[thelist] Tables vs Layers

[Stevens, Sharon]

> > > For what i have seen, ther are no big sites that use
> > > layers, most of them go tables.
> > 	my old site uses layers (http://www.dnr.qld.gov.au) and it has about
> > 30K pages
> 
> Quick glance and I saw tables. Also, the page layout you have going on
> there
> is extremely simple. In that case, you wouldn't need much formatting to
> create that page in the first place. Therefore, I don't think it fully
> supports your argument.
> 
	then since I worked on the site over 6 months ago they have changed
the design to utilise tables - the original one that was designed utilised
layers throughout

> > 	I hate designing with tables - I'm having a seriously hard time on
> > the contract I'm on at the moment because the company that created our
> > publishing package knew nothing about design and have designed the site
> > utilising tables (and poorly designed ones at that), I'm not
> > looking forward
> > to having to come back here next financial year (when they've got money
> to
> > pay me again) and converting the tables to useable layers to fit with
> > HTML4.01 strict.
> 
> Hmmmm... I don't see how design has anything to do with tables. And,
> poorly-coded tables are undoubtably just as much a problem as poorly-coded
> layers. I think the two key points to consider are control and
> degradeability.
> 
	no I think the main key point is accessibility and tables don't fit
this mould

	the original email *was* about using tables for design (see below)
	<snip>
At work, we just got new designers. They are very good at
what they do, but not when it refers to html. The problem
is that they  are so used to move things around, that all
they use are layers. And lots of them. They cant think
tables.

I tried to convince them of tables and to leave layers
for "special ocasions". They didnt seem convinced that
layers are bad since they dont work the same in
all the browsers. 

For what i have seen, ther are no big sites that use
layers, most of them go tables.

I have to be honest, since I ran out of arguments very
fast. So what i need to know is, is it, at this day,
good to go layers ? Maybe i am the one who likes
tables so much that wants to keep it that way.

If anyone can clear me up the advantages/disadvantages
of using tables vs layers and what you recommend, it would
be great, so that i can have a reason to debate with the
designers.

For now, the designers refuse to do anything in tables, 
they think thats an engineering job :( All they use
is the "convert layers to tables" in Dreamweaver. Can
anyone recommend how you guys convert a design to html
with tables ??
	</snip>



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