mediajunk

Now that Internet Explorer 7 is starting to gain share of the browser market, cross browser compatibility has become more important than ever. Unfortunately, ensuring your web designs work well on many different browsers, versions and platforms can cause major headaches.

Here are some quick tips on how to test your website design in various browser/version/platform combinations:

1. To install multiple versions of Internet Explorer on a single Windows machine, download this essential multiple-IE utility (approx 10mb) from Tredsoft.

The multiple-IE tool uses some sort of DLL file workaround -- but you don't need to know that. You only need to know that it does exactly what it says on the tin: lets you run multiple standalone versions of Internet Explorer -- from IE3.0 through to IE7 -- simultaneously.

Tip: if you haven't yet upgraded to IE7, do so before running the multiple install tool.

2. For browsers you don't have, use browsershots.org. This free service lets you submit a URL and generates screenshots.

It won't give you every conceivable combination but will give you many, including Safari for Mac.

If you need to see an IE for mac screenshot, another option is http://www.danvine.com/iecapture/

Tip: It takes a while to get screenshot results, so submit your URLs before you go for lunch; they should be ready when you get back.

3. Use CSS hacks to target specific browsers. While this practice is frowned upon by CSS purists, a few hacks are usually inevitable in the trade-off between elegant code and cross-browser perfection.

Tip: Use hacks that keep your CSS valid, and use as few hacks as possible.