HTML Forum

**HarleyR** · 05:28 PM

Hi All, I am 78 years old, and have been creating web pages for many years, but doing it wrong. My pages, I fould out, will not valiidate.
I am trying to correct my errors. I started by putting in the line at the top of my page: <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"
"http://www/w3/org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">

Now when I use <hr> and sometimes <center> it will not validate. And, in the copy I have in my computer, I can not use the line:
<a href="../index.html">PARENTS UNITED INTERNATIONAL</a>. Could the new line at the top have something to do with it? I just write the code using a text editor.

I am master for one page for teaching American sign Language, http://www.asl1.org and several pages for a non-profit organization called "Parents United International, http://www.parentsunited.info I have not corrected most of these pages. I am working on it.

I would appreciate any help.
thanks
Harley

**mgraphic** · 07-09-2006, 06:51 PM

For centered content, use:

Code:

<div align="center">
  Content
</div>

For another method of drawing a line:

Code:

<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; width: 100%;">&nbsp;</div>

**vangogh** · 07-10-2006, 12:35 AM

The <center> tag has been deprecated in html 4.01 and while it will still work it won't validate. You can try mgraphic's suggestion above and there are other methods as well that may work, typically using css.

The <hr> tag hasn't been deprecated, but some of the attributes that you used to be able to use with them have been. You can also use mgrpahic's suggestion to create a line or use <hr> without attributes and use css to style the <hr> instead.

I don't think it's necessary in html 4.01, but you may also need to provide the closing tag which in this case is part of the <hr> tag and write it like <hr />. I think that's only required if you're using xhtml (I'm forgetting at the moment), but it might be something to try.

**RNPoo7** · 07-10-2006, 01:03 AM

I didn't think this validates in html 4?

Code:

<div align="center">
  Content
</div>

**vangogh** · 07-10-2006, 01:17 AM

You might be right. It might need to be

<div style="text-align:center">
Content
</div>

**mgraphic** · 07-10-2006, 10:06 AM

The only problem with that is it would only center text, not other objects.

**LadynRed** · 07-10-2006, 10:30 AM

You really should not do this:

Quote:

<font face="brush script mt " size=7pt>Parents United International</font>
<br>

<font face=batavia size=6pt color="#dd0000">Stop the Cycle of</font>
<img src="images/spin.gif" width=40 height=40 alt="Spinner">
<font face=batavia size=6pt color="#dd0000">Child Sexual Abuse</font>

Anyone who does not have those fonts on their machines won't see your intended font styling. Better to stick with 'standard' fonts - Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, "Times Roman", sans-serif or even Geneva.

Your site does validate as HTML 4.01 Transitional

**HarleyR** · 07-10-2006, 10:55 AM

Thanks. You are a great group.
I have solved a lot of my problems and now my http://www.parentsunited.into page is all validated. Now I will have fun trying your suggestions about centering and <hr>, and validating my other page. I am learning, thanks to you.
Harley

**HarleyR** · 07-10-2006, 11:17 AM

Thanks also, LadynRed, for the heads-up about the use of fonts. I will try the ones you suggested and see if any will do the job.
Harley

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