layout tool useless
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i don't know about anyone else but i find the "layout" tool unusable. who is this tool meant for? ive tried it several times and it never really works how expected.
i mean, we are "developers" right? which developer drags to some unknown width? we aren't paid to guess. i want to specify pixels/percentage for each column, then specify column spacing and be done with it. if i can add a class to each specific column, even better.
i think the area splitter block is definitely on the right track and something like it belongs in the core build. i think it just need to be thought out a bit more and needs some outstanding bugs to be fixed.
this is a problem i deal with on every single project and i think would really help c5 become a better product.
i mean, we are "developers" right? which developer drags to some unknown width? we aren't paid to guess. i want to specify pixels/percentage for each column, then specify column spacing and be done with it. if i can add a class to each specific column, even better.
i think the area splitter block is definitely on the right track and something like it belongs in the core build. i think it just need to be thought out a bit more and needs some outstanding bugs to be fixed.
this is a problem i deal with on every single project and i think would really help c5 become a better product.
Wow!.... Bad day?
We use area splitter and the layout tool too. I've never seen the layout option as a substitute for measured design, but have never struggled with it either ( it's been a nice solution when a client needs a temporary page solution for an unplanned-for feature that doesn't display well in the existing page CSS ). Knowing the pixel width of the theme's container usually lets me divide the block into predetermined widths to define the critical area I need exactly. Then I slide the unused/unnecessary tabs off to the side for the rest. Its dirty and sloppy but I'm glad to use it ( besides... I'm a little lazy and it's sometimes the path of least resistance :P )
Its nothing I'd use commonly to design a site, but its sure been a time saver for unplanned for modifications.
PS I'd love to see a ruler for layout too, but haven't given any thought to what it would need to rescale for every theme & page type
pps (Its been most helpful on an e-commerce site for displaying product specials. Often times its easier to modify the page columns to match the product description rather than redoing the clients product to fit the space)
We use area splitter and the layout tool too. I've never seen the layout option as a substitute for measured design, but have never struggled with it either ( it's been a nice solution when a client needs a temporary page solution for an unplanned-for feature that doesn't display well in the existing page CSS ). Knowing the pixel width of the theme's container usually lets me divide the block into predetermined widths to define the critical area I need exactly. Then I slide the unused/unnecessary tabs off to the side for the rest. Its dirty and sloppy but I'm glad to use it ( besides... I'm a little lazy and it's sometimes the path of least resistance :P )
Its nothing I'd use commonly to design a site, but its sure been a time saver for unplanned for modifications.
PS I'd love to see a ruler for layout too, but haven't given any thought to what it would need to rescale for every theme & page type
pps (Its been most helpful on an e-commerce site for displaying product specials. Often times its easier to modify the page columns to match the product description rather than redoing the clients product to fit the space)
I agree that the layout tool has some rough edges and is a bit confusing (for example, it adds layouts to blocks that are already on the page above where the new layout is, and it is often impossible to drag a block into a layout cell if there's not already another block in it).
But I wouldn't say that "not being able to specify exact width" is one of its problems -- the layout tool is not *meant* for developers, but rather for end-users who want to put columns in their page but don't know what html / css / ftp / text editors are. If this is that big of a problem for you, it's possible that you're using the tool for more things than it was intended. If you need columns with exact widths, it is probably better to specify those with different page types in your theme.
But I wouldn't say that "not being able to specify exact width" is one of its problems -- the layout tool is not *meant* for developers, but rather for end-users who want to put columns in their page but don't know what html / css / ftp / text editors are. If this is that big of a problem for you, it's possible that you're using the tool for more things than it was intended. If you need columns with exact widths, it is probably better to specify those with different page types in your theme.
steve