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For instance I wanted to make a small box (a div) with two columns of equal width. Only way to do this (working with every browser): each column is a div with position:absolute, width:50%; height:100%. But if so, the containing div has no height, and the contained divs have a fancy height… There should be a mean to specify a width-position: absolute, for instance. Or use a CSS table system.

About fonts, it is not true that we can position text with a pixer accuracy. Simply because the font can vary (especially in dynamic pages).

I think you’re right. I guess dislapy and the CSS3 Advanced Layout Module are more suitable. Their names can indeed be confusing.

All of the examples I can find on a quick search seem to imply that this is the case. Is it not? I have looked at the spec and while it seems that it could be used for page layout it seems that a) that’s not what it’s meant for and b) the display-model properties seem to have more potential for page layout. I think this confusing terminology is going to cause some problems when this is implemented.

Yes, except for the lack of support in IE…
And, although late, thanks for your comment.

A couple of links with some relevancy to CSS3: CSS Shortcomings: Why CSS2 isn’t perfect for layout, and what’s in the CSS3 s [...]

To answer your question, one way is to use the method suggested by Chris J Davis, although I’m not a big fan of having server-side code in the CSS; a good read is also the discussion in the CSS-discuss list about this.

I so agree with you variables would be wonderful. I just got through turning my site pink for the Pink for October campaign which is to bring attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A few variables would have made the process much easier. Especially if I could define a variable for the border color. Search and replace didn’t work in this case because there were some items of the border color that I didn’t want to change.

Maybe someone can or has written a CSS preprocessor that would allow you to use variables in your CSS. Does anyone know of such a beast?

Usually because they have a ‘Speed of the slowest ship in the convoy mentality’ with one client, the web site had to work perfectly on there own computers which had an old version of windows NT running Internet explorer 5. We had no choice but to add the table! They where willing to sacrifice good web design instead of updating there own IT systems.

But if you have a mind you can really control tables to perform nearly as well as a DIV, I can create print pages and even change complete page design with a table controlled by CSS.

Have a go see what you all can do with CSS controlled tables. its quite interesting.

But I must stress this point I try my best not to make table less structured websites, but as some know reality can force them on you, and try to use no more than one!

Great, thanks! Works just fine now.

Also, thanks for the link and a different angle about the display: table solution.

(Comment box munged the last one)

FWIW, I think the display:table-cell method is wasteful and sometimees requires extra, markup for presentational reasons.

Take a look at Layout Gala, Faux Columns and Sliding Faux Columns if you are using liquid layouts. I’ve found that the Layout Gala collection is very reliable and is easy to implement.

My first experience using a layout from Layout Gala was for Eric Mack Online and was very easy, even though the CMS Eric uses does not put out great HTML. The only thing I had to do is create a small graphic for the Faux column which was pretty easy even for someone with my limited graphic skills.

The site ended up even working with IE 5.0! I think that using cost as a reason for using tables for site is a cop out. Print style sheets are difficult to implement with a site that uses tables for layout. I spent personal time to learn how to make web sites better for my employer. I did it on my own time, so can you.

CSS shortcoming [...]