I'm trying to make my website look the same for Netscape users and noticed my text boxes (created in Word) look somewhat fuzzy (in Netscape). I don't suppose techies use Microsoft Word "text boxes" much, if ever, having moved on to better things... but what would be something better? While Netscape replicates FrontPage "borders" pretty well, which I can (and do) use as text boxes, but I have little control over precise shapes and positioning. Alternatives anyone?

I've also discovered VML images, perhaps also a 'Microsoft exclusive', aren't crystal clear for Netscape browsers either. I'm looking for alternatives for that as well. I've been using VML for my decorative 'art work' (and quite an 'artist' I am too... the Michelangelo of cyberspace!! )

P.S. As to 'artwork', for what I'm doing see http://www.matrixbookstore.biz/charles_darwin.htm

You can style your textboxes in CSS anyway you like.

I'm not clear on what you mean by "text boxes"... are you just trying to draw a border around areas of static text, or are you talking about data-entry controls where a user can type text?

As for VML... this is something that (I think) is being worked on for an upcoming HTML/XML standard, but I don't think it's finalized yet. In the interim, Microsoft has built support for a version (their's) of VML into IE 6 (and maybe 5 or 5.5 too). Basically instead of an image file (.gif, .jpg etc), pictures are created by a series of vectors (defined in an XML snippet in you HTML page). They can easily and flawlessly be resized, and their definition is generally much smaller than a typical .gif image file that you'd use for a picture on your webpage.

However, since only IE supports the MS version of VML (reasonable since I don't think there's a standard yet), Frontpage provides an alternate version of any pictures on your page for non-IE browsers. This alternate version is a standard .gif or .png image file of the picture you want to display. A .gif typically won't be as clear or crisp as a VML version of a picture, expecially if the .gif is auto-created from a VML version (as FrontPage/Word is doing).

To get you pictures consistent across browsers, the best thing you can do is to not use VML. To avoid VML, you'll have to create your pictures yourself in an image-editing tool (NOT FrontPage or Word), and save the pictures as a .gif or .png file. Then, you can add this .gif/.png image file directly to your web pages. Don't use the built-in picture editing tools in FrontPage, or you'll likely end up with a VML version for IE.

good points cpnet - as soon as he said textboxes I assumed controls...
keep forgetting Allen speaks a different language than the rest of us...

ok - I think the text box that Allen is talking about is a construct in MSWord for adding text to images...somehow....

So now you're using Word to make your webpages Allen?
You've gone from Bad (FP) to Worse (word)

I think I see what you are talking about when you say your graphics are "fuzzy" - they are what is commonly termed "pixelated" It looks to me that IE has a superior rendering engine for your VML than do some of the other browsaers that's why your graphics come out better looking in IE.

The only way I can see to make them all look common os to do what cpnet said and what most of us do, make your grpahics in an application like Macromedia Fireworks or Adobe Photoshop and then just insert them into your webpages.

that way you will get a consistant graphic representation across browsers.

Thanks fellas, that pretty much answers my questions. And, cpnet, I was just referring to 'boxing-in' text which I create, not the website visitor. And no, Bobum, I haven't ever (no, not never) created a webpage in Word... poleeezzze! I'm a FrontPage guy... remember? I'm really working on my vocabulary though... but learning how to speak acronymic ain't easy ya know!!

hahaha - you're ok in my book Allen!

acronymic... good word

Bobum, you're okay in my book too... and hanging with Elvis says even more!! One of these days I gonna get even with you guys tho, I'm thinking about starting a thread about programming the IBM 1620 (circa 1968). To intimidate everyone here, I'll talk only about Basic, Cobal and Fortran. Even cpnet and Josh will be lost! At least some of you might learn how to properly stack punch-cards though.

Jamie would be proud too, wouldn’t he? HMS would then have the only forum on the Internet with a thread on the topic “Programming the IBM 1620”.

Just mentioning Fortran gets you points in my book. From what I remember that language was about as klunky as it comes.

"klunky", you say? Ah, Jamie, you cut me to the quick!! That was once the flagship of computer languages... considered an engineer's language. I was proud to have completed that course... even got a college credit for it. I suppose you think my '39 Ford pickup was a clunker too? Well, it weren't no clunker... it was cherry throughout, had a monster v-8 and was candy apple green (about a dozen coats)! Just for that... I think your SQL is clunky!!

P.S. Get it? You know... 'My' SQL = 'your' SQL

Actually Alan, instead of "acronymic" I was going to use "acronymium" but it isn't a real word. At any rate, I find it amazing how many Latin and Greek words are in the English language... even "auditorium". We've gotten so attached to such words we've long considered them as English.

Heh... I never used an IBM 1620, and didn't get to work with punch cards - but I did do Basic programming on my C64 back in the day, and I also used Fortran for a while (I started off in Engineering before I switched to Comp. Sci). Cobol is one language that you could stump me on though - I never used that one (and from what I've heard, that's a good thing).

I have recently worked with Basic... I worked for a company that programs digital cataloging applications for the millwork industry and they have a client who hasn't updated their computers since Win95 (although most are still running Win3.1) and insist on keeping this program in Basic... talk about a freakin beast. i had to update that app once... anybody who thinks they know what spaghetti code is really has no idea (except for maybe Allen )...

It wasn't long after that I found a new job (as ALLLLLL of their programs were like that) LOL!!!

I wasn't even born yet when the 1620 was around - I started programming basic on a TRS-80 - then ZBasic on an AppleII - then basic on my BELOVED C64 (Still have it) - then Pascal on some GAWDAWFUL "portable" at college (thing weighted 16pounds and had a 6" orange hercules video display - 6 INCH DISPLAY!) - Then C, C++ but not a whole lot. Now that I have gone into webdev, I've used VBScript(ASP), PHP and have found my heaven in C# - I LOVE C#

heh - in college is where I was first exposed to the x86 processors - a guy in school had JUST bought a Clone 286. It had like 256k of RAM and a 10meg hard drive - yes kids...10MEG. We would sit for HOURS and program POVRay scenes. well actually we sould program for about 15 minutes then wait for hours for it to compile and render - lol

Woohoo! Red balls with light reflecting on them!! HOW COOL!! And Fractals!!