<P> Class not applying color to <A> element

[mike7896]

This is probably some kind of very basic CSS knowledge that I am just clueless on.

I use classes to define font color and and size for different paragrahs. Like if I want 14pt navy blue text, 12pt red, whatever. So typically I will write code like this:

<p class="navy14">This is my 14pt navy blue text <a href="http://www.example.com"> I want to put a link here with the same color</a></p>

The link always shows up in the default blue we are used to seeing on most browsers. I always have to put <a class="navy14"... to get the link color to match the paragraph it is contained in.

My CSS is this:

.navy14 {
	FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #0A0593; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;
}

What am I doing wrong? I want the link to automatically get the color of whatever paragraph it is contained in.

[CadmiumNL]

try this:

a { color: inherit; }

[AutisticCuckoo]

It won't work, because there will be a User Agent Style Sheet (i.e., the built-in default style in the browser) that is more specific than your rule.

In compliant browsers, you can achieve it like this:

.navy14 a {background:transparent; color:inherit}

IE won't play ball, since it doesn't understand the inherit keyword. You can do it like this instead:

.navy 14, .navy14 a {color:#0a0593}
.navy14 {...the other rules for that class...}

(BTW, 'navy14' is not the greatest class name you could choose. What if you decide to redesign and want to make those elements have maroon text instead? A friendly hint is to use more semantic class names, that indicate what those elements are rather than how they look.)

[mike7896]

Thanks.

Yep as you said, inherit didn't work in IE, so I used

.navy 14, .navy14 a {color:#0a0593}

And it worked just fine.

(BTW, 'navy14' is not the greatest class name you could choose. What if you decide to redesign and want to make those elements have maroon text instead? A friendly hint is to use more semantic class names, that indicate what those elements are rather than how they look.)

Yeah, I considered that, but my site isn't very big so I figure I'd just use a find and replace tool if I ever want to change color schemes. It was just easier for me to do it that way when I was first learning CSS.

Thanks!

-Mike

[Bob Carologees]

(BTW, 'navy14' is not the greatest class name you could choose. What if you decide to redesign and want to make those elements have maroon text instead? A friendly hint is to use more semantic class names, that indicate what those elements are rather than how they look.)

Don't be such a snob. There is nothing wrong with that name.

[AutisticCuckoo]

I'm not a snob. I presented a valid argument for why 'navy14' is not a good choice for a class name.

If you don't understand why it's not so good, I guess you don't have much experience of web site maintenance.

[Bob Carologees]

Yes no experience at all - I've only worked with Converse, Oakley, Microsoft, O2, the British government etc. etc..

Anyone moaning about non-semantic names are part off this poofy new-guard group that think everyone has to follow the same rules - it's construct and its utter balls. If it works that is all that matters.

[AutisticCuckoo]

Please re-read the part that you quoted. It was a friendly hint, based on my personal experience, meant to possibly help someone avoid creating a maintenance problem further on. It was not 'moaning'. It was not about 'rules'.

If you think it's OK to edit a large number of files to change class names when you redesign, it's up to you. Separating structure from presentation is considered best practice by most experienced designers/developers, but it's not the law.

If you think it's OK to have a class named 'navy14' for maroon text, that's up to you, too. I just hope I'll never have to maintain or redesign one of your sites.

[Bob Carologees]

I'm better than you. Fact.

[CadmiumNL]

If it works that is all that matters.

Let me guess. This is something you learned while working for MS?

I agree with AutisticCuckoo, you should always try to keep your code as maintainable as possible, especially when working for big companies like you just mentioned. People come and go, but development continues. You could save someone hours of work (which will cost extra money) simply by using consistent code. But of course that's not your problem anymore once you're gone, right?

[Bob Carologees]

But of course that's not your problem anymore once you're gone, right?

Exactly. Web development is all about money at the end of the day - if you forget that you will never be succesful. As long as you get the job done and get your money - the performance of the business is irrelevant as it's no longer your problem.

[all4nerds]

Hello

You are maybe in the money side, others are here for the fun of helping the best they can, its just HTML + CSS nothing to get in Trouble about

[kefeso]

Exactly. Web development is all about money at the end of the day - if you forget that you will never be succesful. As long as you get the job done and get your money - the performance of the business is irrelevant as it's no longer your problem.

I would like to help fix your pipe hole with a tiny piece of tape to hold it for a day for $100, what do you say?

[Bob Carologees]

I would like to help fix your pipe hole with a tiny piece of tape to hold it for a day for $100, what do you say?

If it holds it for a day, you get your money and a good reference before it breaks then in my mind you've done a smart business deal. The world is cut-throat, NO-ONE is your friend don't forget that.

[all4nerds]

NO-ONE is your friend don't forget that.

Hallo

Zoals de waard is, vertrouwt hij zijn gasten

[Bob Carologees]

Yep - respond in a language I clearly don't (nor want) to understand - very clever.

[kefeso]

If it holds it for a day, you get your money and a good reference before it breaks then in my mind you've done a smart business deal. The world is cut-throat, NO-ONE is your friend don't forget that.

Imagine if you are saying this to a teenager, how would you think this would affect their view of this world...and do you really believe in that?

[all4nerds]

Yep - respond in a language I clearly don't (nor want) to understand - very clever.

Hello

Google

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=175474

[Bob Carologees]

What does it make a difference what age the person is? It's the truth. The human race is a virus with shoes and the only purpose of our lives is to evolve and pro-create (unfortunately - go abortion!) evolution is all about survival of the fittest, the fittest in the business world are those who can make the most money with the smallest outlays.

Anyway this is straying wildly from the original point that people who pussy-foot around worrying about semantics are the same people that go to cult group events and worship imaginary figures in the sky.

[Bob Carologees]

the extent to which the innkeeper trusts his guests reflects more on his own trustworthiness than on that of his guests.

How profound. Not. Also it makes no sense, it's quite plausible that someone could be very trustworthy but realise that they are few and far between and therefore not trust anyone else.

[Varelse]

The discussion went too far off-topic.
It's a bit strange how a friendly tip can be replied with ironic comment. Please try to avoid it.

Thread closed.