I recently downloaded IE 8, and I also use Firefox. I was wondering, though, if I should use css for IE 6, 7, etc., or do most people just format the page for the current version of IE? If you do use the older versions, how would you specify the version in the header, also how would I get my computer to use the older versions, because as far as I know IE 8 updated IE 7, and I don't have IE 7 anymore, at least I don't believe I do... thanks!

First, yes, you should still be coding to accommodate older versions of IE, including IE6 (there are still a fair amount of people using it).

You target IE using conditional comments and separate CSS files that contain ONLY those rules necessary to fix the bugs. IE is the ONLY browser that will read conditional comments and they look like this:

<!--[if lt IE 7]>
<link href="iefixes.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
<![endif]-->

For a good list of IE's bugs, go here and read - www.positioniseverything.net

As for how you test for older versions, go grab a copy of IETester:
http://my-debugbar.com/wiki/IETester/HomePage

OK, thanks! Now do I have to have a full blown version of each css file for FF and IE? Or do you just do a main one, and then have other style sheets with minor changes and not all the code that was contained in the Main sheet? If so, I assume that the code in the stripped sheets over rides the code in the Main? Thanks!

You could always read your thread at
http://www.webmaster-talk.com/html-f...-i-use-ie.html

Now do I have to have a full blown version of each css file for FF and IE?

Read what I wrote:
...separate CSS files that contain ONLY those rules necessary to fix the bugs

Originally Posted by chrishirst

You could always read your thread at
http://www.webmaster-talk.com/html-f...-i-use-ie.html

****, dude... your making me feel like ten second Bob.


(Can't think of the name of the movie)...


OK, thanks for the reminder...

I have created different IE.css files in order to manage all the bugs coming up..... IE is the worst browser ever in my opinion.


IE5 & 6

IE7

IE8 (some diffrence from FF exist)

Dude??? .. have you seen what my name is??

I would not worry about fixing IE5, it's a very dead browser. IE6 has a lot of issues, but if you're careful you can avoid most of them. IE7 still has some problems, but nothing compared to it's predecessors,and IE8 is far, far more standards compliant than any other.

You're never going to get pixel-perfect comparisons between browsers, and you're drive yourself bonkers trying. IE8 has a few small bugs, but if you use a decent doctype and stick to web standards and valid coding you'll be in better shape.

However, I will agree-- IE IS the worst!!