Fixed Text Size in HTML Website

[Cheng]

Hi Everybody.

I did ask this before, but been advised to not do it so I left it alone.
But now I decided that I want to do anyway.
Here is what I'm talking about.
I want that the text in a website can not be resized, like in this website I found here as an example.

http://global-secureweb.com/index.html

Please help me out here by telling me what to do to get this result.

Thank you very much in advance.
Cheng (Tommy)

[ddadmin]

Have you tried viewing that site in Firefox? The text can be resized. :) In IE, if you specify the font size of a page using absolute units like pixels, text resizing becomes impossible, ie:


<style type="text/css">
body{
font-size: 12px;
}
</style>

This is considered a bug though, and in IE7, I have no doubt user enforced text resizing will be fixed/ enabled.

[Cheng]

Thanks for your reply.

Where exacrly do I have to add this:

<style type="text/css">
body{
font-size: 12px;
}
</style>

Underneath the meta tags or where exactly?
I tried to put it into the head section, but this didn't work.

Thanks again.
Cheng (Tommy)

[Cheng]

By the way, I don't use a CSS Style sheet on the website I'm needing that for, because I don't know how to use them yet.
Can this stil be done?
Because I tried the code you gave me in several places, but with no result.

Thank you.
Cheng (Tommy)

[djr33]

<style> tags do go in the head; yes.

Actually, you can still resize, just as ddadmin said. I'm using Safari. Not sure about IE, but i think you can there too.

Here's the deal with text sizes:

There are two kinds of sizes-- absolute and relatvie.

abs:
<font size="4">
rel:
<font size="+1">

I think (tired at the moment) both of those will actually give you the same size text.

However, the +1 version (like -1, etc) is 'one more than' the user's default. They have it bigger for a reason, probly due to bad eyesight. (Or smaller, if they like reading lots of little words ^_^)
The absolute version is just saying 'make it size 4', and that's it. Not related to anything.

I think that users' defaults may still affect version 2, which is why the css is (*may be) better, but, basically... it's not gonna change much still.

but... yeah, if you use 12px, instead of a numerical size, you'll still have more control.

anyway.... you CAN still resize it in most browsers (IE?).

[Cheng]

Thanks again.

If that's the case that most people can resize it anyway I think I leave it as it is.
I just come along quiet afew websites were I cant resize the text in IE 6 so I thought that's a normal thing that can be done, but it looks like I was wrong here.
Anyway, thanks a lot for your help.
By the way, this is a great forum here!
I did received quiet a bit of help here before.

So long.
Cheng (Tommy)

[mwinter]

In IE, if you specify the font size of a page using absolute units like pixels, text resizing becomes impossible [...]. This is considered a bug though [...]Really, it depends on your perspective. If a unit is absolute, then scaling the text should not affect that portion of the document. The value is definitive.

The problem with following this notion, however, is that users of that browser will suffer the effects of misuse. If the specified font size is too small, and in the majority of instances on the Web it is, the user is left in a position where they have no means of adjusting the font size short of writing a overriding user style sheet. Whilst the behaviour of Firefox and the like isn't strictly correct, it's very much necessary.

Note that Opera is slightly different: it zooms, rather than resizes. The entire content, including images, is enlarged or reduced.

Finally, authors should keep in mind that pixels, as a unit, are actually relative, though not in the same sense as percentages, or the font-relative units em and ex. How something appears on one monitor may look fine and be perfectly readable. However, on a laptop, for example, it may be miniscule. This is why pixels shouldn't really be used when assigning dimensions (except in obvious cases, like images).



There are two kinds of sizes-- absolute and relatvie.

abs:
<font size="4">
rel:
<font size="+1">Ack! Don't ever use the font element. Ever. Google for why it's considered harmful. If the OP doesn't know how to use style sheets, this is a good time to start. It isn't difficult, certainly for trivial things like setting a type face.

Mike

[Cheng]

Hi Mike.

