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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
CSS covered exhaustively, January 9, 2007
This review is from: Pro CSS Techniques (Expert's Voice) (Paperback)
Pro CSS Techniques by Jeff Croft, Dan Rubin, and Ian Lloyd is a very thorough book on practical CSS. Having just read Simon Collison's Beginning CSS Web Development I found this to be a great continuation of the learning process. This book picks up where Simon's book ended, and even briefly covers some of the same topics. This book is full of great information and author's each had a fun personality (and sense of humor) with their chapters.
The book jumps right in and walks you through specificity and the cascade and how this will help you keep your markup neat and tidy (without any superfluous markup). This topic can cause confusion for many beginning CSS and even those who are advanced. Having a strong understanding of the cascade and specificity will greatly help you write cleaner code and solve any debugging issues that may arise. This chapter was full of examples, charts, and interactive walkthroughs to help you understand the process.
The next few chapters were spent discussing the browsers, managing your CSS files, and many of the hacks used to fix problems. These were similar to some of what was seen in Beginning CSS Web Development - but they require special emphasis. I didn't feel that any of the authors ever advocated using hacks to solve problems. They challenged you as a developer to dig deeper and find workarounds that didn't require hacks. However, when it is necessary - they explain the process of using conditional comments versus mixing any hacks into their own sheet/section of your other files.
Chapter 7 was by far my favorite chapter of the entire book. I have read many other CSS books that show you advanced layouts and techniques, even full of the code and images, but don't fully prepare you for the frustration that may arise. This chapter walked you through creating different layouts. Absolute positioning, floats, liquid layouts, fixed with layouts, and elastic layouts were all discussed. The best part about the chapter is that the author walks you through your failures. In seeing these failures and being aware of them, it will ultimately help you avoid them in the future (or at least be prepared when something goes awry). Failure is a part of learning CSS, and the author comforts (and humors) the reader as he shows the failures, explains why/what failed, and how to fix and continue with the layout. In the end you are working towards a very simple, yet flexible, layout.
Another topic that is not often discussed is that of typography. This chapter was an exhaustive covering of typography and the web. It included information about upcoming typefaces available in vista, as well as some current typefaces that you might not know about. It also covered things like leading (line height), kerning (letter spacing), and how to make sure your liquid layouts (or high contrast layouts) don't ruin the legibility.
The last few chapters walk you through styling everyday elements like tables, forms, and lists. The last two chapters were focused on stylesheets for other media (print, screen, projection, etc). I found this chapter very interesting as we are moving toward supporting mobile devices. I think initially it would be easy to think you can serve up the `handheld' stylesheet and all is well - however we are finding that this is not true (Which is why I can't want for Cameron Moll's book on Mobile Web Design). With so many different devices and services out there, what will be the best way to target them? I used to think the handheld stylesheet would solve many problems - but I am re-thinking that as a solution.
Finally, the book wraps up with an exhaustive list of CSS References including: allowed values, element type, and initial/inherited values. Also covered is the CSS specificity chart and the browser grading chart. The appendix of this book makes a nice desk reference to help solve an issue.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. If you are still dipping your feet into CSS, then this book will help you understand the inner workings of CSS and help you avoid many frustrating hours of debugging. Yes, there were some advanced topics that weren't discussed that could have been (hasLayout), but overall the book covered everything exhaustively. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book for readers going from intermediate to advanced css!, February 17, 2007
This review is from: Pro CSS Techniques (Expert's Voice) (Paperback)
The most confusing thing about learning a new subject, or figuring out what you need to advance, is figuring out exactly the right tools for the job...
This review couldn't be complete without making the assertion that I look at this book as a sequel to another book that I have reviewed. In general, Pro Css Techniques picks up where another apress title left off. With that in mind, please read on...
First, if you know just a little css, such as changing font colors, this book is not for you. If you are serious about learning CSS, I recommend that you buy "Beginning CSS Web Development: From Novice to Professional (Paperback)" to get you on the fast track to learning css ... THEN read Pro CS Techniques. Actually, the books are from the same publisher and should have been combined into a single book.
Second, the Pro CSS Techniques book picks up where the fore mentioned "Beginng CSS Web Development" book left off, with a very easy transition for the reader. This book assumes that you know the basics and want to move into the intermediate to advanced phase of learning and applying CSS techniques...and lastly, is not a reference manual.
However, once you complete this book and apply what you know along the way, you will be at the point that all that is needed is a good CSS reference manual (or online documentation) to explore the vast functionality that CSS offers / the point where you start coming up with clever ideas and can "walk the walk and talk the talk aka start stepping into the dark side of the force."
Again, I can't stress enough that if you are new to CSS get the "Beginning CSS Web Development" book first, then go through this one - they flow together very well and work better than getting a "generic" beginning css book, then moving to CSS Mastery.
PROS :
1) If you read the "Beginning CSS Web Development" book, then read this one, you will know CSS in depth. The point being, this is a very effective to learning CSS from beginning to Pro.
2) The book is very clear, well written and provides detailed examples.
3) When the author discusses a topic, included is a code snippet, discussion, code snippet and a final discuss with all the code put together. I don't like those other books that write a snippet or two then tell you to go download the other 500 lines of code that explains nothing.
4) This book gives the reader a very good understanding of dealing with layout issues -- rather than giving you a reference chapter on hacks, the reader will actually understand (throughout the book) the common CSS problems that arise with various browsers and will be prepared to deal with them with understanding, rather than copying and pasting "J. Walsh IE Hack-57x" to "just make things work."
