How do I get lines of text to wrap within borders of alayer?

[wirebird]

I am using Windows XP, SP2, and Dreamweaver 8. I am struggling with the
transition from building layout tables to building layers, and have spent a
great deal of time reading books and following tutorials. I keep running into
a problem which would seem to have a simple solution, but I can't find the
answer in any of my texts or web searches. I may not be using the correct
terminology to describe it . . . but here goes.

Let's say I build the layout first, and it consists of two columns, a left
sidebar, and a larger layer for content. When I add text to the content layer,
it does not wrap into several lines, , respecting the right border, as it would
do in a table. Instead, it continues in one long line, pushing the edge of the
layer out to the right, destroying the layout.

What is the solution? Do I need to create a container for the page, before I
build the rest? Or, is there an attribute that I can apply to the specific
layer to prevent this problem? Or is it an attribute of the text??

Can anyone recommend a good entry-level tutorial for me, which would address
such "beginners" problems? I have found the Dreamweaver tutorial "Creating a
CSS-based Page Layout" to be very unhelpful. They show you how to make the
layers, but there is NO information or guidelines on how to fill the layers
with content so they work properly and maintain their layout. I've also spent
time studying the Dreamweaver 8 "Missing Manual" from Pogue Press. That book
has been very helpful, but not with this issue.

[Murray *ACE*]

>I am using Windows XP, SP2, and Dreamweaver 8. I am struggling with the

> transition from building layout tables to building layers

There's no need to struggle with this. Just don't do it. Forget layers
exist. They are not the way to move ahead, and will get you into serious
trouble if you imagine that they are the next step in your advancement.
Continue to work with tables as you learn about CSS. When you understand
that you rarely need to use any kind of positioning, then you are ready for
the next step: moving from tables to table-less pages.

> I've also spent
> time studying the Dreamweaver 8 "Missing Manual" from Pogue Press. That
> book
> has been very helpful, but not with this issue.

No kidding. In fact, the book is COMPLETELY wrong on this issue. Your best
bet is to take Elmer's Glue and glue all the pages of Chapter 8 together. I
say that as the Tech Editor of that illustrious tome.... 8)

Go here -

[url]http://www.projectseven.com/tutorials/css/qdmacfly/index.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/dreamweaver/css.html[/url]
[url]http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/dreamweaver/articles/tableless_layout_dw8.html[/url]
[url]http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/dreamweaver/articles/css_concepts.html[/url]



--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
[url]http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com[/url] - Template Triage!
[url]http://www.projectseven.com/go[/url] - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
[url]http://www.dwfaq.com[/url] - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
[url]http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/[/url] - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================


"wirebird" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:e26048$e5u$1@forums.macromedia.com...

>I am using Windows XP, SP2, and Dreamweaver 8. I am struggling with the
> transition from building layout tables to building layers, and have spent
> a
> great deal of time reading books and following tutorials. I keep running
> into
> a problem which would seem to have a simple solution, but I can't find the
> answer in any of my texts or web searches. I may not be using the correct
> terminology to describe it . . . but here goes.
>
> Let's say I build the layout first, and it consists of two columns, a left
> sidebar, and a larger layer for content. When I add text to the content
> layer,
> it does not wrap into several lines, , respecting the right border, as it
> would
> do in a table. Instead, it continues in one long line, pushing the edge
> of the
> layer out to the right, destroying the layout.
>
> What is the solution? Do I need to create a container for the page,
> before I
> build the rest? Or, is there an attribute that I can apply to the specific
> layer to prevent this problem? Or is it an attribute of the text??
>
> Can anyone recommend a good entry-level tutorial for me, which would
> address
> such "beginners" problems? I have found the Dreamweaver tutorial "Creating
> a
> CSS-based Page Layout" to be very unhelpful. They show you how to make the
> layers, but there is NO information or guidelines on how to fill the
> layers
> with content so they work properly and maintain their layout. I've also
> spent
> time studying the Dreamweaver 8 "Missing Manual" from Pogue Press. That
> book
> has been very helpful, but not with this issue.
>

[wirebird]

Murray

THANK YOU for giving me guidance and "permission" to not continue struggling
to learn layouts with layers before I'm ready for that step. I redid the layout
with just tables, and used CSS for everything else. I've made so much progress
with it this weekend. The site looks and loads fine, thus far, and passes the
W3C markup validation as it is. When I'm more advanced and secure in what I
know, I'll go back to learning layers, and will use the tutorial resources you
recommended.

I just wanted to express my appreciation for the solid, much needed advice.

Phil

[Murray *ACE*]

You're welcome, Phil!

> to learn layouts with layers before I'm ready for that step

I'm going to save you some more trouble. Here's how to layout with layers:

DON'T.

See how easy that was?

CSS layout is NOT about using layers! It's about using the normal flow of
the code to place things where you want them. It sounds so simple, and it
really *IS* simple, but we are initially so fixated on controlling layout
that it escapes us. While the notion of normal flow is simple, the use of
it to layout your page is sometimes very complex, and individual browser
'eccentricities' can drive you around the bend.

The way to approach this is to read and study, and to slowly integrate some
new uses of CSS into each new project. You'll get there.

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
[url]http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com[/url] - Template Triage!
[url]http://www.projectseven.com/go[/url] - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
[url]http://www.dwfaq.com[/url] - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
[url]http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/[/url] - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================


"wirebird" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:e2h4r7$fgh$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> Murray
>
> THANK YOU for giving me guidance and "permission" to not continue
> struggling
> to learn layouts with layers before I'm ready for that step. I redid the
> layout
> with just tables, and used CSS for everything else. I've made so much
> progress
> with it this weekend. The site looks and loads fine, thus far, and passes
> the
> W3C markup validation as it is. When I'm more advanced and secure in what
> I
> know, I'll go back to learning layers, and will use the tutorial resources
> you
> recommended.
>
> I just wanted to express my appreciation for the solid, much needed
> advice.
>
> Phil
>