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Internet Explorer table rendering - Browser Compatibility

Hello,

I'm working on my personal site and it's becoming a headache. I created my Photoshop layout and saved it as an HTML file for porting to PHP. Unfortunately, the table renders differently in Firefox (my browser of choice) and in Internet Explorer. A sample of the problem pages can be found at: www.crimsondiva.com/design/.

In Firefox, the site looks fine. In IE, however, the navigation column shifts down so that the entire table is messed up. I've changed table widths and heights to no avail. I've attached the whole code (aside from javascript):

<BODY onLoad="preloadImages()" bgcolor="#000000" topmargin="0" bottommargin="0">

<TABLE align="center" width="850" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
      <TR>
            <TD valign="top" colspan="4" height="58">
                  <IMG src="/design/DESIGN06_01.jpg" width="850" height="58" ></TD>
      </TR>
      <TR>
            <TD valign="top" rowspan="7" background="/design/leftsliver.gif" width="125">
                  <IMG src="/design/DESIGN06_02.jpg" width="155" height="511" >
            </TD>
            <TD valign="top" background="/design/middlesliver.gif" height="21" width="125">
                  <A href="/design/"      onMouseOver="window.status='home'; changeImages('home', 'nav_homeON.gif'); return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; changeImages('home', 'nav_home.gif'); return true;">
                  <IMG border="0" name="home" src="/design/nav_home.gif" width="125" height="21" ></A>
            </TD>
<TD valign="top" rowspan="7" background="/design/DESIGN06_04.gif">
<DIV class="pageheader">Welcome</DIV>
Whew! I've been pretty lately and didn't have time to update my site. Well, I finally took
some time to update it with a fresh new look! I hope you like it.
</TD>
            <TD valign="top" rowspan="6" background="/design/rightsliver.gif" height="207" width="165">
            <IMG src="/design/DESIGN06_05.jpg" width="165" height="207" >
            </TD>
      </TR>
      <TR>
            <TD valign="top" background="/design/middlesliver.gif" height="26" width="125">
                  <A href="/design/about.php" onMouseOver="window.status='about'; changeImages('about', 'nav_aboutON.gif'); return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; changeImages('about', 'nav_about.gif'); return true;">
                  <IMG border=0 name="about" src="/design/nav_about.gif" width="125" height="26" ></A></TD>
      </TR>
      <TR>
            <TD valign="top" background="/design/middlesliver.gif" height="29" width="125">
                  <A href="/design/design.php" onMouseOver="window.status='design'; changeImages('design', 'nav_designON.gif'); return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; changeImages('design', 'nav_design.gif'); return true;">
                  <IMG border=0 name="design" src="/design/nav_design.gif" width="125" height="29" ></A></TD>
      </TR>
      <TR>
            <TD valign="top" background="/design/middlesliver.gif" height="21" width="125">
                  <A href="/design/resume.php" onMouseOver="window.status='resume'; changeImages('resume', 'nav_resumeON.gif'); return true;"      onMouseOut="window.status=''; changeImages('resume', 'nav_resume.gif'); return true;">
                  <IMG border=0 name="resume" src="/design/nav_resume.gif" width="125" height="21" ></A></TD>
      </TR>
      <TR>
            <TD valign="top" background="/design/middlesliver.gif" height="24" width="125">
                  <A href="/design/photos.php" onMouseOver="window.status='photos'; changeImages('photos', 'nav_photosON.gif'); return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; changeImages('photos', 'nav_photos.gif'); return true;">
                  <IMG border=0 name="photos" src="/design/nav_photos.gif" width="125" height="24" ></A>
            </TD>
     </TR>
      <TR>
            <TD valign="top" rowspan="2" background="/design/middlesliver.gif" height="390">
                  <IMG src="/design/DESIGN06_10.jpg" width="125" height="390" >
            </TD>
      </TR>

      <TR>
            <TD valign="top" background="/design/DESIGN06_11.gif" height="304" width="165">
            <DIV class="pageheader">Guest Book</DIV>
            Take a moment to sign my guest book!
                  </TD>
      </TR>
      <TR>
            <TD valign="top" colspan="4" height="31" width="850">
                  <IMG src="/design/DESIGN06_12.gif" width="850" height="31" ></TD>
      </TR>
</table>
</BODY>
</HTML>

GrandSchtroumpf

no wonder it gives you a headache...
html should be coded by hand with semantics in mind and separation between content and presentation.
the code generated by software is always ugly and impossible to maintain.

first, you should start by using a doctype:
http://www.htmlhelp.com/tools/validator/doctype.html

use the HTML4.01 strict:
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">

then use css-based layout (tables are for tabular data, not for layout).

and you should validate both your html and css:
http://validator.w3.org/
http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/

good luck.

crimsondiva

ASKER

GrandSchtroumpf,

Generally, I hand code everything. This code is created from ImageReady/Photoshop CS. I read your comments. I'm new to doctypes, however. I've considered using CSS for layouts, but I'm not sure where to start. Can you recommend some sites and/or books for this?

Diva

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GrandSchtroumpf

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crimsondiva

ASKER

Thanks for all of your help. I will have to take the time to do this!

GrandSchtroumpf

<:°)
Yes, it takes some time to learn, but at least when you do things properly there are less chances you'll need to redcode the whole site.
IE6 is a major problem for all web developers, even when using proper code, so, be ready to have to learn a few little tricks to force IE behave a little better...