css layout question

[tvfoto]

Hi all,

My page have 2 two columns & 3 rows. The first row acts like a header and the bottom row acts (sort like) a footer (bottom decor thingie/cap or whatever you wanna call) that spans over the 2 columns.

The 2 columns in mid section row each has seperated set of dynamic contents Therefore the height of either columm in that mid section (row) will vary and because of different set of dynamic contents to be shared in each column, i used 2 seperated Inframe. How do I make the length (height) of the 2 column (iframe) changes accordingly to whichever column need the most space (vertically) to commodate the amount of content published (as I dont want to use scroll bar for the cell). This case the footer appears to be pushed down to make room for the content( instead of being chopped off by fixed iframe column).

I also have a bitmap divider (between the 2 columns). How do I make it stretchs accordingly?

I am open to hear if there is a sound alternative for iframe for what I am trying to do. I do not wish to load entire page 'cause I have to refesh the dynamic data at a certain times frame (5 secs or 10 secs or 35 secs or whatever).

Thanks

[sandman]

Why dont you just load the data right into the column itself and lose the iFrame.

Even better, you could put your mid section into a separate file altogether and load that dynamically. Lose the iFrame still and load right into column itself.

[tvfoto]

sandyman,

For the requirement I have to do, I see no other way to live with 1 column. I can loose the footer (far less not so important but add a nice page interface for the page). Left column will be used to host many different dynamic content formats. How are you gonna achieve this w/o some sort of frame? If you do have a solution for this I 'd like to hear what you have to say.The right column will be a set of detail dynamic contents based on what on the left column. So the columns could be short of really long (in height with fix width) on top of the fact that the content will have to be refreshed at selectable intervals.

[tvfoto]

I guessed no one has the answer for my problem with the iframes but I found some sorts of answers for what i try to accomplish.

I found this link on this very forum:

http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex17/ajaxcontent.htm

that helps me get rid off "iframe" mentality. It will load/swap different pages (with dynamic contents) onto the same (div) area of the main page. And for the footer, I just have to make another <div> with id="footer" positioned after the main content (div) area and I am good to go.

One thing remains to consider though. I just have to make sure that I either a)dont have any absolute positionings in the footer area or b) use table instead of css.

So, if you have not-too-straight-forward footer (meaning there are some degrees of absolute positioning within that footer area but still want that footer floating up and down depending on the contents above it), how do you do that? Would 'including' an external page layout be the answer?