5) I await the next title from the publisher regarding CSS design patterns. If the upcoming book flows into design patterns as well as the Beginning book flowed into this one, it is going to be smooth sailing.
6) Once you buy the book, you can buy the full electronic (searchable) version online for $10 until mid Mar 07 (I believe).
7) As an avid DW Template user, I found the section on selectively hiding CSS to be an eye opener. I love DW templates, but, this seems to be a viable alternative and can save my company at least $1K+ a year in DW upgrades (and DW is getting as bloated as Photoshop now).
8) I built a live site while learning CSS using the Beginning and the Pro CSS Techniques book. Yes, it took about 2 weeks vs doing the site with HTML in about 6 days -- but, when I hit my second site, and had finished up this book, I did another live site and it took me about 3 days, was far easier, is far easier to manage, is WAI / 508 compliant, and tops the search engines --
9)Many reviewers like the "CSS Mastery" Book. Pro CSS Techniques covers the same issues, but, for one it doesn't nag the reader EVERY other paragraph about problems with IE.
10) If your a MAC or PC developer, using Firefox, you will find that once you learn CSS the "right way" it will only take a very small amount of time to address a few IE issues. The point is understanding what causes the problems, as taught in the book, rather than "copy paste" some hack code just to make it work, will shave a lot of time off IE debugging sessions -- and did I mention fewer stomach ulcers from all the aspirin?
CONS :
1) This book should have been the second half of the "Beginning" book (I mentioned several times), even though the authors are different, the two work in perfect harmony.
2) The book would have been much better illustrated in color. I'm a programmer, and can live without color with programming books, but when it comes to graphical design issues, well color does help.
3) Like the CSS Mastery book, it covers the two column, three column basic layout -- some more complex examples would be helpful (this is something I see lacking in other CSS books as well).
CONCLUSION :
This book is excellent if you have the basics down pat, such as id's classes, and general layout concepts under your belt and you want to start going from intermediate to a pro level (by the time you are done). CSS is a pain even at the pro level, but, in the long run this book pays for itself over and over.
I've been a programmer for 20 years, I'm a professional photographer & digital artist and the last 10 years owner of a web development firm. If you want to go from intermediate to pro in a straight forward manner, this book is a must have and worth every penny -- if you just starting CSS, get the Beginning book and this one together -- don't muddle around buying a half dozen books, wasting time and money.
LAST NOTE
Even though with the few cons, actually just personal peeves, taking into the fact that you can find an intermediate to pro learning book that supplements a beginning book makes going HTML to CSS pro a far more pleasurable experience.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Improve Your Skills, February 25, 2007
This review is from: Pro CSS Techniques (Expert's Voice) (Paperback)
I received my review copy of Pro CSS Techniques in the mail from Apress last month, and finished reading it last week, but am just now getting around to writing a review. I wish I'd read it sooner, because in the acknowledgments section at the beginning of the book, it was flattering to see my name listed me amongst those who are "sources of inspiration and motivation" (thanks Jeff). This book was authored by Jeff Croft, Ian Lloyd and Dan Rubin.
These guys are all CSS gurus in their own right, respectively working on projects such as: Django, Accessify and Sidebar. I like the approach they take in writing this book, one of pragmatism instead of hand-holding, riding a bike without any training wheels. In the words of the authors:
"This book is a collection of proven, professional, modern techniques that you can use every day to get the most out of the time you put into your projects... This book is not an introduction to CSS. Although we'll provide an overview of the basics, we'll assume you have a simple understanding of CSS and how it works."
Because the devil is in the details when it comes to CSS, this is exactly the type of book that is needed. CSS is like chess, simple in principle yet complex in application. It's like the old adage: "A day to learn, a lifetime to master." I've never met a web developer who has had trouble mastering the concepts behind CSS. Agony is caused by multi-browser implementation of advanced layouts.
Don't get me wrong, I think introductory books are necessary, and in fact one of my favorite ones is Eric Meyer's Definitive Guide to CSS. Not every book needs to be the Encylopedia Britannica of programming languages. Pro CSS Techniques is more in line with CSS Mastery in the approach that it takes.
Favorite aspects:
Specificity and the Cascade - It's nice to be reminded what is in store, once IE6 is no longer a thorn in our sides. It will be nice to use child and adjacent selectors with reliability. How many times have you wanted to change one of many list items, and had to give it a class name?
Typography - This chapter shows text treatments, such as how to get the first letter treatment seen on sites like [...].
Styling Tables - I actually talked to a designer awhile ago who had no idea how to make use of tables, having started after tables received their negative stigma for layout. They are important for presenting data, and this chapter shows how to use them semantically as they were intended.
Styling Forms - How many times have you seen an unusually large submit button, because an amateur designer generically set the width of all input? This chapter shows you how to finesse web forms into submission.
Styling Lists - Arguably one of the hardest aspects of using CSS is getting menu and navigation lists to display correctly. This is evident by sites such as Listamatic catering specifically to lists. This chapter tackles it head-on.
Print and Other Media - This is a nice look at how to think beyond the browser. Mobility is all the rage nowadays, and it won't be long before we'll be developing sites that cater to handheld devices. This chapter also shows how to go from screen to paper, without losing the essence of your content.
Summary
This is a great book, and would make an excellent addition to the arsenal of any client-side developer. The appendices are worth the price alone, containing CSS Reference, Specificity and Browser Grading charts. These provide a great way to see side-by-side comparisons of which CSS techniques are well supported, and those we can salivate over until they hit the mainstream. Bottom line, if CSS puts bread on your table, this book will make you more productive.
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