Programming Forums > Web Development and Design > HTML / XHTML / CSS

Writlaus · Mar 18th, 2006, 4:20 AM

I know you can set the td widths and such, but when a word is too long, it just stretches the cell. For example...

<table width=100%>
    <tr>
        <td width=20%>
            [put a reeeeeeally long word here]
        </td>
    </tr>
</table>

That td cell will be as long as that word is, unless the word is smaller than the cell. Is there any way to fix that? I know PHP, in case that could be part of the solution.

Agent 47 · Mar 18th, 2006, 4:56 AM

It's stretching because there is no white-space in long words
for the browser to wrap. There is no solution bar splitting the
word up and hyphenating it.

Polyphemus_ · Mar 18th, 2006, 4:58 AM

You can use the CSS overflow property, or you can use PHP's wordwrap function: http://nl2.php.net/wordwrap, which splits long words into smaller words.

Writlaus · Mar 18th, 2006, 5:12 AM

Arg. I was hoping there was some table attribute or something, so I wouldn't have to go and write my own wordwrap method (since I want it to wrap when the word gets to a certain pixel length, rather than a certain character amount).

Agent 47 · Mar 18th, 2006, 5:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Writlaus

(since I want it to wrap when the word gets to a certain pixel length, rather than a certain character amount).

You'll not be able to do that in PHP then, as you have no way to
tell how many pixels the word will occupy in the client's browser.
It is probably possible in JavaScript, but it'll be ugly...

DaWei · Mar 18th, 2006, 7:55 AM

Besides, what happens when the user adjusts (or tries to adjust) the text size in the browser? Changes resolutions? Resizes a window? Personally, I try to leave the user in control as much as possible while still having a presentable page.

mackenga · Mar 18th, 2006, 8:39 PM

I must say I don't envy anyone trying to do something pixel-perfect with HTML. If you're starting to worry about the width in pixels of a character, you've got a fundamental design problem. You can't do it at all without incredibly hairy goings-on with server-side code and doing it in JS is no easier (and until MS pull their socks up "portable Javascript" is an oxymoron anyway). You'd almost be as well simulating a table that behaved the way you wanted it to with a Java applet.

(Don't do this by the way, it would be insane.)

Mar 18th, 2006, 4:20 AM	#1
Writlaus Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 149 Rep Power: 3	table size limits I know you can set the td widths and such, but when a word is too long, it just stretches the cell. For example... (Toggle Plain Text) <table width=100%> <tr> <td width=20%> [put a reeeeeeally long word here] </td> </tr> </table> <table width=100%> <tr> <td width=20%> [put a reeeeeeally long word here] </td> </tr> </table> That td cell will be as long as that word is, unless the word is smaller than the cell. Is there any way to fix that? I know PHP, in case that could be part of the solution.

Mar 18th, 2006, 4:56 AM	#2
Agent 47 Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 122 Rep Power: 4	It's stretching because there is no white-space in long words for the browser to wrap. There is no solution bar splitting the word up and hyphenating it. __________________ "I'm going to become rich and famous when I invent a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet"

Mar 18th, 2006, 7:55 AM	#6
DaWei Resident Grouch Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,453 Rep Power: 10	Besides, what happens when the user adjusts (or tries to adjust) the text size in the browser? Changes resolutions? Resizes a window? Personally, I try to leave the user in control as much as possible while still having a presentable page. __________________ Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code. Contributor's Corner: Grumpy on C++ Exceptions DaWei on Pointers

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Mar 18th, 2006, 4:58 AM	#3
Polyphemus_ Expert Programmer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rotterdam, the Netherlands Posts: 942 Rep Power: 4	You can use the CSS overflow property, or you can use PHP's wordwrap function: http://nl2.php.net/wordwrap, which splits long words into smaller words.

Mar 18th, 2006, 5:12 AM	#4
Writlaus Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 149 Rep Power: 3	Arg. I was hoping there was some table attribute or something, so I wouldn't have to go and write my own wordwrap method (since I want it to wrap when the word gets to a certain pixel length, rather than a certain character amount).

Mar 18th, 2006, 8:39 PM	#7
mackenga Professional Programmer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 317 Rep Power: 4	I must say I don't envy anyone trying to do something pixel-perfect with HTML. If you're starting to worry about the width in pixels of a character, you've got a fundamental design problem. You can't do it at all without incredibly hairy goings-on with server-side code and doing it in JS is no easier (and until MS pull their socks up "portable Javascript" is an oxymoron anyway). You'd almost be as well simulating a table that behaved the way you wanted it to with a Java applet. (Don't do this by the way, it would be insane.)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Programming Forums > Web Development and Design > HTML / XHTML / CSS

table size limits