two tables - why side by side?

[kiwizoro]

Hello all,

I did a search before posting but could not find an answer to my question below.

I have two tables that I wish to have one on top of the other. Simple and should not be hard.

<table>
...
</table>

<br />

<table>
...
</table>

Now this works however when I add the align="left" attribute to the first table the second table aligns itself right next to the first table instead of staying down underneath the first name. So visually you have two tables right next to each other!

<table align="left">
...
</table>

<br />

<table>
...
</table>

Any ideas why this happens?

Cheers

Marc

[eldacar]

There's no need to have a break between those tables.

http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/struct/ta...ef-align-TABLE
Using align="left" on a table moves the table is to the left of the document. Sort of like a float I suppose.

[Dan Schulz]

Eldacar's right. You need to remove the (depreciated) align="" attribute from the table to fix the issue.

[kiwizoro]

Hello,

Thanks for the link to the spec. I suppose I am just wondering why the align attribute within the table tag controls another tables behaviour...

What could I use instead of the align to say center a table within a web page? Div, span??

Cheers

Marc

[Dan Schulz]

Add an ID or class to your table, and then in your stylesheet, give that ID or class the following:

margin: 0 auto;

And a width.

Please note that align="" is valid in TD and TH elements though.

[kiwizoro]

Thank you for your help Dan and eldacar!

[Stormrider]

Just to add:

The align isnt exactly controlling another table's behaviour, it is controlling the first table in the context of the whole page. What you are saying by using align=left is that you want the table to go to the left, and the content that follows to flow around it, much you would with an image for example. The 2nd table is the content that follows, so you would probably get the first table, then to the right the 2nd table maybe a bit lower down because of the line break (maybe not).

Was the table not aligned to the left by default? Why did you need to set align="left" on it?

[kiwizoro]

Just to add:

The align isnt exactly controlling another table's behaviour, it is controlling the first table in the context of the whole page. What you are saying by using align=left is that you want the table to go to the left, and the content that follows to flow around it, much you would with an image for example. The 2nd table is the content that follows, so you would probably get the first table, then to the right the 2nd table maybe a bit lower down because of the line break (maybe not).

Was the table not aligned to the left by default? Why did you need to set align="left" on it?

Hello Stormrider,

It was my lack of HTML knowledge which caused me to add the align="left" attribute in the table tag. I need to read more

I thought that the align="left" would only be in the scope of the top table tag and all child elements underneath but it seems the attribute controls other high level objects as well - including the second table.

Cheers

Marc