How do you insert tables on webpages?

[richinri]

Placeholder: Take a peek.

(Make sure that you save your spreadsheet file for later editing.)

Just for information: this page would NOT validate and may even have display issues due to the fact there are 2 header sections and 2 body sections - an html no-no.
Second, any text grouped in XWD is now a graphic and will NOT be indexed at all by the search engines. You put all your table text in a graphic and as far as the search engines are concerned your site is talking about nothing.

[cursor]

I know nothing (yet) about "validation" (nor why it might be important).
I know little (currently) about search engine validation.

So, why wouldn't the table 'validate'.
And, how would you present the table for responsible SEO?

Thanks.

[Spinny]

I'm pretty SEO ignorant, myself. Does an iframe link to an external block of HTML open that block up for the search spiders?

[Xhris]

Would like to know if someone knows how to insert tables for organizing information on pages being created?

There's a video here explaining how to do it in WD.

[nickydude]

Thanks for that.

[richinri]

I know nothing (yet) about "validation" (nor why it might be important).
I know little (currently) about search engine validation.

So, why wouldn't the table 'validate'.
And, how would you present the table for responsible SEO?

Thanks.

If you noticed in my posts I have cautioned against the "I am drawing websites, the heck with the code" thinking. This thread makes clear...again as to why.
A placeholder of html code was inserted and because it showed up - it was assumed all was well but with the code that no one wants to look at - it contained SERIOUS html errors giving 2 header and 2 body sections. Anyone looking at this error would say the person designing the site doesn't have a clue what they are doing. It could have resulted in display issues and certainly wouldn't validate. A search engine could well ignore the page completely as deficient in structure.
Second - search engines use text primarily to "sniff" out your content. The more you convert plain text to images via grouping, the less text the SE has to sniff out the content of your site. It sees image tags without text.
This is why I say XWD is a wonderful tool, but graphics designers need to be aware of these things if they want to be serious about websites. Be very careful with the "who the heck cares about the code" mentality.
It could end up being very embarrassing for you professionally.
Even the first timer or "small guy" wants a site that will validate according to WC3 standards and they want good search engine ranking.
Any insertion of placeholder html could cause your validated code to go south with one cut and paste.
So I say design away with XWD - but DO be aware of at least some code issues so you don't end up screwing yourself or a client out of ignorance of some vital, very basic issues regarding the reality of the web.
And for those that don't know, validation is the internet's way of saying your page is properly structured and coded pursuant to the latest internet standards. It helps with display and search engine rankings not to mention it can help with people working with the site later.
Nothing is worse than checking your site and seeing pages full of errors in programming structure.........especially if a client that just paid you is sitting right there.

[steve.ledger]

It sees image tags without text. .

Which is why you should use the ALT text attribute in your <IMG tag - Google reads these.

Here's why

(Ignore that Matt Cutts incorrectly calls it the ALT 'tag')

WD allows you to apply the ALT text attribute - use it.

[remi]

@Steve: There is just one important problem in this case: The ALT attribute shouldn't be used to insert the text of a whole table. In my eyes the suggestion posted in #28 can't be a proper solution for this task.

@richinri: I agree with you, that inserting a HTML table exported from MS Excel with a Xara Web Designer placeholder as suggested in post #13 creates invalid HTML code. Furthermore the use of <iframes> is a matter of taste. It's difficult to argue about taste, but I see it the same like you: Excessive scrolling within an <iframe> in order to see the content is a less-than-ideal solution.

Remi
------------------------
Disclaimer 1:
I don't use Xara Web Designer, therefore it could be, that my answer may not consider the current features of Xara Web Designer.

Disclaimer 2 (necessary these days):
I'm not implying anything I haven't said.

[Boy]

There's a video here explaining how to do it in WD.

Thank you, Xhris, very instructive!

[steve.ledger]

@Steve: There is just one important problem in this case: The ALT attribute shouldn't be used to insert the text of a whole table. In my eyes the suggestion posted in #28 can't be a proper solution for this task.

I'm not implying anything I haven't said.

I never mentioned that ALT text used for an <img tag would replaced text in a table.
But what table are you talking? Table tag or a drawn graphical table?
If it's a table drawn in WD with numbers entered into each cell, why do you want this indexed by Google?

I was merely pointing out that Google reads ALT text for images. Therefore it stands to reason that the <IMG tag is not ignored as suggested.