Q:font-size -- hardcode or percent?

[phossler]

Learned a lot from just reading the posts.

Interesting comment/recommendation in one of the other threads lead me to wonder if basing font size (and maybe other parameters) on a percentage instead of hard coding it is recommended for the e-reader compatibility.

I usually start out with my basic.css and hardcode h1 to be 2.5em (assuming that it will be 2.5x the paragraph font size)

Q1: Does it matter if I use 2.5em or 250%?
Q2: Should the percentage approach be applied to other parameters?

/* --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- text*/
p {
	text-indent:2em;
	text-align: left;
	font-size: 1em;
	margin-top:0;
	margin-bottom: 1em;
	font-weight: normal;
	font-style: normal;
	line-height:125%;
}


/* for the first <p> after the h1, h2, h3 */
h1 + p {text-indent:0;}
h2 + p {text-indent:0;}
h3 + p {text-indent:0;}



/* --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- headings */
h1 {
	page-break-before: always;
	page-break-after: avoid;
	text-indent: 0;
	text-align: center;
	margin-top:0;
	margin-bottom: 1em;
	font-size: 2.5em;
	font-weight: bold;
	font-style: normal;
	color:blue;	
}

h2 {
	page-break-after: avoid;
	text-indent: 0;
	text-align: center;
	margin-top:0em;
	margin-bottom: 1em;
	font-size: 2em;
	font-weight: bold;
	font-style: normal;
	color:blue;	
}

The family uses some flavor of Kindles, so I don't have to have 'global' compatibility, but I do like to do things right.

Thanks

Paul

[Toxaris]

There is no real difference in em or percentages for these usecases.

[Matt Butts]

I use percentages myself. This gives control to the end user regarding font sizes. Normal text=100%, chapter heading 120% and so on. I also use 'generic' font names in my CSS, i.e. "serif", "sans-serif" or "monospace."

[theducks]

I mostly use em except when I want an explicit fixed size.

My default (when needed IMHO for Charis fonts) line-height: 1.2; Is % valid?

When specifying a font-family, I always include the generic 'fallback' style to use , just in case

[GrannyGrump]

I am under the impression that it doesn't matter whether to use 1.2 em or 120%, they would both display the same. I don't see how using percentage would give any greater control to the "end-user" than using ems.

I started using percentage for font-size as an experiment, but will go back to using em. I find that I prefer to use percentages only when referring to MARGINS and LINE-HEIGHT (easier Find&Replace in the stylesheet)

[Jellby]

For font sizes, 1.2em or 120% makes no difference. For margins there's a whole world of a difference between 1.2em and 120%

I prefer to use 120% in font sizes, because it's (to me) clearer what the intent is. (And it's one character less with more precision )

[GrannyGrump]

Jellby said:

For margins there's a whole world of a difference between 1.2em and 120%

Agreed! --- that's part of my new strategy --- I'm using em for top and bottom margin, and percentage for side margins. I find it easier to read in the stylesheet, too.

(We'll see if I change my mind again....)

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by grannyGrumpy

I'm using em for top and bottom margin, and percentage for side margins.

Note that percentages in vertical margins are referred to the width of the element, not the height. Otherwise it would be very difficult to have even margins on all sides.