i think they are super helpful. all sites should be designed using some sort of grid so developing with grid frameworks can make that much much easier. i.e.

<div class="grid3>column1</div>
<div class="grid3>column2</div>
<div class="grid3>column3</div>

OR

<div class="grid5">column1</div>
<div class="grid4">column2</div>

you get the point... then when you want to tweak your column sizes in css its cake.

Sorry no, I usually design the layout using css so it provides a solid structure. I suppose its grid like but so far any explanation of a grid has been, well limp.

Don't want to appear rude but I just cant seem to get any info on the initial set up from the start of a project to completion.

Thanks again for the input

I've started to look into 960 Grid (http://960.gs), but haven't gotten around to really using it heavily for projects yet. And 960 Grid has some beautiful sites and good users to its name (Rockettheme builds all their Joomla templates with their Gantry framework, which is based on 960).

If it helps with rapid production, I'm all for it. But there are semantic arguments against using a grid (div classitis, removing unused columns after production is done, etc.).

I've found that my own refined coding habits tend to do all I need. I'm starting to get to a point where I can essentially create my own project template that takes care of everything I need, without having to learn yet another framework.

Grid frameworks are great. If you haven't been forced to use one before, its easy to question its advantages.

I have used the 960 grid system for a bit over a year now and will never go back. Ever. I feel totally fine doing everything manually; however, after using the grid system, i learned that in the end i saved time in development because the grid system helps with cross browser compatibility whilst being very flexible. If you start your design using the grid, then all you have to do is add and subtract in development and your site gets done faster.

While not in concrete5, most of WVU's newer sites, like the presidents site, human resources, and WellWVU (use google to look them up) use the 960 framework. I do know that wvsrt.com uses C5 and the blueprint framework. All in all, grid frameworks are very helpful.

960gs and blueprint are both great systems for doing Rapid layouts.. I used both for awhile but eventually went back to doing it the old fashioned way due to complexity of layouts..

I still have nothing bad to say about either though.. you can literally lay out a site in minutes, and I found them also helpful as I hadn't been that much of a huge front end(html) guy for several years..

So is there a tutorial as to how we would use a grid? I've looked at the 960 page but it would be easier if there was a step by step guide from start to finish.

Here is a written tutorial:

http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/html-css-techniques/prototyping-w...

And a Nettuts video & written tutorial:

http://net.tutsplus.com/articles/news/a-detailed-look-at-the-960-cs...

I just Googled for those two. There are plenty more out there. Hope those help.