Jason Cranford Teague wrote a Visual QuickPro Guide on programming web sites with DHTML and CSS. The book is not project-based but task-based, guiding you through a number of lessons that will help you develop efficient and well-designed DHTML sites.

Cranford Teague starts “DHTML and CSS Advanced” with some general advice on developing dynamic sites. The term “dynamic” does not necessarily refer to a database driven site in this case, but to a site that offers a dynamic user experience.

Cranford Teague very elaborately discusses the elements of a web site. You would think experienced web site designers and developers would be able to skip this chapter, but after having read through it —and not being unexperienced myself— I must admit it refreshed my memory and made me question interface choices that I have made with respect to IT-Enquirer to mention just one site.

One chapter later, the author already changes gear and starts with preparations for a dynamic web site. He discusses CSS, its value and when you need it or have to stay away from it. CSS itself is covered too, and I may say in great depth. One point of criticism, though: the author sometimes uses CSS code that isn’t supported by all browsers. However, he does warn you when it isn’t.

CSS makes up for about half the book. Layout, navigation, backgrounds, it’s all covered in detail. The second half of the book is dedicated to DHTML and Javascript coding. There are chapters covering the use of data objects, arrays, external content using iframes, PHP, Javascript or SSI’s. 

Images with rounded corners and shadows, half-transparancy, and other gimmicks are covered as well. Because these themes also touch on the looks of a page, CSS is covered (again) in these chapters as well. Cranford Teague doesn’t shy away from topics that will interest most web designers, but which are sometimes hard to implement, like creating stretching Aqua buttons with CSS, or offering switchable layouts to visitors.

To wrap up this review, I can only add that I was quite glad I read the book. There are a number of topics covered in there that I knew little about, and which the book makes me want to try them out. Other subjects were familiar but Cranford Teague made me doubt my convictions and want to learn more about his views.

The book comes with a very handy CSS Quick Reference table.