Publishers of technology books, eBooks, and videos for creative people

Home > Articles > Web Design & Development > Adobe Dreamweaver

Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 How-Tos: Designing Pages with Absolute Placement Objects

Dreamweaver CS3 provides accessible designer-oriented tools for creating and editing CSS page layout in the form of what Dreamweaver calls Absolute Placement (AP) objects. David Karlins shows you how to work with AP objects in this sample chapter.
This chapter is from the book

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) have evolved as the most flexible and powerful tool for page layout. Page layout with CSS involves writing CSS code that defines placement objects—think of them as "boxes"—that contain content like text, images, or media. The definition of these placement objects includes their location, their background color, padding within them, spacing around them, and other attributes.

Dreamweaver CS3 provides accessible designer-oriented tools for creating and editing CSS page layout in the form of what Dreamweaver calls Absolute Placement (AP) objects.

In this chapter, we will use only local CSS formatting. External style sheets, which can be used to set up styles for any or all pages in your site, are addressed in Chapter 7, "Formatting Page Elements with CSS."

Should you use tables or CSS for page design? Tables are simpler to learn, and you can feel more confident that your pages will look the way you intend in most desktop browsers.

CSS, AP, and Compatibility

While CSS is widely supported in different browsers and devices, AP objects are less predictable because when someone viewing your site changes text size or other variables (such as screen resolution), the result sometimes is that AP objects overlap with each other, causing a big mess on the screen. One option for creating Web pages with CSS layout that do not rely on AP objects is to take advantage of a wide range of well-prepared and richly commented CSS page designs. To access those page designs, choose File > New. In the New Document dialog, select the Blank Page category, and in the Page Type column choose HTML. You will see a long list of pages that use CSS (but not AP objects) to define page layout.

On the other hand, current thought on Web site construction is that using CSS makes your content easier to distribute on different platforms and can help you make it accessible to users with disabilities. Reader software, which reads page content out loud to visitors with impaired vision, can interpret CSS layout and present page content in a more coherent way than if blocks of content are laid out in table cells. In Dreamweaver, working with Absolute Placement objects is more like designing in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, or Adobe InDesign; however, it is somewhat less predictable in its display in a wide range of browsing devices.

Dreamweaver provides two approaches to page design with CSS: Absolute Placement Divs (basically the elements referred to as Layers in previous versions of Dreamweaver), and Divs. AP Divs are a feature of Dreamweaver, not a part of XHTML or CSS, but they are easy to use, particularly if you've worked in a program like Photoshop. Divs are part of the XHTML spec; in Dreamweaver they are less intuitive than AP Divs to work with, but they provide more control over page design.

#30 Defining Absolute Placement Objects

Absolute Placement (AP) Divs are containers on a Web page that hold content such as type, images, or other objects like media. AP Divs are defined both by their location on a page and their size (measured in pixels). Dreamweaver allows you to simply draw AP Divs on the page, just as if you were designing a page layout in a program like Illustrator or InDesign. As you draw, resize, or move an AP Div, Dreamweaver generates CSS code that defines or redefines the location and size of that AP Div.

To draw an AP Div in an open document, choose Insert > Layout Object > AP Div. An AP Div appears in the document. By default, this AP Div is 200 pixels by 115 pixels and is located at the top-left edge of your page (Figure 30a).

Figure 30a

Figure 30a A default AP Div in the Document window.

When you generate an AP Div, it is selected, and you can edit it. If you deselect the AP Div by clicking elsewhere on the page, you can reselect it by clicking on the AP Div border.

You can move or relocate an AP Div in the Document window. To move an AP Div, click the AP Div handle (the icon in the upper-left corner of the selected AP Div), and simply drag it to another part of the page (Figure 30b).

Figure 30b

Figure 30b Moving an AP Div.

You can also draw an AP Div interactively using the Draw AP Div tool in the Layout tab of the Insert bar.

To draw an AP Div, click the Draw AP Div tool. The cursor displays as a crosshair icon. Click and draw anywhere on the page to generate an AP Div. When you release your mouse cursor, the AP Div container is generated (Figure 30c).

Figure 30c

Figure 30c Drawing an AP Div interactively.

You can, of course, generate as many AP Divs on a page as you wish. For example, you might create one AP Div on the left side of your page as a placeholder for navigation elements, another AP Div on the top of your page for a banner, and a third AP Div to hold the body of your page content (Figure 30d).

Figure 30d

Figure 30d A typical page design with three AP Divs — one for the banner, another for a left navigation region, and the third for page content.

Dreamweaver offers tools to resize or align multiple AP Divs. This is useful, for example, if you wanted to display several thumbnail images aligned vertically (their tops aligned) on a page. To do this, first, Shift-click to select all the AP Divs you want to resize or align. Then, choose Modify > Arrange. From the submenu, you can select an alignment option (Align Left, Align Right, Align Top, or Align Bottom), or you can select Make Same Width or Make Same Height (Figure 30e).

Figure 30e

Figure 30e Aligning several AP Divs on their top edges to hold thumbnail images.

Display support for AP Divs in the Dreamweaver Document window can only be described as unpredictable. Some AP Div features can be previewed in the Document window, while others cannot. To reliably see how AP Divs will look in a particular browser, preview the page in that browser. To do this from Dreamweaver, choose File > Preview in Browser. If you have more than one installed browser, select the desired browser from the submenu. Then you will see the page (and your AP Divs) as viewers with that browser will see it (Figure 30f).

Figure 30f

Figure 30f Previewing AP Divs in a browser.

You can also embed an AP Div within another AP Div. This is somewhat similar to embedding a table inside a table.

The embedded AP Div is positioned within the AP Div in which it is placed. To embed an AP Div within an AP Div, click inside one AP Div and then insert another AP Div. Placing an AP Div within another AP Div is technically possible, and one reason to be aware of this is that it often happens by accident. When you place an AP Div inside another AP Div, you create unnecessarily complex pages that are difficult to edit. If your CSS page designs are too complex for AP Divs, consider invoking definable Div tags.

Peachpit Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Peachpit and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Peachpit products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email ask@peachpit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Adobe Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.peachpit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020