Industry guru Dave Taylor offers tech support on technical and business topics, including iPhone, iPod, Microsoft Windows, Sony PSP, cellphones, online advertising, CSS, Web design, business, Unix, Linux, SEO, Mac OS X, and shell script programming.     


Get your containers right with CSS!

I've been beating my head against the wall (proverbially, at least) with what should be a simple CSS style issue: I want to change the color and style of some text links on a Web page. I've been trying this:
<style type="text/css">
.bl              { color: #000; font-weight:900 }
.bl a:link       { color: #0f0; }
.bl a:visited    { color: #00f; }
.bl a:hover      { color: #000; background-color: #ff6 }
</style>

<a href="uses.shtml" class="bl">Google Adwords and Overture</a>
but it wasn't working.

Dave's Answer:

Finally it dawned on me: the "anchor container" can't accept all CSS styles, so a quick change to this:

<span class="bl"><a href="uses.shtml">Google Adwords and Overture</a></span>
and *poof* it's all working properly.

The moral of this story: make sure that the containers you're using can accept the styles you're specifying.

Note that you can always pop over to W3C (aka the World Wide Web Consortium) and read the official CSS specification documents too, if you're so inclined.


Related HTML, JavaScript and Web Site Programming articles:
✔   How to Create Predefined Google Image Search Links?
Thanks for the Amazon URL [see Creating Amazon Search Links]. That worked beautifully. In fact, I sent you $5.00 for coffee in thanks....
✔   Can I embed a Facebook search box on my blog site?
I've seen your articles about how to add a Twitter or Google search box on a Web page, but I have a tougher...
✔   Can I use CSS for drop shadows on my blog?
I want to give my site a bit of a facelift and add some neat graphical elements. One of which is drop shadows....
✔   How can I embed interactive photo panoramas on my site/blog?
I read through your blog entry about how to take panoramic photos with iOS 6 and an iPhone 5 and got enthused. I've...
✔   How can I create a Twitter search URL shortcut?
I'd like to add a few Twitter search links to my Web site. Is that possible, or does Twitter prohibit this sort of...

Let's stay in touch!
Sign up for my weekly AskDaveTaylor Newsletter and you'll receive even more tech and gadget help right to your inbox, along with exclusive news and industry updates. It's good stuff. I promise!
    Enter your name: and your email addr:  









Reader Comments To Date: 1

Mark said, on June 28, 2005 12:30 AM:

Isn't it because of the way the CSS is written? The given code says "take anchors _within_ an element of class 'bl' and set the given properties." If this code is this:

a.bl { color: #000; font-weight:900 }
a.bl:link { color: #0f0; }
a.bl:visited { color: #00f; }
a.bl:hover { color: #000; background-color: #ff6 }

It should work, no? Now it says "take anchors of class 'bl' and set the given properties."

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











I will never send you any unsolicited email. Ever.






Check This Out Too...

 
Look for Answers
Need Help? Ask Dave Taylor!


Follow Me on Pinterest

Find Me on Google+
ADT on G+
© 2002 - 2013 by Dave Taylor. All Rights Reserved.

Note: This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this web site or on any linked site. Further, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to my terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site. My lawyer says "Thanks".
"Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.