Which css book should I buy?
Please recommnend a Book!
Here are my background and leanings;
I know html, basic java script and asp and just the very basics of css. I'm really not much of a design person. I like the way css works and the idea of seperating form from content.
I saw some reviews of "The Definitive Guide to CSS" on Amazon and was particularly impressed by one review that claimed that this book is a great book to read before learning xml and xsl, which is definitley on my agenda of things to learn next.
Unfortunatley, there were other reviews there which warned that the book was really not all its cracked up to be.
I was wondering if any of you have read the book and would care to comment on it, or alternatively, suggest another book that would suit me more in light of my background and preferences.
Thanks.
Andy
Andy Kohlenberg
Jerusalem, Israel
Suzanne posted this at 20:51 — 25th September 2001.
She has: 5,507 posts
Joined: Feb 2000
By Keith Schengili-Roberts
EXCELLENT reference, very thorough, nice charts, CD, explanations, et cetera.
akohl posted this at 08:43 — 26th September 2001.
They have: 117 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
Thank you Suzanne for the book recommendation.
What about the issue of learning css as a primer to xml?
Does this mean anything to you?
Andy
akohl posted this at 09:28 — 26th September 2001.
They have: 117 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
I Just looked at some reviews of the book Suzanne recommended. One comment from one of the reviewers bothered me.
"What I do have a problem with is the fact that the whole book, every example for every property, was completely embedded into the HTML itself. Their was a slight reference to externally described CSS but no examples to follow. The idea of the sheets is to set a number of parameters for most or all of your pages to follow. Embedding them into the HTML every time defeats the purpose. "
Is this comment true?
For me. linked style sheets is the whole point of css.
I'm interested in learning techniques and advice for making one style sheet for an entire site that can be varied on indivudual pages with embedded css.
I'm also not such a design person. So I'm looking for somenting that will give me some guidance on color choice, layout styles, ect...
Is this something covered by any of the books? Or do I just have to piddle around and experiment untill I get what I want.
Andy
Andy Kohlenberg
Jerusalem, Israel
Suzanne posted this at 19:22 — 26th September 2001.
She has: 5,507 posts
Joined: Feb 2000
Weirdly, I have never even looked at it that way.
There are, after all, very few options for style sheets:
1. inline -- totally embedded into the HTML using the style attribute (for single instances that need changing, like in temporary documents)
2. local -- in the tag of a given page (when the styles only apply to a particular page, or to cascade for slight alterations or clarifications to the global CSS)
3. global -- linked or imported from an external document. (overall rules that apply to the site as a whole, or sections of the site as a whole) (for instance, print v. web v. voice stylesheets)
For the purposes of explanation and demonstration, it doesn't make sense to have a global style sheet. For the purposes of building a site that is modifiable from the stylesheets, it does.
I would assume (though we all know where that will get me) that the examples in the book are intended to show you how the individual declarations work, not an ideal application of stylesheets IN GENERAL for large scale sites.
Why anyone would want more than that explanation (above of the three types), I don't know. There isn't that much to say.
:/ Suzanne
Suzanne posted this at 19:27 — 26th September 2001.
She has: 5,507 posts
Joined: Feb 2000
This is a bit odd. Really, if anything CSS and XML work together, and one isn't a primer for the other. Conceivably, you could say that CSS is a primer for XSLT, but that would be really stretching.
The concept of separating the markup from the presentation, however, is something that will aid you in learning XML.
I hope that clarifies that a little? HTML and XHTML would be better primers for XML, but in reality, XML requires NO primer, but an open mind.
Suzanne posted this at 19:36 — 26th September 2001.
She has: 5,507 posts
Joined: Feb 2000
Well, er, I'd vote for the piddling around, but lynda.com has a number of books and options on colour theory that will help. Most technical books on subjects like CSS and XML won't touch the design side. Unfortunately, you'll have to marry the design and the underpinnings yourself, but that's the nature of the job.
Busy posted this at 22:39 — 26th September 2001.
He has: 6,151 posts
Joined: May 2001
My .02 cents worth.
Forget the book, use the web, like everything in life everyone has their own way of doing things, own beliefs, own methods, shortcuts, bad habits ...... so why pay for only one of these when you can use the free WWW and get multi views.
Dont always assume the big site names know best, give the unknown, or little guys a chance as sometimes they know best (or at least better).
NO matter which way you learn anything, its the same ole "practice makes perfect" and if asking for advice in learning a programming language I'm sure youd get the same advice - practice, practice, practice ...
** Now back to your regular broadcasting ... **
akohl posted this at 22:15 — 3rd October 2001.
They have: 117 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
I think I will go with what seems to be a consensus here that its good to practice and fiddle around a lot. I'm still considering getting Core css. But not yet. Maybe by the time I'm ready, another book that deals explicitly with design strategies as well as the technical side of css will come out. If it does, please let me know.
Thanks for your help
Andy Kohlenberg
Jerusalem, Israel
Want to join the discussion? Create an account or log in if you already have one. Joining is fast, free and painless! We’ll even whisk you back here when you’ve finished.