What's best way to have 2 fixed-width sidebars & a fluid center with a min overall width for most browsers?

Question

As above I want a site deisgn which will occupy 90% of the screen (until a minimum overall width of 760px), with 2 sidebars of 160px wide and a center

which is fluid. With a 15px gap between the sidebars and the centre

. Can't find a definitive solution.

To John K:

I agree entriely but a client has inisisted i fill the screen (ugh)

To Dino D:

That's the worst answer I;ve ever seen!

3 answers

CSS actually makes this do able and with good results..
Here is a good article

http://www.alistapart.com/articles/negativemargins/

Fixed side panels and flex center. Called faux columns in some arenas.
It really isn't all that hard and really makes for a nice layout.
Check that same site for all sorts of ways to make fluid layouts that work.

If you want to see a working sample visit my site
http://ftwtexas.com/phpws/
it has just that type of layout done in a template for phpwebsite. If that theme isn't the one loaded just pick "STREAM" theme. Be sure to try your browser at different sizes it scales from about 700 - 1600.
You are welcome to "steal" the CSS from that theme and just adapt it.

Set your sidebar widths in pixels and the center section as a percentage. That's the theory, but it seldom works. Try to make your screen width constant, otherwise your page may look terrible on wide screen monitors. Always write for the masses, never the selected few. Ninety percent of all internet users still choose a resolution of 800 by 600, and in my opinion the page should be 800 pixels wide or slightly less. That's what Yahoo Answers uses.

for me - i use a fixed width of 944 pixels as most people now are using 1024 screen res (800x600 is outdated and for games use only)
and making the layout you want would be with a master table with 3 tags:

Left Nav
Fluid Center
Right Nav

you may have to play with the center width to get it exact - but not 100%
and nest another master table in the tags - hope this helps - should for a fixed width site

here is an example set of code:

Add a Header here

Left Menu

Center of the Design

Right Menu

Footer could go here

as for Yahoo Answers being 800pixels wide - nope it is 751

Answer 1

CSS actually makes this do able and with good results..
Here is a good article

http://www.alistapart.com/articles/negativemargins/

Fixed side panels and flex center. Called faux columns in some arenas.
It really isn't all that hard and really makes for a nice layout.
Check that same site for all sorts of ways to make fluid layouts that work.

If you want to see a working sample visit my site
http://ftwtexas.com/phpws/
it has just that type of layout done in a template for phpwebsite. If that theme isn't the one loaded just pick "STREAM" theme. Be sure to try your browser at different sizes it scales from about 700 - 1600.
You are welcome to "steal" the CSS from that theme and just adapt it.

Answer 2

Set your sidebar widths in pixels and the center section as a percentage. That's the theory, but it seldom works. Try to make your screen width constant, otherwise your page may look terrible on wide screen monitors. Always write for the masses, never the selected few. Ninety percent of all internet users still choose a resolution of 800 by 600, and in my opinion the page should be 800 pixels wide or slightly less. That's what Yahoo Answers uses.

Answer 3

for me - i use a fixed width of 944 pixels as most people now are using 1024 screen res (800x600 is outdated and for games use only)
and making the layout you want would be with a master table with 3 tags:

Left Nav
Fluid Center
Right Nav

you may have to play with the center width to get it exact - but not 100%
and nest another master table in the tags - hope this helps - should for a fixed width site

here is an example set of code: