Pro CSS Techniques

by Dan Rubin, Ian Lloyd, Jeffrey Croft

Overview

Pro CSS Techniques is the ultimate CSS book for the modern web developer. If you've already got web design and development basics under your belt, but want to take your knowledge to the next level and unleash the full power of CSS in your web sites, then this is the book for you. It is a collection of proven CSS techniques that you can use daily to get the most out of the time you spend on your projects, from start to finish.

Every topic is presented in an informative tutorial style, with each point backed up by several real-world examples and case studies. The authors cover all the essential areas of CSS development, like browser support (including IE7), hacks and filters, code management, advanced layouts and styling, typography, and much more. CSS levels 1, 2, and 3 are given a full treatment. The book also includes several reference sections that allow you to look up details quickly and easily.

The book aims to help you in four areas: maintainability, compatibility, reusability, and practicality. You'll be able to keep your code organized and easy to maintain, avoiding browser issues before they crop up (or hacking around them when absolutely necessary). You'll learn to get the most out of your styles with inheritance, and by using techniques you can build on. And you'll learn to use what works in the real world, without getting too caught up in ideals, because you can always optimize later.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590597323
Publisher:	Apress
Publication date:	11/22/2006
Series:	Expert's Voice Series
Edition description:	1st ed.
Pages:	408
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.03(d)

About the Author

Music, design, typography, web standards, South Florida beaches. What could these things possibly have in common? Dan Rubin, that's what er, who. From vocal coaching and performing to graphic design and (almost literally) everything in between, Dan does his best to spread his talent as thin and as far as he possibly can while still leaving time for a good cup of tea and the occasional nap. His passion for all things creative and artistic isn't a solely selfish endeavor either you don't have to hang around too long before you'll find him waxing educational about a cappella jazz and barbershop harmony, interface design, usability, web standards, and which typeface was on the bus ad that just whizzed by at 60mph. Dan has been known to write the occasional entry on his blog, superfluousbanter.org (you might even find a podcast or two if you poke around enough), and his professional work can be found at his agency's site, webgraph.com.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Introduction to Modern CSS: Modern Markup.- Understanding CSS.- The Browsers.- Part 2. CSS Development: Managing CSS Files.- CSS Layout.- Hacks and Workarounds.- Part 3. CSS Techniques: Creating Common Page Elements.- Typography.- Styling Tables.- Styling Forms.- Styling Lists.- Styling for Print and other media.- Part 4. Troubleshooting: Everything Falls Apart.- Appendix A. CSS properties (with browser support).- Appendix B. CSS specificity chart.- Appendix C. Browser grading chart.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

"Croft, Lloyd, and Rubin promise real-world cascading style sheet (CSS) techniques for real-world CSS professionals. … The basics of CSS are covered, along with a number of tricks, handy shortcuts, and workarounds. The book offers down-to-earth advice on how to handle browser differences from simple problems. Screen shots and graphics illustrate the main points clearly. … the main target audience for the book is likely to be Web page designers, or programmers implementing a given design." (Annika Hinze, ACM Computing Reviews, September, 2008)

From the Publisher