feature testing - float property using javascript - IE, Firefox - cssFloat, styleFloat

[marten koomen]

hi

I am trying to float divs left and right by setting the css float property using javascript.

In standard browsers the W3C's elem.style.cssFloat does this fine, however in IE one needs to use elem.style.styleFloat which does not work standard browsers.

I am having trouble feature testing using javascript though, with the code below registering true for both tests in both browsers.

 function cssTester(){
    var elem = newDiv()
    if (elem.style.cssFloat = "right" ) {alert("Firefox") };
    if (elem.style.styleFloat = "right") {alert("IE")};
}

I have also some variants of this.

Does anybody have any better ideas for testing?

Thanks

Marten

[Bear Bibeault]

jQuery has flags that detect this for you. And also, behind the scenes, jQuery just does the right thing so you don't even have to worry about it.

I'd check it out.

[marten koomen]

Thanks Bear

I have a key requirement that the float property be set programatically, depending on runtime conditions. Therefore having it behind the scenes and out of 'worries' way is problematic.

I suppose I could hunt through the JQuery framework and see how it is done there,

So I am still open to further javascript suggestions on this....

[Eric Pascarello]

Look at your if statements

Reason you are not using
elem.style.float = "left";

I have no clue what the difference between cssFloat and float is.

Eric

[marten koomen]

by way of closure

My solution was to create two css rules as such

.float_left  {
    float: left;
}

.float_right {
    float: right;
}

and then in my code just added the classname to the required elements as such

 elem.className = "float_left" 

not satisfactory, but it worked across Opera, FF and IE;this feature was already a hack around an IE problem

checked out JQuery and it looks good, but would add to my learning curve - I am one shot or one application developer.

It is difficult to choose a javascript framework, I currently use DOJO to provide a rich text editor, color palette, and drag and drop. To learn another one is a big call for me.

Thanks