Cascading Style Sheets: The Definitive Guide Book

Cascading Style Sheets can put a great deal of control and flexibility into the hands of a Web designer--in theory. In reality, however, varying browser support for CSS1 and lack of CSS2 implementation makes CSS a very tricky topic, indeed. Cascading Style Sheets: The Definitive Guide is a comprehensive text that shows you how to take advantage of the benefits of CSS while keeping compatibility issues in mind. The book is very upfront about the spotty early browser support for CSS and the sluggish adoption of CSS2. However, enthusiasm for the technology spills out of the pages, convincing even the most sceptical reader to give CSS a whirl and count on its future. CSS1 is covered in impressive depth, not only the syntactical conventions but also more general concepts such as specificity and inheritance. Frequent warnings and tips alert the reader to browser compatibility pitfalls. Entire chapters are devoted to topics such as units and values; visual formatting and positioning; and the usual text, fonts and colours. This attention to both detail and architecture helps readers build a well-rounded knowledge of CSS and equips them for a future of real-world debugging. Cascading Style Sheets honestly states its reasons for avoiding an in-depth discussion of the still immature CSS2, but covers the general changes over CSS1 in a brief chapter near the end of the book. When successfully implemented, Cascading Style Sheets result in more elegant HTML that separates form from function. This fine guide delivers on its promise as an indispensable tool for CSS coders. --Stephen W. Plain, Amazon.com Topics covered: HTML with CSS Selectors and structure Units Text manipulation Colours and backgrounds Boxes and borders Visual formatting principles Positioning CSS2 preview CSS case studiesRead More