTML validates to XHTML 1.0.  Minus a
couple of errors related to some bug-fixes for Win/IE, the CSS also
validates.

Thank you,

 [>] Jeff Howden
     jeff at jeffhowden.com
     http://jeffhowden.com/



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