[thelist] FIXED: first post -- using a variably resizing cell with rowspan?

[Adam Gromfin]

Since I resolved the problem -- score another for tenacity -- about which I
posted last week (quoted below), I wanted to post my solution and a tip:

As described below, I was trying to get two variably sized columns to
expand/contrast in unison.  I got the tabling fixed and it now does what I
need: http://www.hbr.morebutter.net/joomla/rowspan-fixed.html

PROBLEM/SOLUTION:  The problem was that the bottom left cell (with the
image) was the cell that was expanding/shrinking.  Since that cell did not
have a border element (except for the one embedded in the image), when the
cell would grow, the border would appear to disappear.  By holding the size
of that cell constant (setting the height to match the image height), it
forced the middle cell to expand/contract, as I wanted.

TIP:  I discovered the problem by assigning a color to the background of
each cell.  That helped me understand the complicated table structure and to
debug.  Once I assigned the colors, the problem surfaced, and the solution
took 30 seconds.  Next time I setup complicated tables I'm always going to
start with a colored template like this one:
http://www.hbr.morebutter.net/joomla/simplified.html

Thanks to those who offered advice.

-adam

On 5/11/07, Adam Gromfin < agromfin at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hello.  I'm new to this list, and this is my first post.  I stumbled on
> the list when a google search found your very helpful archives.  I hope this
> is an appropriate post/question.  If not, please let me know.  Thanks.  Now
> on with the show....
>
> I'm a lawyer by day and a music hobbyist by night.  I'm currently helping
> a band redo their site using the joomla content management system.  I have a
> decent amount of html experience, but, when it comes to more complex tasks,
> know only enough to get myself in trouble.  I write because I've gotten
> myself into trouble.
>
> The current design involves two columns, each that variably
> expands/collapses. The left column is a sidebar with collapsible sections.
> The right column is the main content section that grows/shrinks with the
> content on each page. That part was easy enough.  Then I decided that,
> because on most pages the sidebar was short and the content long, that it
> made sense to "dock" part of our L-shaped footer under the sidebar. Like
> this (very draft) site: http://www.hbr.morebutter.net/joomla/rowspan.html
>
> The current right column is just a testing ground, of course. I added
> temporary +/- sections to allow simulating the variously sized content on
> different pages.
>
> Because of the L-shaped footer, the image under the sidebar (the circle
> with the tree) needs to remain docked at the bottom of that column (while
> the sidebar content remains docked at the top). I accomplished that using
> rowspan and v-align for the two sub-cells in the left column.
>
> All is working well -- with one annoying exception. When the left column
> is longer than the right, the bottom-left image properly moves down and
> stays bottom-docked, but the left border above it gets lost and replaced
> with empty space.
>
> I thought I could remedy that by using a middle cell that variously
> expands in hands. I tried it with no height tags and with a height=100% tag.
> Neither worked.
>
> If anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it.
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> -adam
>