Here is my debate, the problem is solved, but I cant figure out why the method used on css-tricks.com didnt work. The only reason I can assume it didnt work was because my columns are responsive.
Here is a jsfiddle of the problem.
Solution 1 Nicolas Gallagher Method
Wont work, why. Because my client could at any time add another box (tell me to add another box, or minus a box). So I need my code to be responsive. I took the css off btw, but if you can look and tell me how to make this work, it would be nice. My portion i am stuck at is with selecting of the children of the UL.
.pseudo-three-col .col:nth-child(1) { left: 33%; }
.pseudo-three-col .col:nth-child(2) { left: -33.3%; }
.pseudo-three-col .col:nth-child(3) { left: 0; }
Solution 2 jQuery solution
Jsfiddle
My jQuery captures the height of my Unordered List and applies it to my List items height. Works perfectly. But Im a true CSS developer and dont want to jQuery code things that dont need to be. Time constraints have led to this solution.
$(".basic:last-child").show();
// Optimalisation: Store the references outside the event handler:
var catheight = $('ul.categories').height();
$('ul.categories li.clearfix').css({"height" : "" + catheight + ""});
This seems to work: http://jsfiddle.net/David_Knowles/LQ54K/
Perhaps you can share which bit you didn't understand?
.top_category {
position: relative; background:none orange; z-index: -1;
}
.top_category:before, .top_category:after,
.categories:before, .categories:after {
content: " ";
position: absolute;
z-index: -1;
top: 0;
left: 20%;
width: 20%;
height: 100%;
background: #ccc;
}
.top_category:before {
left: 0%;
background: #eee;
}
.top_category:after {
left: 20%;
background: green;
}
.categories:before {
left: 40%;
background: pink;
}
.categories:after {
left: 60%;
background: yellow;
}
In your fiddle, the above code was missing? Which is the bit that actually makes the faux column effect work. Just for clarities sake; these are not the columns you place your content in, and the height of your actual content columns is NOT made to be equal. Only the Pseudo columns — which are placed behind the content — are made equal. Is that perhaps the confusion?
ADDITION:
This example has columns with borders and a gap between them: http://jsfiddle.net/David_Knowles/Vz5pT/
This is the xtra code that applies the psuedo gaps between columns
.categories li:after {
background: none #FFFFFF;
border-color: #555555;
border-style: solid;
border-width: 0 1px;
bottom:0;
content: "";
display: block;
left: 20%;
margin: 0 0 0 -2px;
position: absolute;
top: 0;
width: 4px;
z-index: 1;
}
.categories li:nth-child(2):after {left: 40%;}
.categories li:nth-child(3):after {left: 60%;}
.categories li:nth-child(4):after {left: 80%;}
Let me know if there is someting that is not clear.