Thanks again for your reply.
By now I did publish the site to the web already without a fixed font size.
Also I'm not a web designer, I just did a few websites, but more or less for personal reasons.
Like my 1st homepage I ever did for example:

My 1st Homepage (http://www.tommys-service-enterprise.gmxhome.de/index.htm)

This one is placed on a free server.
I liked this server, because there is no advertising at all except one popup when you open the index page, but any good pop blocker takes care of that.

I'm just showing you this so you get an idea what my skil level is.
And that level is not very high.
Anyway, thanks a lot for your help.
So long.

Cheng (Tommy)

[iammike]

I look at your site. I was impressed. You have done a good job :) Keep it up. However one thing I don't like is the popup windows. Maybe you can disable it, it annoys users :)
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[Cheng]

Hi Mike.

Thanks for your comment about the website.
As I said in the message above, the site is hosted on a free server and I can't do anything about the popup ad on the index page, but in my case "Google Toolbar Popup Blocker" takes care of that and I thought most people have popup blockers these days.
It is free web space and I think therefore it's alright with just one popup.
But if you know a host where I can upload the website for free and there are no ads and pop-up's, I probably would host the site there.

Thanks again.
Cheng (Tommy)

[Xiong Chiamiov]

Hi Mike.

Thanks for your comment about the website.
As I said in the message above, the site is hosted on a free server and I can't do anything about the popup ad on the index page, but in my case "Google Toolbar Popup Blocker" takes care of that and I thought most people have popup blockers these days.
It is free web space and I think therefore it's alright with just one popup.
But if you know a host where I can upload the website for free and there are no ads and pop-up's, I probably would host the site there.

Thanks again.
Cheng (Tommy)
Atspace.com (no files above 200kb though)
I ran across a free hoster that provided everything, but it was really slow and complicated. Something to do with ice (Kill M$ and whatnot).

[Twey]

Ice?
Try http://b3ta.cr3ation.co.uk/. He'll host anything.

[cr3ative]

Ice?
Try http://b3ta.cr3ation.co.uk/. He'll host anything.

100% fact. And it won't be erased, and there's no bandwidth restriction.
/edit: Ooh, I forgot, tags as well! http://b3ta.cr3ation.co.uk/tags.php

*looks around*

Ah, good 'ol Dynamic Drive. How I have missed thee. Curse you, other-things-to-do!

[JRS]

Watch out for our senior citizens. My father sends email using Arial 18 which feels like he is shouting to me. Of course he complains about my Arial 12 emails which force him to put on his bifocals.

There are lot of baby boomers out there <sigh>

[mwinter]

Ah, good 'ol Dynamic Drive. How I have missed thee. Curse you, other-things-to-do!Does this mean you're going to show your face more, or are you about to disappear again?

Mike

[Twey]

Watch out for our senior citizens. My father sends email using Arial 18 which feels like he is shouting to me. Of course he complains about my Arial 12 emails which force him to put on his bifocals.Or, you could use plain-text emails and let you both choose your own preferences. :)

Does this mean you're going to show your face more, or are you about to disappear again?I think he's already gone. :)

[mwinter]

I think he's already gone. :)Wouldn't surprise me... :rolleyes:

Mike

[JRS]

you could use plain-text emails and let you both choose your own preferences. Well, my father is in love with one thing on the computer ...fonts, so there's no way he's going to send me plain text. Sending him plain text is easy enough for me; but, not sure what to tell him regarding preferences setup that would allow him to automatically receive plain text in a font and size of his choice. Please advise.

[Twey]

but, not sure what to tell him regarding preferences setup that would allow him to automatically receive plain text in a font and size of his choice. Please advise.He ought to already receive it in the default font style for his system.

[JRS]

He uses Outlook Express for email. Not sure how to change the default font type/size for plain text in Outlook Express.

[Twey]

Nor am I. Have a nose through his settings menus.

[JRS]

Found it. Oddly enough it's on the same tab (Read) where plain text is selected; but seemingly out of place :confused:

There are three sections, Reading messages, News and then Fonts, even though the font settings only apply to the Plain text selection which is in the Reading Messages section, they stick it after News ... as an afterthought. Go figure.

[Twey]

Lol, I've seen worse interfaces. :)