Simulating a Table Using an Unordered List
Posted: June 11, 2007 Filed under: Design, Web Development | Tags: css, unordered list, xhtml 19 Comments »NOTE: It should be said that semantically correct HTML should always be used in favor of <div> craziness. This is meant more as a proof of concept.
Your first question immediately might be, “why would I want to simulate a table with a list, why not just use a table?” With the raise in popularity of AJAX sortable list elements, using list items to represent a multiple column data table can allow for easy sorting of various more “tabley” information. So let’s get started.
First let’s look at our HTML:
Now the CSS:
Ok – I’ve left something out for space. I also implement the clearfix solution as given at: http://www.positioniseverything.net/easyclearing.html
I’ll keep this post short, because I’m expecting that you can figure out everything that was done by the HTML and CSS. Hope it helps someone somewhere to do something cool.
Result:
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Hi there,
This is great (and thanks, therefore!) but unfortunately does not address my concerns!
I need to be spitting out “table” rows dynamically but can’t use tables because sections of the “table” are grouped with an accordion.
So I’m trying to find a way to do it with non-table CSS.
Your method is great but the layout breaks if some of the cell data flows into two or more lines!
What I am trying to build is a way to have the “rows” expand if one “cell” is taller than one line.
Any clues on this..?
:)
qryss
[...] Simulating a Table Using an Unordered List [...]
[...] Simulating a Table Using an Unordered List [...]
Thanks for help. somthing exactly i am looking for.
This was awesome; thank you.
[...] [...]
[...] Simulating a Table Using an Unordered List Your first question immediately might be, “why would I want to simulate a table with a list, why not just use a table?” With the raise in popularity of AJAX sortable list elements, using list items to represent a multiple column data table can allow for easy sorting of various more “tabley” information. So let’s get started. [...]
[...] Simulating a Table Using an Unordered ListYour first question immediately might be, “why would I want to simulate a table with a list, why not just use a table?” With the raise in popularity of AJAX sortable list elements, using list items to represent a multiple column data table can allow for easy sorting of various more “tabley” information. So let’s get started. [...]
Tables can resize and fit content automagically. How do I do that with DIVs?
Kevin, I would say that while table columns do automatically resize, that in most cases at least stating width in a percentage to ensure longer cells for one column relative to the other columns is pretty common. While you can’t directly adjust div widths dynamically without JavaScript (as far as I’m aware), you could still set a div’s width with a percentage just as you can with a table column. But in cases of actual tabular data remember that tables work just fine.
[...] Simulating a Table Using an Unordered List [...]
[...] Simulating a Table Using an Unordered List Your first question immediately might be, “why would I want to simulate a table with a list, why not just use a table?” With the raise in popularity of AJAX sortable list elements, using list items to represent a multiple column data table can allow for easy sorting of various more “tabley” information. So let’s get started. [...]
[...] 用无序列表模拟一个表格 [...]
[...] Simulating a Table Using an Unordered ListYour first question immediately might be, “why would I want to simulate a table with a list, why not just use a table?” With the raise in popularity of AJAX sortable list elements, using list items to represent a multiple column data table can allow for easy sorting of various more “tabley” information. So let’s get started. [...]
Hi Tim,
Can’t believe that a post from 2007 helps me in a project in 2010. Thanks a bunch for this post!
I needed to create a ‘timetable’ widget. Basically a table when each row will have different number of columns, with a different column width. A TV Guide widget.
Thanks again!
It was very useful … Thanks
[...] Simulating a Table Using an Unordered List Your first question immediately might be, “why would I want to simulate a table with a list, why not just use a table?” With the raise in popularity of AJAX sortable list elements, using list items to represent a multiple column data table can allow for easy sorting of various more “tabley” information. So let’s get started. [...]
What an extraordinary piece of software!! Well conceived.
Have created a “css” file with 5 columns, …_col1 thru …_col5, each 18% as it needs to be < 100% due to borders, inside a "wrapper" of whatever width. Can now in the "html" page, make it scalable from 1 to 5 columns, modifying the width %.
Am in the process of rewriting my current website using "Tabs" & now incorporating "your" CSS Table!!!
Thanks for the gift.
Lee
[...] Simulating a Table Using an Unordered List Your first question immediately might be, “why would I want to simulate a table with a list, why not just use a table?” With the raise in popularity of AJAX sortable list elements, using list items to represent a multiple column data table can allow for easy sorting of various more “tabley” information. So let’s get started. [...]