[UPHPU] IE z-index bug and CSS vs. table layout

[Walt Haas]

OK Gurus, here's a wrinkle to the debate that I haven't seen mentioned.
Go to:

  http://www.utahavalanchecenter.com/media-page.php

and mouse over the ovals on the map.  Each oval should pop up a box
describing the regional danger rating for that region.  This is done
entirely with CSS, there is no JavaScript involved at all.

The pop-up renders the same on IE6 and Firefox.  That was more easily
said than done :-)  The problem is that Microsoft violated the W3
standard in implementing z-index in CSS (surprise!).  They start a new Z
index frame of reference whenever the position attribute is encountered,
rather than whenever the z-index attribute is encountered.  As a result
it's basically impossible to use position in the map (as far as I can
see- show me a better way if you know it) so the only use of position in
the layout is for the pop-up, and the rest of the layout is done with
tables.

-- Walt