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The Code Style site has evolved by gradual refinement and accumulation of features and content. This review is part of a fully backdated site log and archive that sheds light on when, why and how particular features were implemented.

This log is sometimes updated several times per week, sometimes with a long overdue backlog of items. Many log entries refer to the Code Style Java package that delivers the servlet services and utilities used to manage this site.

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Reverse chronology

17th February 2001

Extended configuration notes on custom error pages 403 and 404 and added article feedback forms. Server logs show quite a number of 301 "moved permanently" status reports on directory requests without trailing slashes, leading to 403 errors on directories without default index files (the majority at present).

8th February 2001

Changed the Flash object logo class to FlashLogo and fall-back GIF img to GIFLogo on all pages so these versions can be styled separately (e.g. to scale the Flash version proportionally), and amended all stylesheets accordingly.

.FlashLogo,
.GIFLogo{
  float:            right;
  margin:           1% 1.5%;
  border:           none;
}
      

Also added title attributes to the standard stylesheet link elements to make them non-persistent, i.e. identifiable by name as a group, and thereby amenable to the selection of alternate stylesheets.

<link
  rel="stylesheet"
  type="text/css"
  href="/styles/CSStandard.css"
  title="Standard" />
<link
  rel="stylesheet"
  type="text/css"
  href="/styles/CSPrint.css"
  media="print"
  title="Standard" />
      

Developed a first draft, lower contrast, sans-serif alternate stylesheet with Netscape 6. Internet Explorer 3 loads alternate stylesheets regardless, but markup works as expected with Opera 3.62 and 5.0.

4th February 2001

Completed review of print media stylesheet support, wrote the second draft of Print media browser conformance and added it to the home page preview links.

2nd February 2001

Tested clear: both workaround using CSS2 child selector in IE4 but it didn't work, so changed it to an @media rule instead to "hide" the declaration:

/*
  Text-align set left to
  counteract IE4, which right aligns
  text with float: right.
*/
#Content{
  float:            right;
  width:            74%;
  padding:          0% 0.1% 0% 1.9%;
  margin:           0;
  border-left:      outset 1px #EEE;
  text-align:       left;
}

/*
  IMPORTANT:

  clear: both in simple #Content
  type selector crashes IE4!

  clear: right doesn't crash IE4,
  but doesn't allow #Sidebar to
  float left alongside it.

  None of the following selectors
  hides this declaration from IE4:

  * > DIV#Content
  * > #Content
  BODY > #Content

  But the @media rule with one
  declaration does.

  This property is necessary for
  Opera 4 & 5 and Netscape 6.
*/

@media screen{
  #Content{
    clear:            right;
  }
}
      

1st February 2001

Discovered that clear: both; for the #Content selector was causing Internet Explorer 4 to crash. This declaration is essential for Opera 4 and 5 and Netscape 6 to float the sidebar to the left of the main content area (but not for Opera 3.62), so testing a workaround using a CSS2 child selector. Reset the width property to its previous value:

#Content{
  float:            right;
  width:            74%;
  padding:          0% 0.1% 0% 1.9%;
  margin:           0;
  border-left:      outset 1px #CCC;
  text-align:       left;
}

/*
  IMPORTANT: clear: both
  in simple #Content selector
  crashes IE4! Property necessary
  for Opera 4 & 5 and Netscape 6.
  Child selector excludes IE4.
*/

BODY > #Content{
  clear:            right;
}
      

Previously on Code Style

These backdated pages record detailed changes to the Code Style Web site since July 2000, when development first got underway. Some pages may refer to documents or features that have since changed or are no longer part of the site, but the archive is checked to ensure there are no dead links.

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