How to create multi-column data entry form using CSS in Asp.Net?

Tags: asp.net,css,forms,data-entry

Problem :

While converting a desktop application to a web app, I've run across my ignorance when attempting to implement a multi-column data entry form using CSS. I'm resolved to avoid using tables for this type of thing, and while I found a good reference to laying out a data entry form, I can find nothing that applies to multiple-column layouts like this one:

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

---

Solution :

• Example on jsFiddle

Here's a screen shot, please notice how I demonstrated the tab order with numbers:

Please note that RedFilter's answer has a different tab order, which I have demonstrated in the screenshot below:

(code below complete with ASP.NET validators)

CSS (cross browser friendly)

p
{
 margin:1em 0;
}
label
{
 float:left;
 width:5em;
 text-align:right;
 margin-right:0.5em;
}
input[type="text"]
{
 width: 10em;
}
.left-column, right-column
{
 float:left;
}
.left-column
{
 margin-right:1em;
}​
.textarea-label
{
 float:none;
}
textarea
{
 height:5em;
 width:35em;
}​

HTML

<div class="left-column">
  <p>
    <label for="tbDepartment">Department:</label>
    <asp:TextBox ID="tbDepartment" runat="server" MaxLength="255" />
    <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="valDepartment" TabIndex="-1" runat="server" ControlToValidate="tbDepartment">&nbsp;*</asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
  </p>
  <p>
    <label for="tbFund">Fund:</label>
    <asp:TextBox ID="tbFund" runat="server" MaxLength="255" />
    <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="valFund" TabIndex="-1" runat="server" ControlToValidate="tbFund">&nbsp;*</asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
  </p>
  <p>
  <label for="tbProgram">Program:</label>
    <asp:TextBox ID="tbProgram" runat="server" MaxLength="255" />
    <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="valProgram" TabIndex="-1" runat="server" ControlToValidate="tbProgram">&nbsp;*</asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
  </p>
</div>
<div class="right-column">
  <p>
    <label for="tbProject">Project:</label>
    <asp:TextBox ID="tbProject" runat="server" MaxLength="255" />
    <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="valProject" TabIndex="-1" runat="server" ControlToValidate="tbProject">&nbsp;*</asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
  </p>
  <p>
    <label for="tbSpeedKey">Speed Key:</label>
    <asp:TextBox ID="tbSpeedKey" runat="server" MaxLength="255" />
    <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="valSpeedKey" TabIndex="-1" runat="server" ControlToValidate="tbSpeedKey">&nbsp;*</asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
  </p>
  <p>
    <label for="tbAward">Award:</label>
    <asp:TextBox ID="tbAward" runat="server" MaxLength="255" />
    <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="valAward" TabIndex="-1" runat="server" ControlToValidate="tbAward">&nbsp;*</asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
  </p>
</div>​
<div>
  <p>
    <label class="textarea-label" for="taProjectDesc">Project Description:</label>
  </p>
  <p>
    <asp:TextBox ID="taProjectDesc" runat="server" TextMode="MultiLine" />
    <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="valProjectDesc" TabIndex="-1" runat="server" ControlToValidate="taProjectDesc">&nbsp;*</asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
  <p>
</div>