I have a question regarding “The CSS3 Anthology 4th.
On pages 10-11 it seems the colors in the CSS markup on top of 11 are reversed, if they are to agree with the text preceding on pg 10.
If I am wrong please explain. I have a learning disability and it is more difficult for me to understand than the average person.
Thank you
Karl
Hi Karl M. Welcome to the forums. 
There isn’t a mistake in the text, but I think you have to take this example separately from other examples.
In this example you have a div with nested paragraphs, a nested “tagline” div and another paragraph within that div. The aim is to style only the paragraphs that are the direct children of the sidebar div white, while not touching the paragraph that is inside the tagline div (which is thus not a direct child of the sidebar div).
The p { } rule sets a style for all paragraphs in the example, setting them to blue. Then the .sidebar > p { } rule targets just the two paragraphs that are direct children of the sidebar div, setting them to white.
Does that make sense?
I really appreciate the time you took tp help. I am beginning to see it.
So far I can look at markup and see the DOM model form in my mind as I analyze the markup. For me, it must be that way or I don/t feel I have sufficient knowledge to author good code. Like here, I stop each time I have not arrived at that point. I must learn to wear all of the “hats.” I will create the websites for my church and there is no one tech savvy here…
Could you tell me how other people author. It will help me create mileposts as I learn. I am just not a half way person. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing well.
Thanks again.
Karl
There’s no one way to do this sort of thing. Heck, some people let an editor spit out code for them. I like to work from the outside in, if that helps. So, start with the page wrapper or the main sections, and build from there inwards. A lot of designers just throw elements around without thinking about structure, and usually get themselves in a mess.
Thanks Ralph,
I hope I’m using this forum correctly.
You jumped ahead of me, which is more than I asked. That’s a wonderful surprise.
I use WeBuilder as my editor and do not have a WYSIWYG TOOL.
I will still be learning and practicing for the next several weeks before starting on a real world project. The needed knowledge should come with experience.
I think I’ll begin with a css template close to what I envision [basically a lazy daggy loser here] . I am hand drawing an outline for my first page as a visual map. Home will be simple with a short text telling what the visitor can expect.
There will be the logo [top left]; a picture across the top, with the intro text between the logo and pix. The pages should be fast loading and flashy. Will have to get into SEO but not concerned about that until the whole thing starts to gel.
Just under these are the standard buttons arrayed horizontally.
Below there will be descriptive thumbnail pictures linking to other pages,\m\, probably 3/4 to start and not to exceed an array of nine… The site will consist of lesson plans. To keep them short and interesting, they will contain href’s to expanded explanations if the viewer so chooses.
Home page text will consist of about 50 words. They can quickly decide if this is for them. I’ve ID’d my preferred visitor and the text is designed to appeal to my target. People say I write well and publish in the local paper.
I will need forms and some method for interaction and visitor feedback. I want to incorporate Java but have no conception as to what or how yet. I am hoping to find a source for css snippets that lighten the load.
What do you think?
I’m a retired techie with a few years of PC under my belt. This is my swan song to life.
Can you offer suggestions. Thanks again, you have been a great mentor. There is no one here but me.
Karl in the boonies of Carolina
A simple contact form is easy enough to do (see my signature link as an example). There are lots of tools out there for doing a lot of things, so you don’t need to reinvent the wheel at every turn. But to find the best options, you need to be very clear on what the feature needs to do.
By “Java” I presume you mean JavaScript, which is quite different. JavaScript is a popular scripting/programming language used mainly in browsers, though it has applications just about everywhere these days, including on the serverside and even in powering robots. Java is a completely different programming language. (As they sometimes say, Java is to JavaScript as Ham is to Hamster!)
As for SEO, there is a lot of mumbo jumbo about it, but it’s mainly about writing really good, clear content. There isn’t a huge amount beyond this that isn’t mostly snake oil.