Screen Revolution - Zonez
Conclusions
Here is a summary list of the benefits of using ZoneZ concept for web page layout design:
- Totally self-adjusting page lay-out design
- Eliminates the dependence on proportional dimensioning for self-adjusting page layout design
- Is not subject to the limitations of proportional dimensioning, without interference from the browser default scrollbars.
- Each Zone is an ordinary div element with independent Scrollbar control capability
- The Default Scrollbars of Browsers permanently disabled, eliminating the possibility of interference
- Elastic, Elasti-plastic and Plastic ZoneZ as building blocks in page layout design
- No technical restrictions on the number of zones, nor how the individual scrollbars are controlled, in any page layout
- Total flexibility in page layout to meet the needs of any application
- Gives the web designer complete control of the page layout design
- Each Zone is independent due to absolute positioning, and can be arranged in any order in coding
- Flexibility in arranging the order of ZoneZ in coding may improve Search Engine optimization
- Can provide backward compatibility for non-CSS2 compliant browsers also.
Well folks, this list more than enough summarize the benefits of using the ZoneZ concept in page layout design. If you have cannot see the power of the ZoneZ concept by now, there is nothing I can say further to sell this concept to you.
Final Note
As documented in detail, in the study titled 100% ≠ 100%? demonstrated that the logic (or the illogic) - based on the height/width calculations, used by these browsers to activate and control the scrollbar(s) of an element, when the overflow property is set to auto, is totally Bizarre!, to say the least.
Each Browser tested uses the same set of "control calculations/logic" to control the Scrollbars of the div element and the Default Scrollbars. However, the logic used by each of the Browsers studied to control the Vertical Scrollbar is not the same as the one used for the Horizontal Scrollbar, the only exception being the Internet Explorer.
Even though the results of this illogic varies from one Browser to another, but they occur when the overflow property is set to auto, and basically center around the Thickness of the Scrollbars. Consequently, we end up with two categories of misbehavior:
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Over Compensation:
When a Scrollbar (horizontal or vertical) of a Container Block is present, the Thickness of that scrollbar is tacked on the height/width of the contents. And, consequently, the other Scrollbar of is activated prematurely. -
Under Compensation:
When a Scrollbar (horizontal or vertical) of a Container Block is present, no action is taken. The other Scrollbar is only activated when the height/width of the contents exceeds that of the Container Block at least by 1 px. And, consequently, the scrollbar is superimposed on its contents, thus creating a "Dead Zone" equal to the Thickness of the scrollbar of that particular browser.
Obviously, the Zones concept cannot a cure this problem! We have to wait till the Browsers decide to fix this fundamental flaw, if they ever do!
Bottom Line
If you can appreciate the benefits and potential of the ZoneZ concept, please feel free to use it. I chose not patent it, even though it is not only just patentable, but would result in a very strong patent. (I have had quite a bit of experience in patents before the relaxing of the patent laws.)
And, when you do use the ZoneZ technique, please let me know, because I am toying with the idea of selectively listing the sites using this concept - properly and imaginatively, on this site. However, it is not a promise. All depends on the availability of my spare time, which, at this point in time, again appears to be almost non-existent.
On the flip side of the coin, if you create web page using the ZoneZ technique, I would appreciate your adding some kind of a reference to the ZoneZ technique, as well as a link to this site. The purpose is to create an awareness to this technique and it is availability.
- Feed-back & Comments:
- Please send any comments, opinions, and even contributions on this subject, using the Feed-Back Form.
- Further Reading:
- You can review the list of Related Articles, with brief descriptions and links on the Auxiliary Panel,
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Web Design & Engineering: Dr. Z
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