Question

Maybe there is already a question about this subject, but I couldn’t find it.

My question is simple,
Can I use only divs on a page layout?

I got myself in trouble to create a div with corners for example.

A_____B______C  
|            |
D     E      F
|            |
G_____H______I

take all letters as divs with some background, while letter E is where the content is placed, and it is dynamic, so it can get any height, while the width will be 100% for whole window(there is another div as the menu floating left of that div, but I didn’t consider it here).
in table I did that really quick with no hack, but with divs I just couldn’t.
I couldn’t make the height of div D and F expand correctly with divs, the rest was ok

so,
1. can div really replace tables for layout?
2. can div replace tables without css compatibility-hacks?

(btw, that wasn’t my only problem with div and css for layouts where table did it easily)

Answer 1

Your example is completely doable in basic CSS using absolute positioning inside relatively positioned element. Take a look at this:

http://www.ulmanen.fi/stuff/box.php

So, in answer to your question, divs really replace tables for layout.

And what goes for question number two; tables should be used where tables are needed: in tabular data. If you need to present something in a table, use a table. Just don’t use them for layout.