I would like to know if there is any way to prevent a browser from
resizing text (on an HTML page).  Solution needs work on all browsers
(or at least IE and NS) and both PC & MAC.

Please provide code (if this is possible).  Thank you.

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Clarification of Question by respree-ga on 14 Jan 2003 10:31 PST

Thanks for your comment.  I haven't tried it yet, but this thread
suggests CSS won't work with Mac.

http://216.239.33.100/search?q=cache:dRFbWwsthokC:pub145.ezboard.com/fsecretagentwomanfrm8.showMessage%3FtopicID%3D19.topic+prevent+browser+resizing&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

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Request for Question Clarification by tar_heel_v-ga on 14 Jan 2003 10:33 PST

You are correct.  From what I have seen, CSS won't work anyway.  In
other words, unfortunately, I don't think there is an answer to your
request other than, no, it can't be done.

Good luck!

-THV

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Request for Question Clarification by hedgie-ga on 14 Jan 2003 18:56 PST

Are you the author of the page and want 
decide how it will look on users browser?

There is a HTML tag which does it, but to use
is is really a bad programing. The reader should
have the power to choose the font size.

Do you want to know anyway?

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Request for Question Clarification by serenata-ga on 05 Feb 2003 13:28 PST

Hi Respree-ga ~

The problem with setting absolute text sizes is that those with
disabilities, etc., often need to have larger text sizes than that
chosen by the designer. Those working with developing new browsers and
updates to the old standbys are recognizing this and are giving their
users the ability to override any font sizes, even absolute font
sizing. All it takes is a check in "preferences" on browser settings.

The ability is included in Netscape 7.x, Mozilla 1.x, Phoenix, Opera,
and of course, IE. So, if your site visitor doesn't like your text
size, s/he can just enlarge the text. The enlargement doesn't enlarge
the entire page, just the text, and it can often cause disastrous
results.

The only real way to keep text from being resized is to place it on a
website in graphic form, which isn't very practical (especially for
those who visit websites with graphics turned completely off).

Sorry if this isn't what you wanted to hear, but it looks like
browsers are getting more user-friendly and web designers are having
to keep that in mind as they design pages.

Yours,
Serenata

From the research I have found, that is one of those things that
cannot be done through HTML. However, I think there may be a solution
using cascading style sheets.  Will that work?

-THV

Have a look at www.bookmarklets.com

Bookmarklets are small javascript which can change the way a webpage
looks.

At www.bookmarklets.com there are many examples and even an
introduction on how to write your own. Also a search of Google with
"bookmarklets" gives 34600 other sites on this subject.

Bonne chance

Hi respree-ga,

As a professional web designer, the only sure way that I know of to
keep text size static is to actually turn it into an image. Of course
that option has a lot of disadvantages, thus I am not posting it as an
official reply.

Hope this helps.
Regards,
Researcher slawek-ga

hedgie-ga, Thank you for your comments.

Yes, I'd be appreciative in sharing your knowledge of HTML tag that
prevents resizing and also a brief explanation of why its not a good
idea to use is (browser compatibility?).

Yes, I am the author of the page.  I agree its bad form to take away a
surfer's god given right to resize text.

I'm considering using it for navigation and for keeping the design
layout constant (bigger fonts break the intended layout).  Currently,
I am using a graphic to represent the text (which is probably just as
bad form) to accomplish this, but want to replace it with a link that
looks like a link for consistency.

Thanks for your effort and comments.

well if you want the link to look like a link, and you are already
using an image for your text layout, what you could do is use normal
text for the link, do a screen capture of how this looks on your
computer, crop the screen capture down to only include the text (with
underlining as a link would have) and make an image (jpg/gif) and use
that on your website. This is not a perfect solution, but is a little
closer to what you want than what you are already using.

This might clarify things a bit.

You can use CSS to fix the font size on a page, and yes it will work
on a mac (with any version 5, 6 or 7 web browser).

Try the following:

<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
<!--
p { font-size:10px !important; }
-->
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Some Random Text</p>
</body>
</html>

The only circumstance that this won't work (in a CSS aware browser) is
when a user has something like " p { font-size:20px !important; } " in
their 'user stylesheet'. In which case, their specific style will
override yours. But since they will expect this to happen with all the
websites they view, it will not be unusual to them. The reasoning
behind all this, is that if somebody really needs BIG text, because
they have poor eyesight, for example, they will not be excluded from
content on the web. i.e. ACCESSABILITY.

There is another circumstance in which this won't work, and that is
when a browser has little or no support for CSS. I would estimate that
about 98% of users have browsers that support this CSS.

If you feel this answers your question please let me know.

Regards,

pappa-ga