single or multiple CSS files

**Lauri Raittila** · Jul 21 '05, 01:16 AM

Re: single or multiple CSS files

in comp.infosystem s.www.authoring.stylesheets, Carolyn Marenger wrote:[color=blue]
> Hey everyone, I am looking for your thoughts and opinions.
>
> Is it preferable to have one css file containing all the style information
> or break it up into multiple imported files for different types of
> formatting. For example, one file for page layout related items and
> another for text formattion?[/color]

Usually, it makaes sence to have everything in one file, and maybe
supporting stylesheets for stuff that is only used on subset. If you have
lots of stuff in these files for different media, split styleshet to
media specific ones.

It makes no sence to use many stylesheets for every page if they are
always same, as it will end up more likely FOUC, as one of the files is
bound to be delayed. Especially if your server is not that fast, and
other end has suboptimal network preferences. Same if you have import
rule in your external stylesheet...
[color=blue]
> I have seen different combinations on different pages, and am wondering
> which people find is easier to maintain. Being from a coding background
> myself, I like to keep related things together, and move the rest to a
> different file, or files. Also being from a coding background, I'd prefer
> to learn by reading about others mistakes than duplicating them myself.[/color]

You may do that as well, just compine the small sheets on one file before
serving them up.

--
Lauri Raittila <http://www.iki.fi/lr> <http://www.iki.fi/zwak/fonts>
Utrecht, NL.

**Carolyn Marenger** · Jul 21 '05, 01:16 AM

Re: single or multiple CSS files

On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 22:02:39 +0100, Lauri Raittila wrote:
[color=blue]
> in comp.infosystem s.www.authoring.stylesheets, Carolyn Marenger wrote:[color=green]
>> Hey everyone, I am looking for your thoughts and opinions.
>>
>> Is it preferable to have one css file containing all the style information
>> or break it up into multiple imported files for different types of
>> formatting. For example, one file for page layout related items and
>> another for text formattion?[/color]
>
> Usually, it makaes sence to have everything in one file, and maybe
> supporting stylesheets for stuff that is only used on subset. If you have
> lots of stuff in these files for different media, split styleshet to
> media specific ones.
>
> It makes no sence to use many stylesheets for every page if they are
> always same, as it will end up more likely FOUC, as one of the files is
> bound to be delayed. Especially if your server is not that fast, and
> other end has suboptimal network preferences. Same if you have import
> rule in your external stylesheet...[/color]

My thoughts were along the lines of one style sheet containing layout and
positioning and a second containing styles and colours. The idea being
that some pages on the site will look best in a multi-column format,
others, like a gallery might need a different layout. I would however
want the same style and colours throughout the site.

I like your point on one file coming in quickly and another slowly, and
screwing up the layout in the meantime. To extend on it, each file that
gets sent needs it's own handshaking overhead. That impacts directly on
the download speed to anyone, with a more noticeable effect on slower
connections. The other thing is the use of additional server resources to
deal with the additional file request.

From a purely technical side of things, minimizing the number of files,
speeds up transmission and reduces server resource usage. Two very good
things.

I suppose I could have two or three document layouts within a single
stylesheet, just have to ensure that they are well documented, so I know
what's going on the next day I open the file.

Thanks for you input. I think I have reached my decision... at least for
now. :)

Carolyn

**Jim Moe** · Jul 21 '05, 01:17 AM

Re: single or multiple CSS files

Carolyn Marenger wrote:[color=blue]
> Hey everyone, I am looking for your thoughts and opinions.
>
> Is it preferable to have one css file containing all the style information
> or break it up into multiple imported files for different types of
> formatting. For example, one file for page layout related items and
> another for text formattion?
>[/color]
I use one file for the basic layout, the styles that are common to the
site as a whole. There a separate CSS files for some pages that have
special requirements that are not needed anywhere else, or are used only
in a few other places.
Having the multiple, smaller files keeps the size of the main CSS file
manageable.

--
jmm dash list (at) sohnen-moe (dot) com
(Remove .AXSPAMGN for email)

**Ståle Sæbøe** · Jul 21 '05, 01:17 AM

Re: single or multiple CSS files

I do this as well. One main css and if I need to tweak the style on a
subsection, I import the main and define the new styles in a new sheets.

In addition, when I develope I usually import a "reset sheet" to the
main. Basically this is a sheet which strips the default styles and
looks something like this:

body, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, p, em, a, a:hover, a:link, a:visited,
a:hover, div, table, td, tr, ul, ol, li, img {
background: transparent;
border: none;
border-style: none;
border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
color: #000000;
font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
font-size: 9pt;
font-style: normal;
font-weight: normal;
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
text-align: left;
text-decoration: none;
list-style: none inside none;
}

This gives you a clean slate to work on :)

Jim Moe wrote:[color=blue]
> Carolyn Marenger wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Hey everyone, I am looking for your thoughts and opinions.
>>
>> Is it preferable to have one css file containing all the style
>> information
>> or break it up into multiple imported files for different types of
>> formatting. For example, one file for page layout related items and
>> another for text formattion?
>>[/color]
> I use one file for the basic layout, the styles that are common to the
> site as a whole. There a separate CSS files for some pages that have
> special requirements that are not needed anywhere else, or are used only
> in a few other places.
> Having the multiple, smaller files keeps the size of the main CSS file
> manageable.
>[/color]

single or multiple CSS files

single or multiple CSS files

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