This post is about 10 commonly used css properties that were impossible to implement in IE6. While redesigning ProductiveDreams, I came across a few css compatibility issues with IE6 and had to spend hours searching the solution for each issue.

So I just thought of putting them together to save your time. These css hacks (I would rather call them ’solutions’ since, not all of them are purely css based) solves the major compatibility issues in IE6.

1. Rounded or Curved Corners

As you would know, all modern browsers support border radius. Curved corner is something that was merely impossible to achieve in IE6. Recently I came across an htc file (especially for IE) developed by Remiz from HTMLRemix.com, which solves this issue.

The first thing to do while using htc is to add the correct MIME type for htc behavior on your server. This is REALLY important before you proceed. The following are steps:

For more details on how to add MIME type visit Microsoft Support

All you need to do is download the htc from HTMLremix and include the following code in your CSS.

CSS
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.div_class_name{
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behavior:url(border-radius.htc);
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}
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Jquery Alternative: jQuery Corner a jQuery plugin that creates crossbrowser compatible rounded corners!

2. The popular PNG transparency issue

Every designer would have faced this issue, obviously! Though there are a number of javascript based solutions, I couldn’t find anything that supports background position. As far as I know all JS based solutions end up with the same result. This is something that worked flawlessly for me. All other solutions are based on this filter.

Preview

CSS
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.class_name{
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_background:none;
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filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader (src='image_name.png', sizingMethod='scale');
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}
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HTC Alternative:If the solution above doesn’t work for you, you may try this htc alternate.

Known Issues:
1. Doesn’t support CSS Sprites: If you are using sprites, then just forget this hack. Background positions doesn’t work with PNG hacks .

If you need background-position support for PNG, then go for DD_belated

The best solution is to use a .gif or png-8. Check out the best way to do this without using hacks!

3. Opacity

This is pretty much straight forward and easy to achieve compared to the other hacks.

Preview

CSS
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.opacity_div {
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  filter: alpha(opacity = 50);
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}
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4. Fixed position

All browsers support the css property ‘position:fixed’, but not IE6. I had to find a solution for this since the social icons in this blog are having a fixed position.

Preview

CSS
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* html .fixed_div{ 
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position: absolute; /* position fixed for IE6 */ 
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top: expression(104+((e=document.documentElement.scrollTop)?e:document.body.scrollTop)+'px'); 
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left: expression(15+((e=document.documentElement.scrollLeft)?e:document.body.scrollLeft)+'px'); 
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} 
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Just change the top(104) and left(15) values, to position the element.

This method works very well, but you would notice a jerk while scrolling the page. So here goes a fix for that.

CSS
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* html { 
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background-image: url(image.jpg); 
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} 
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All you need is a 1px x 1px image. This might sound weird but it works!

5. Min-width & Max-width

This is simple as well and was already posted on ProductiveDreams

Preview

CSS
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.div_class_name{
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width: expression(document.body.clientWidth < 1000? "1000px" : "auto");
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}
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CSS
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.div_class_name{
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width: expression(document.body.clientWidth > 1000? "1000px" : "auto");
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}
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Jquery Alternative: This is an alternative solution for the hack above. JQminmax is a cool plugin which allows you to set minimum and maximum values for both width and height.

6. Hover for non anchor elements

Unfortunately, IE6 supports :hover, only for anchor tags. That means css based dropdowns would not work in IE6. CSShover.htc is the best solution for this. You may download the htc file from xs4all.nl

Preview

CSS
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body { 
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behavior: url("csshover3.htc"); 
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} 
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As I mentioned previously, don’t forget to add the correct MIME type for htc behavior on your server. This is the key.

7. Min-height & Max-height

Preview

This is not really a hack since it uses valid css.

CSS
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.div_class_name{
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min-height: 140px;
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height: auto !important;
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height: 140px;
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}
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CSS
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.div_class_name{
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 height: expression( this.scrollHeight > 199 ? "200px" : "auto" );
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}
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8. Bicubic scaling for images

One line code that solves the image scaling issue in IE6 and 7. Hats off to Chris Coyier for coming up with this solution.

CSS
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img {
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 -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; 
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}
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9. Negative text indent for input buttons

Negative text indent is normally used to hide the text value inside buttons, which lets you use custom background images for them. For some reason, IE doesn’t support negative text indent for input buttons. For more details about this issue check out this post

Preview

CSS
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input.button {
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width:114px;
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height:37px;
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border: none;
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background: transparent url(images/button_image.gif) no-repeat center;
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overflow: hidden;
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text-indent: -999px;
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}
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10. Text shadow

The shadow filter is one of the useful filters for IE.

Preview

CSS
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.text_shadow{
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filter: Shadow(Color=#999999, Direction=135, Strength=5);
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height: 1%;
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}
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This is the third time I’m redesigning PD (I would rather call this a facelift). I’ve used some jquery to make things lively

So what are the major changes?

1. The Global Search

Type something(meaningful) on the Search field on the top right and wait for a second or two.

2. My social network

This section lets you to connect with me. Be my friend!

3. The Twitter Bird

I don’t want to explain this. Just move your mouse over the twitter bird.

4. The JQuery(moving) tabs

A simple JQuery animation.

5. Digg and Retweet buttons

You can see this in the post detail pages.

6. Calendar - shows posts of the current month

7. The Page peel icons

These icons already existed in the previous design but still I think it’s worth a mention.

8. Top Commenters

I love my readers and especially those who take the pain to comment or thank me for my efforts.

Now it’s time to let me know your opinion. Do you think this design is better than the previous one? Feel free to comment here

This blog is nothing without its readers. I would also like to thank my twitter followers who were helping to spread the word.

Update: Wow! I won another Contest! The GrandZine Contest! I am really excited since I was not even aware of this contest

I received many emails requesting for those social media icons that are peaking through the left hand side of this page (or any post page on ProductiveDreams). So I thought of putting together a set of social icons for my dear readers. The set contains 16 social icons in (transparent)PNG format.

Preview

PagePeel - A Free Social Media Iconset

What are you waiting for? Get ready to peel your web pages!!!

If you like my website, please vote for “Productive Dreams”. I’m joining in under “Best Grunge” category.

Preview

Hand Drawn Illustrations by Gopal Raju - ProductiveDreams

Where should I use these illustrations?

I have listed down a few websites that follow this trend.

1. Achstudio

2. Chirag J Solanki

3. Deborah Cavenaugh

4. Hugs for Monsters

5. Miki Mottes

The illustrations in the set are purely vector, available in fireworks (png) format. The transparent PSD version has been included as well.

1. A Pilot

2. Div Voted

3. Drupal Con

4. Get Me Fast

5. iSlayer

6. Jeff Sarmiento

7. Little Kids Bedrooms

8. Rawkes

9. Sopa

10. Mix Online

1. Alexandru Cohaniuc

2. Burger King Studio

3. Change in Command

4. Cognigen Corp

5. From the Couch

6. Sarah Longnecker

7. The Society of Publication Designers

8. The Autumn Film

9. Tmynus

10. Blue Dots Design