Non CSS menu using IFRAMES - Need Opinion

[hinchb]

I have coded a Non-CSS menu using IFRAMES which I would like your opinion on.
It seems to work in all the browsers I've tested. Do you see any disadvantages in using something like this.

Here is my test site http://webpages.charter.net/hinchb/default.htm


Thank You for your advice.
Bob

[boogyman]

1)
a) without scaling, the page is still broken in firefox 1.5 and 2.0.0.7 (left nav and footer)
b) doesnt scale... if you increase the text size, the proportions become cluttered / overlap each other

2) by using iframes you are preventing the user from EVER bookmarking anything but the first page, causing this person to always need to re-find what it is he/she was looking for, which in most instances defeats the purpose of bookmarking.

I am not sure if charter.net allows php, but if they do you can use some includes on the pages and create separate header/nav/footer/etcetc..., which will provide both the bookmarkability, but you also will not have to update multiple files if your navigation changes

<?php include('/path/to/file.ext') ?>

[hinchb]

1)
a) without scaling, the page is still broken in firefox 1.5 and 2.0.0.7 (left nav and footer)
b) doesnt scale... if you increase the text size, the proportions become cluttered / overlap each other

2) by using iframes you are preventing the user from EVER bookmarking anything but the first page, causing this person to always need to re-find what it is he/she was looking for, which in most instances defeats the purpose of bookmarking.

I am not sure if charter.net allows php, but if they do you can use some includes on the pages and create separate header/nav/footer/etcetc..., which will provide both the bookmarkability, but you also will not have to update multiple files if your navigation changes

<?php include('/path/to/file.ext') ?>

Thank You for taking the time to look at the page. There is a javascript in the code to select the proper font size, but I can see what you mean. I'll look into your suggestions.
Thamk you very much

[boogyman]

when used correctly javscript can greatly enhance a site, however its a good idea, scratch that, its good coding practice, to design your site to work with javascript being unavailable, because of the abuse that some coders have for the language (eg... popup he\_\_).

now on that note, i didn't even take a look at the site with javascript being disabled, so there is still soemthign in your code that would need fixing, and its best to use CSS stylesheets for text-sizing. and to use percentages of 1 definition. that way if you ever want to change the size you need only to change 1 and the rest change automatically, and it also helps with scalability.

<style type="text/css">
body {
     font-size: 12pt;
}
h1 {
     font-size: 150%;
}
</style>

[hinchb]

Thanks again, I do have a redirect if javascript is disabled. the main problem I have with font sizes is that only 3 possible sizes can be selected with the css sheets.

[boogyman]

3 sizes? umm why do you say that?

[hinchb]

Hi,
There is a JS (selecttestsize.js) after the body tag that checks the screen resolution and selects 1 of 3 style sheets that all have a different font size, the rest of the CSS is the same.

[boogyman]

why should the screen resolution have anything to do with the font-size?

[hinchb]

I use 9px for 800 or less, 12px for 1024, and 15px for larger than 1024 width, this makes it fit the screen better.