Table tags are by far the most useful tags you will find. When it comes to page layout you can achive just about anything using these tags. Following are few examples and ideas for you. Some you might find useful, some are just showing off. But all will show some of the versatility of the <TABLE> tags.
(This page is fairly colorful. If you don't see color then maybe you oughtta put that tired old browser to pasture. I happen to know where you can get a good deal on a new one.)
If you can read this, your browser understands the color attributes just fine!
If you can read this, your browser doesn't display table colors. Sorry bud!
There are a total of 18 image files used on this page. They are all zipped up right here. That way, if you want to practice with them, you don't have to try and find them all over the page. (isn't that nice of me!)
And once again, you'll find a whole chartful of background color codes right here.
The Bill of Rights
Passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791.
AMENDMENT I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
AMENDMENT II
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
AMENDMENT III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
I feel guilty cutting this document short so I figure if I provide a link to the U.S. Constitution in it's entirety, I have made up for the 'wrong'.
Here's a simple chessboard. Not super useful, but making one is great practice! Theoretically you could probably use this to play chess with someone through a web page.
Another (less colorful) example using the Bill of Rights again.
The Bill of Rights Passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791.
AMENDMENT I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
AMENDMENT II
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
AMENDMENT III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
You can make bar graphs with just table tags and a few colored 1x1 dots. It's not all that hard and once it's done, it's easy to change. Plus it can do things a regular image can't. Like suppose you needed to change it a lot. Or what if you made it part of results generated by a CGI, Java, or JavaScript program. This technique lends itself very well to "on-the-fly" graphing.
Joe's Widget Mfg. Co. Inc.
Unit production January-June
RED WIDGETS
BLUE WIDGETS
TUNE-UP KITS
UNITS
in thousands
150
100
50
0
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
This is a nice effect. It's kind of a pain to do initially, but updates are easy if you're neat & organized with your HTML coding.
Punch Gran Cru
Honduras
Cigar
Length
Ring
Wrapper
Box of
Price
Single
Britania
6.25
50
Natural
25
96.75
4.55
Diademas
7.25
54
Natural
25
102.50
4.80
Monarcas
6.75
48
Natural
10
57.00
6.40
Prince Consort
8.5
52
Natural
10
48.00
5.65
Robusto
5.25
50
Maduro
20
75.00
4.40
Robusto
5.25
50
Natural
20
75.00
4.40
Superior
5.5
48
Natural
25
86.50
4.05
Here's nearly the same effect yet a MUCH simpler table to construct...