Andrew Colclough

Web Design & Dev., Liberty, Economics, Football
 

Start using HTML5 Now - Compatible with FF, Safari, IE6-9

So, I can use this now?

Actually, yes, with a few extra steps. And it will work in all modern browsers. It can even work in IE6. There are only a few little quirks we need to get past if we’re going to start using this today.

First, because most browsers don’t understand the new HTML5 doctype, they don’t know about these new tags in HTML5. Fortunately, due to the flexibility of browsers, they deal well with unknown tags. The only issue here is unknown tags have no default style, and are treated as inline tags. These new HTML5 tags are structural, and should obviously be block level elements. So, when we style them with CSS, we need to be sure to include display:block; in our attribute/value pairs.

Include this simple extra piece of CSS, and these new tags are immediately usable. Starting today. And of course, once HTML5 is more widely supported, the superfluous display:block; can be removed, as it will be included in the browser default styles.

Supporting IE

There is one more issue if you require IE support. Turns out that the IE rendering engine will work with the new tags, but will not recognize any CSS applied to them. Well, that’s no good. Fortunately, IE just needs a good swift kick with the help of a very simple bit of JavaScript. All we need to do to kick start IE is to create a DOM node with JavaScript for each of the new tags, and suddenly IE will apply styles to the new tags with no problem. The code will look something like this, and can be placed directly in the head of our document, or the contents of the script tag placed into an external file and included.

<script>
  document.createElement('header');
  document.createElement('footer');
  document.createElement('section');
  document.createElement('aside');
  document.createElement('nav');
  document.createElement('article');
</script>

Before we leave this code, there’s one thing to mention about the script tag in HTML5. HTML5 will assume type="text/javascript" on any script element, so it need not be included. Once again, making things simple.

Wrapping Up

So we can begin, right now, to structure our documents using the new tags provided in HTML5. With a few simple tricks, they’ll work today, and be compatible in the future. So next time you start a new site, consider going with HTML5, and give your markup a little more defined structure.

via orderedlist.com

I have tested this and was surprised that it does appear to be fully compatible.

Filed under  //   coding   compatible   html5   internet explorer   tags   web design   web developement  
Posted April 16, 2010
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Getting Real: Epicenter Design (by 37signals)

Epicenter Design

Start from the core of the page and build outward

Epicenter design focuses on the true essence of the page — the epicenter — and then builds outward. This means that, at the start, you ignore the extremities: the navigation/tabs, footer, colors, sidebar, logo, etc. Instead, you start at the epicenter and design the most important piece of content first.

Whatever the page absolutely can't live without is the epicenter. For example, if you're designing a page that displays a blog post, the blog post itself is the epicenter. Not the categories in the sidebar, not the header at the top, not the comment form at the bottom, but the actual blog post unit. Without the blog post unit, the page isn't a blog post.

 

Read the rest: gettingreal.37signals.com

This is such a key aspect of software and UI design, I can't promote it enough.

Stated simply: Start with the content -> then add the stuff that helps people get around the content.

Don't forget to read the entire book. It's free.

Filed under  //   37signals   content   epicenter   web design   web developement  
Posted January 23, 2010
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Compass: A Real Stylesheet Framework

via vimeo.com

I am currently testing this system out - and so far I have been totally blown away. I think Compass+Sass are a huge leap forward in the CSS arena. If you get the opportunity - watch this full video to get a good overview of some of the power that Compass and Sass could add to your web design/dev project.

Here are links to both Frameworks to get you started:
-Sass
-Compass

And as Samuel L. Jackson once said, "Hold on to your butts."

Filed under  //   blueprint   compass   compile   css   cutting-edge   framework   ruby   sass   web design   web developement  
Posted December 18, 2009
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How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell - The Oatmeal

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via theoatmeal.com

Hilarious and sadly, too often true.

Filed under  //   hell   web design  
Posted December 4, 2009
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Curious about CSS?

Mastering CSS Coding: Getting Started « Smashing Magazine
Media_httpmedia1smashingmagazinecomwpcontentuploads2009096bjpg_xjedigkgcwurewi
via smashingmagazine.com

Whether you are a total n00b, or teh 7337 h4XX0rz - this is a great intro article covering most of the basics of Cascading Style Sheets.

Filed under  //   css   tips   web design   web developement  
Posted October 5, 2009
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