What the...oh help!

Last Update: July 03, 2012
I have a tech vex problem I hope you can help me solve.

Why is it that my web pages look different on every browser?

I like to use Firefox, but noticed my pages look different on Firefox than on Explorer. The text sizes vary from one browser to another. Chrome is probably something else. So this means that visitors see something different, depending on what browser they are using.

Is it the fault of the software I'm using?

Is there any way to make the pages look the same in all browsers?

It's very annoying to me. What do you advise?

Thanks.
Join the Discussion
Write something…
Recent messages
mama2karsten Premium
I will see if I can find a tutorial I read a while back regarding this issue. I work some in Dreamweaver... I remember the first step is download each of those browsers to be able to actually test your site in those browsers. I have a Mac so the rest of the proceedure is different from the PC... I will see if I can Locate the PC version of the tweaks at Lynda.com.
jatdebeaune Premium
How good is the new Dreamweaver? My site is old Dreamweaver. That could be a reason, even though it was checked out when the site was made. I still get differences in Firefox and IE even with
new software. Safari is different too.
I have a pet peeve over this too! If i use Firefox with Street Articles it keeps asking me to log back in when I try to see my dashboard or add a new article. It works fine in IE ! Anyone else find that?

Also if i try to search here for a anything it only works once. Any solutions?
jatdebeaune Premium
Haven't had that problem. Firefox has been okay. I hope someone has a solution for you. Maybe Kyle would know.
jatdebeaune Premium
Want to apologize to Barry, aka onefineham. I deleted your comment by mistake. So sorry. I see you have the same vexation regarding inconsistency in the browsers. It's a nuisance! Thanks Barry.
DABK Premium
Coffee people, headache pills people are paying the browser design people to keep things different, so that coffee and headache pill sales stay up.

It was on TV, swear to God. Google it.

Besides, if that was not so, there would not be an x at the top left side of one of my sites in IE (and only in IE, and only 1 site) that makes me think an image is not loading up... where there's no image, no text, no nothing I put there to upload.
Apina Premium
lol
jatdebeaune Premium
I believe it. Ice cream sales go up too. Did you click the X? What bugs me is who do you call? It's sadistic. No X anywhere else, huh Dusan?
It's Always something, isn't it Joan! If you're not a natural
"geek" type of person (I'm Not), it's the worst part of all of this.

Thanks Apina, I learned something too.
jatdebeaune Premium
Not being a geek is a drag. I agree with you Meredith. It is the worst part.
Apina Premium
Welcome to Web design 101 and hell!

All the browsers show things in ever so slightly different ways. Webkit browsers like Chrome and Safari are similar, but different, Firefox is different still and IE is well, IE...

When designing themes and web sites web designers should and need to check their product in every major browser, and version... especially IE.

A lot of the time the differences are minor and can be overlooked, but for example with IE, you normally have to create an entirely different style.css to cater for it.

If the differences you are seeing are minor then I would advise just to live with it, if they are major and problematic then you or a coder will need to look at what the issues are and rectify them.
jatdebeaune Premium
What comes before 101?

Is it a major problem? I think so. It changes the look of the homepage. Proportions are off, and text size is off. What browser do most people use? It used to be IE. Could be this old Dreamweaver was designed with IE in mind.

I might have to live with it until I change the site. Thanks Dean.
Incognito Premium
Hi Joan,

IE is usually the browser that most people use, though it can also depend on your specific website. My recommendation would be to check in your analytics to identify what browser to cater for.

Rule of thumb like Dean said, is to cater to all major modern browser (IE, Chrome, Firefox and Safari)

If you're not into code, then I would suggest to outsource the fix, as it will save you more time than it's worth.
jatdebeaune Premium
Thanks Leo. Outsourcing is our friend.
Top