CSS dotted box link outline (to mimic MSIE)

[Doors of Perception]

As you probably know, when you click on a link in MSIE and go to a page,
then when you click the "back" button, you see a dotted box outlining the
link on which I just clicked.

As far as I'm aware, no versions of Opera support this desired capability
natively, so I've experimented, as best I could, with using a custom CSS
file which contains the following:

a:hover { outline: 2px dotted black; }

This works -somewhat- well. Most (but not all) of the time, when I click
on a link in Opera, and then go back, the link that I clicked on is
outlined by a dotted box, much the same way it is in MSIE. However, it's
not 100%. Frequently, it is not displayed correctly (e.g., only the
bottom of the link has dots around it, etc.), and sometimes the dotted box
is not surrounding my chosen link at all!

Is there a way to force Opera to display this correctly? I know that
Opera 7.x has some issues with certain CSS pseudo-elements, and I presume
that displaying an outline for hover falls under this category. I really
prefer having dotted outline on selected links, as I think it helps with
site navigation.

I'm using Opera 7.21 on Windows 2000 SP4.

Any thoughts, tips, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance! :)

[Russell Codd]

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 19:37:19 GMT, Doors of Perception
<fo******@IHATESPAMhotmail.com> wrote:

As you probably know, when you click on a link in MSIE and go to a page,
then when you click the "back" button, you see a dotted box outlining the
link on which I just clicked.

As far as I'm aware, no versions of Opera support this desired capability
natively, so I've experimented, as best I could, with using a custom CSS
file which contains the following:

I would hardly say this is a desired capability, as a lot of the questions
in web authoring groups used to be how to eliminate this box!!

--
Always proof read carefully in case you any words out.
Fish Head on a Stick
http://www.fhoas.com

[Doors of Perception]

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003, at 9:20pm, Russell Codd wrote:

As far as I'm aware, no versions of Opera support this desired
capability natively, so I've experimented, as best I could, with using
a custom CSS file which contains the following:

I would hardly say this is a desired capability, as a lot of the
questions in web authoring groups used to be how to eliminate this box!!

Hehehe, very true! I apologize for my ambiguous wording. I meant to say
that this is a desired capability for me. :)

[Lauri Raittila]

[follow-ups only to opera.tech, next time, please set follow up to
header, and consider x-posting carefully.]

In article Doors of Perception wrote:

As you probably know, when you click on a link in MSIE and go to a page,
then when you click the "back" button, you see a dotted box outlining the
link on which I just clicked.
Opera uses different focusing method*s*, so it soes not necessarily make
sence to make focus visible always (and it would require more code to
implement it for mouse navigation.). If you use keyboard navigation (qa,
shift+<arrow>, tab, etc.), selected link stays selected when backing.

You can ask this feature in opera.wishlist. If it will be implemented, I
want it to be toggleable setting. Especially if it will come to same
As far as I'm aware, no versions of Opera support this desired capability
natively, so I've experimented, as best I could, with using a custom CSS
file which contains the following:

a:hover { outline: 2px dotted black; }
I have been trying something somewhat similar using a:focus, exept my aim
has been changing ugly select style that is used for keyboard navigation.
This works -somewhat- well. Most (but not all) of the time, when I click
on a link in Opera, and then go back, the link that I clicked on is
outlined by a dotted box, much the same way it is in MSIE. However, it's
not 100%. Frequently, it is not displayed correctly (e.g., only the
bottom of the link has dots around it, etc.),
There is problems with outline. Not related to anything.
and sometimes the dotted box
is not surrounding my chosen link at all!
Because a:hover should only be aplied when hovering over with mouse. So
it is not at all relevant weather you backed to link or used it first
time.
Is there a way to force Opera to display this correctly?
No. At least I haven't found one.
I know that
Opera 7.x has some issues with certain CSS pseudo-elements, and I presume
that displaying an outline for hover falls under this category. I really
prefer having dotted outline on selected links, as I think it helps with
site navigation.
a:focus could be better than a:hover. It actually partially works when
surfing with mouse on some versions (but not latest. maybe some of 7.2
betas) I don't think there is sence to revert to older version, since I
don't think it would work 100% either.
I'm using Opera 7.21 on Windows 2000 SP4.

Any thoughts, tips, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance! :)

Opera mentioned bugs are AFAIK well known. At least I have known them
since 7.0.
--
Lauri Raittila <http://www.iki.fi/lr> <http://www.iki.fi/zwak/fonts>
Saapi lähettää meiliä, jos aihe ei liity ryhmään, tai on yksityinen
tjsp., mutta älä lähetä samaa viestiä meilitse ja ryhmään.

[Lauri Raittila]

[follow-ups only to opera.tech, next time, please set follow up to
header, and consider x-posting carefully.]

In article Doors of Perception wrote:

As you probably know, when you click on a link in MSIE and go to a page,
then when you click the "back" button, you see a dotted box outlining the
link on which I just clicked.
Opera uses different focusing method*s*, so it soes not make
sence to make focus to be visible always (and it would require more code
to implement it for mouse navigation.). If you use keyboard navigation
(qa, shift+<arrow>, tab, etc.), selected link stays selected when
backing.

You can ask this feature in opera.wishlist. If it will be implemented, I
want it to be toggleable setting. Especially if it will come to same
As far as I'm aware, no versions of Opera support this desired capability
natively, so I've experimented, as best I could, with using a custom CSS
file which contains the following:

a:hover { outline: 2px dotted black; }
I have been trying something somewhat similar using a:focus, exept my aim
has been changing ugly select style that is used for keyboard navigation.
This works -somewhat- well. Most (but not all) of the time, when I click
on a link in Opera, and then go back, the link that I clicked on is
outlined by a dotted box, much the same way it is in MSIE. However, it's
not 100%. Frequently, it is not displayed correctly (e.g., only the
bottom of the link has dots around it, etc.),
There is problems with outline. Not related to anything.
and sometimes the dotted box
is not surrounding my chosen link at all!
Because a:hover should only be aplied when hovering over with mouse. So
it is not at all relevant weather you backed to link or used it first
time.
Is there a way to force Opera to display this correctly?
No. At least I haven't found one.
I know that
Opera 7.x has some issues with certain CSS pseudo-elements, and I presume
that displaying an outline for hover falls under this category. I really
prefer having dotted outline on selected links, as I think it helps with
site navigation.
a:focus could be better than a:hover. It actually partially works when
surfing with mouse on some versions (but not latest. maybe some of 7.2
betas) I don't think there is sence to revert to older version, since I
don't think it would work 100% either.
I'm using Opera 7.21 on Windows 2000 SP4.

Any thoughts, tips, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance! :)

Opera mentioned bugs are AFAIK well known. At least I have known them
since 7.0.
--
Lauri Raittila <http://www.iki.fi/lr> <http://www.iki.fi/zwak/fonts>
Saapi lähettää meiliä, jos aihe ei liity ryhmään, tai on yksityinen
tjsp., mutta älä lähetä samaa viestiä meilitse ja ryhmään.