Do you use css or tables for tabular data?

[aceO07]

Do data that consists of more than 1 row, do you use css or table?

I find it very hard to convert over to css for doing tabular data. For sections and structure I'll try to use css but I use tables for data.

I just love how with a table I don't have to worry about the width of each column and the next row follows the same widths.

Also, earlier this week I was trying to do a simple 1 row of fields with css div and it was a nightmare. The main problem was that I wanted the last div element to have a form in it that was hidden until it was called. It was much easier with a table for this 1 row.

 

[imported_Dhaval00]

I am not involved a lot in Web development nowadays, but from what I've done in the past and from what I see right now, most of the people will use a combination of both concepts. I tend to think of CSS as more like a styling, positioning, etc. mechanism. Comparatively, tables are more like basic holders for your controls and data. I am sure some of the Web developers will improve on/correct my thoughts.

 

[troytime]

tables for tabular data


actually, i tend to use tables for design too
i know css is better for design, but i haven't put the time into really learning the layout stuff of css

 

[Snapster]

CSS for structure, layout and presentation but tables for tabular data especially where it concerns dynamic length of text.

If you know the exact outcome of your data and know it's not going to change then you can do in CSS, but for the moment tables are still better containers for data.

 

[txrandom]

I use CSS and tables. For the rest of the site I use CSS and non-table HTML objects.

 

[Crusty]

Tables to store tabular data, CSS to layout the rest of the page.

 

[presidentender]

If it's tabular data, it goes in a table. Otherwise, it does not go in a table.

 

[LightningRider]

^ What he said.

 

[aceO07]

I want to have 1 line of links, with the last line being a link with js function to show a hidden form.

Each link is visually like a 'tab' and has background and graphics associated with it. Upon clicking the last link, hide the 'link new' and show the hidden form. The form is like a text_field and a submit button on a line. After the form is unhidden, it should also be on the same line as the rest of the links.
[link1] [link2] [link3] [link4] [link new - (hidden form)]

I found this to be much easier to do with a table than with css and no table. The layout was much cleaner, no adjustments (height/width) needed, shorter code. For those who think this should only be css, how could be achieved without much hassle? (I'm novice at css and all its tricks.)

 

[Evadman]

tables.

 

[Red Squirrel]

CSS and tables for layout/tabular data. I find tables are easier to control.

Fully div/span sites are great for static sites but for dynamic sites tables are easier to work with, just assign a class to each portion then you can still use CSS to do most of the formatting.

Unfortunatly IE does not understand all CSS such as border spacing so you still have to hard code some of that in the html, though I've given up on IE and I just say screw it, as long as the site I'm making is actually half decent readable. I just strongly recommend users to use Opera or Firefox, or any other non IE browser. I just wish MS would get their act together and support CSS better.