CSS flags

[francis]

CSS flags (http://www.stopdesign.com/log/2005/05/03/css-tip-flags.html) is one of those simple but genius-like tips that really make navigating large CSS files so much easier. I've just started using the idea and find it saves me loads of time

[David]

That's a really good tip. I have been structuring my CSS files based upon web page structure - that seems most sensible - but finding the right section is often a chore. This little tip makes a lot of sense. I'm going to adopt it too :)

[francis]

I've been involved in a project at work that has involved a fair amount of CSS and, in the future, will see a probable large increase in CSS files. I used the following system:

core-layout.css (core layout properties for all pages)
core-style.css (core colours for all pages)
core-print.css (core print overrides for all pages)

Then each page had its own page specific CSS file that contained any other overrides for screen and print (by using an @media block within the sheet sitself).

I also used CSS signatures (http://archivist.incutio.com/viewlist/css-discuss/13291) to reduce the amount of classes that I had to use in the HTML and to hopefully make things easier in the future for any updating that needs doing.

[David]

Each page has it's own CSS file :o

Why not add page specific CSS to the HTML head section? Wouldn't that be neater?

[francis]

No as it involves a complicated CMS and numerous other things that make it easier to have everything separate rather than in one page. And, with the CSS in the head, it might make it more tempting for people to play with and change; with it in a separate document, it's not accessible to prying fingers.