Is there an application to automate the writing of css?

I don't know of anything of the sorts. In the end handcoding with a good text editor is the best way. What are you using now to hand code?

- r

Generally, the CSS opens in a visual basic editor, which is great, on account of the "intellisense."

I'm looking for something a bit more graphical, though. Something that would allow a graphic layout, followed by code generation. (with tweaking to be done thereafter)

Probably a long shot, but I just thought that I'd ask.

BTW - I saw the programs linked from the forum, but they're not exactly what I'm after...

I could be wrong...but I don't think you'll find anything better than csscreator.com's layout generator.

- r

I'm not looking for a general layout, though... I want more advanced features. I want to create "tableless tables," and other wonderful things. Not just a div wrapper...

CSS is not about tableless tables (a table should remain a table). Nor is it about div elements. It is about taking well formed, well structured, semantic and valid html and writing the rules that govern its presentation. That is not a visual thing, it is simply setting down how you want things to display.

If what you want is an actual wysiwyg html editor/generator, then look to Dreamweaver or Nvu. The word I hear is that Nvu runs circles around DW, and is free, to boot. When you run into trouble with these tools, I'm afraid you won't get much sympathy here.

cheers,

gary

Uhh... thanks, I guess. (sounded pretty hostile to me, but thanks, nonetheless)

I dont think he meant to sound hostile but it basically comes down to the fact that the "gurus" here all hand code. It is the ONLY way to have complete control of your site. Sure, at some points it may seem like one big headache, but if you are going to create a website yourself then most people here feel like it should be an extension of yourself and not the creation of some other peice of code...

not sure if i worded this in a way that you'll understand but it makes sense to me

Your answer is fine, and I perfectly understand.

I really don't have a problem with the idea of handcoding. I've done lots of it. But I have a genuine need to "pick up some steam," if you will. My job is not webpage or code development, and it's not something that I can devote a lot of time to right now. I'd like something that will automate the process for me, and allow me to come back through, and tweak, as needed.

I didn't mean to insult any of the "gurus." I'm only looking for a way to automate my task. My apologies if that's a problem. But again, thanks for advice.

Hi

You might find this takes a little bit of the task away for some types of page layout:

Pagemaker on PIE

I'm not sure if Big John has fixed the css to make the fonts bigger on the display page (the tool is linked at the bottom)!

Just something I knocked up coz I couldn't be *rsed to do it over and over again.

Trevor

It is absolutely not a task that can be automated, there are 'things' that allow you to click on rules and have them entered into a text file, but they will always miss a lot of tricks and not be able to adapt to current methodology and specific use of rules especially when it comes to filtering/hacking.

An automated 'thing' is also going to be a lot slower than I can code straight into a plain text file, I'm afraid that CSS is a mental thing you just have to put the time in and learn it.

This is by no means an elitist attitude as was not Gary's; it's just the plain truth, to use WYSIWYG or any other type of helping software tends to land people in trouble as this software is nearly always full of problems, problems that would be understood if people put the time in with hand coding and the lack of sympathy to be found here refers to the fact that we help with coding problems not proprietary software that introduces it's own problems. when people complain of their pages not working and we then find that they are checking say in DW's Preview mode it becomes tedious explaining that they should only really except the rendering of code in the UA that will be used by people, or we find an incomplete Doctype because the software does not insert a correct one but the user blindly excepts this as they have given away their power of individual thought and learning to a dumbish piece of software.

Hugo.

Hugo.

So good they named him twice :twisted: :twisted:

I'm afraid I don't think there's any shortcuts when it comes to CSS; you've just got to put in the time. As you would with any other language related to building websites, like PHP or ASP.
Sure, you can copy scripts from somewhere and have them working for you, but most of the time, they're only going to be rudimentary. The only way to really exploit the full potential of these sorts of things is to spend the time learning them.

Yes, I understand. The problem is, I can do normal CSS fairly well. But again, I just want to speed up the basics.

You are correct, in that this tool does not do all that I would like it to. And, on the subject of hacks, specifically - I don't have the T-I-M-E to become a master of this domain. I use Google a bit, and ask a bit, and always come up with the answer. I am an expert in my field of interest, and I appreciate others who are in theirs. I will never ask anyone for sympathy, and nobody is obligated to answer my question if they feel that I have insulted their intelligence.

My only beef with the comment, was that I knew *exactly* what my objectives were when I asked the question, and the implication was not that I wanted a tool to do everything for me. I'm a bit overburdened at the moment, and the comment didn't rub me the right way. It's really no big deal, though.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer my question. Your help is appreciated.

Point taken; what about topstyle is that not fairly well thought of by some?

http://www.bradsoft.com/topstyle/index.asp

Hugo ( in the singular this time)

Automation is beyond the state of the art. What you may better be able to use is a set of templates or prototypes. The layout generator on this site would fall in one of those categories. You could also amass a set by using Google to find, for example, 'two column css layout'. You'll be led to sites like Glish and A List Apart, where there are prototype layouts for you to embellish.

Applications like DW turn out crap for code, and if you choose to use them, it is against good advice. It is not hostile to say you'll get little support should you have problems because you use the wrong tool.

gary

I agree. That would be a good route to go. If you use a color-scheme editor like Notepad2 (there ya go TPH...just for you), That would also help in your venture for better time management.

- r