How to horizonatally center a floating element of a variable width?
Edit: I already have this working using a containing div for the floating element and specifying a width for the container (then use margin: 0 auto; for the container). I just wanted to know whether it can be done without using a containing element or at least without having to specify a width for the containing element.
Say you have a DIV you want centred horizontally:
<div id="foo">Lorem ipsum</div>
In the CSS you'd style it with this:
#foo
{
margin:0 auto;
width:30%;
}
Which states that you have a top and bottom margin of zero pixels, and on either left or right, automatically work out how much is needed to be even.
Doesn't really matter what you put in for the width, as long as it's there and isn't 100%. Otherwise you wouldn't be setting the centre on anything.
But if you float it, left or right, then the bets are off since that pulls it out of the normal flow of elements on the page and the auto margin setting won't work.
Assuming the element which is floated and will be centered is a div with an id="content" ...
<body>
<div id="wrap">
<div id="content">
This will be centered
</div>
</div>
</body>
And apply the following CSS
#wrap
{
float: left;
position: relative;
left: 50%;
}
#content
{
float: left;
position: relative;
left: -50%;
}
Here is a good reference regarding that http://dev.opera.com/articles/view/35-floats-and-clearing/#centeringfloats