DOCTYPE -- Grr!

**Jas** · 02-23-2008, 11:59 PM

I have never had a problem with html, but this won't work and it's making me really really really mad!

Code:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
    <html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
    <!-- this shows up as nothing//-->
    <div style="height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#123456;"></div>
</body>
    </html>

The problem seems to be the doc type, which w3c requires for valid html. What can a guy do? I tried other DOCTYPEs as well, but the only ones that work are invalid. I am really confused and frustrated.

**Master_script_maker** · 02-24-2008, 01:32 AM

you need title tag, even if it is empty:

Code:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<title></title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- this shows up as nothing//-->
<div style="height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#123456;"></div>
</body>
</html>

**Jas** · 02-24-2008, 04:10 AM

Code:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
    <html>
<head>
    <title>Hello World!</title>
</head>
<body>
    <!-- this shows up as nothing//-->
    <div style="height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#123456;"></div>
</body>
    </html>

Still does not work. I don't get it. In FF, nothing shows up at all, in IE, the demensions are default. It's like the hieght and width don't exist.

If you take out the DOCTYPE, it suddenly works. What is going on?!

**Nile** · 02-24-2008, 04:21 AM

I don't think that this will work but try it anyways:

HTML Code:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
    <html>
<head>
    <title>Hello World!</title>
</head>
<body>
    <!-- this shows up as nothing//-->
    <div style="height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#123456;"></div>
</body>
    </html>

**Jas** · 02-24-2008, 04:26 AM

Good eye, but no, it didn't work. Try pasting it into an HTML file. It's really strange.

Is it just my computer?

**Nile** · 02-24-2008, 04:32 AM

I think so, because I tried both of 'em
and it works perfectly.

**djr33** · 02-24-2008, 08:05 AM

Sometimes having content will change whether or not something displays (ie add   to the div), and also that color isn't valid-- it must be in the form of AABBCC where A, B, and C are values from 0-F (0-9,A-F). It usually works, but technically the web is only meant to have 256 colors (which are determined by what I just said).

**Twey** · 02-24-2008, 10:02 AM

The 100% height will be ignored, because you don't have an explicit height for the parent element. You also need 100% height on the <body> and the <html>. It's bad practice to use inline styles.

that color isn't valid-- it must be in the form of AABBCC where A, B, and C are values from 0-F (0-9,A-F).

It's perfectly valid, and also includes the mandatory # you forgot to mention.

Note that that's only one colour form -- there are others, like rgb(255, 255, 255) (equivalent to #FFF) or #FFF (equivalent to #FFFFFF).

**djr33** · 02-24-2008, 10:27 AM

Well, maybe it's valid then, I'm not sure, but it isn't technically supported by all systems, though that may be outdated. Anyway, seems the problem was found.

**Jas** · 02-24-2008, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Nile

I think so, because I tried both of 'em
and it works perfectly.

Are you sure it did what it was suppose to?

Originally Posted by Twey

The 100% height will be ignored, because you don't have an explicit height for the parent element. You also need 100% height on the <body> and the <html>.

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
    <html>
<head>
    <title>Hello World!</title>
</head>
<body style="height:100%;">
    <!-- this shows up as nothing//-->
    <div style="height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#123456;"></div>
</body>
    </html>

Did not work. What should I do to get the effect I am obviously seeking?

Edit: NVM! Twey you rock! I added the height to the HTML tag and it works!

And DJR33, what is wrong with the color?
AA | BB | CC
12 | 34 | 56