Text "Overwriting" in Firefox

A number of prominent websites (eg, Intuit, Vanguard) have "overlapping" text on their sites, so you can't read the words underneath (or fill out questionnaires)....ie, the page isn't spread out enough so columns overlap instead (this is one example I experience: https://personal.vanguard.com/us/home ). This only happens to me on Firefox (all versions), altho the sites claim to support FF, and the webmasters say it's my fault when I complain. On a multipage site, some pages are OK and others are not. Changing my display settings doesn't solve it (I ordinarily operate at native res). Some folks apparently don't have this problem...why do I? Is there a computer-jargon name for this symptom? [XP,SP2]

 

What OS? (Sorry just noticed that in the small print )
Staying with the example you've given, Can you give a screenshot/better description of what happens using FF 3.0.5
What is your Native Res?
Does the problem get better/worse if you press ctrl/+ or ctrl/- on the website?

 

Wildfire...contrary to this board's instructions, I can find no place to include an image (there's supposed to be an attachment icon below this reply of mine, but I don't see it!). But see if this helps...

Think of a two-column newsletter, each column printed on transparent material. Ordinarily the two columns lie side-by-side on top of some white paper, so you can easily read the text against the white background. Now move one column a few inches over on top of the other column...now you essentially have two layers of text, one on top of the other and hard to read. That's what it looks like.

Native res is 1280 x 1024 on a 4:3 LCD monitor. Changing these settings, or making the font larger/smaller has no effect on the problem.

 

I think only contributing members are allowed attachments, but it would still be useful to see a screen shot, can you send one. Whilst we're at it a little clarification on webmasters saying it's your fault... Did they give any particular reason?

Edit: chuckawa is rarely checked so reply here if you send the screenshot

 

Wild...image sent...thanx

 

I can't replicate it (using XP SP3, FF3.05), but I will make the screenshot available for others shortly.

Did the webmasters give you any reason for this?

edit: Screenshot should be found here

 

Nope, just that my settings are wrong. One suggested that I reinstall XP (sound familiar?). I know that other folks have this problem, but it's not universal.

 

Sorry Chris,

I'll keep looking but it's getting late here, your screenshot is available in my previous post if anyone else cares to assist.

You have mail though.

 

I have XP, SP2, FF3.0.5 and the site looks fine. Usually, the overlapping text is found with sites written in a way that they are preferably since in IE. I have only one guess, i.e. your Internet Provider. Is it supposed to support Firefox? I have Cox, which, specifically supports Firefox..

 

West....I have Comcast, which I presume supports FF...but good thought, I'll check.

 

I had the same problems and found that installing a "Add On" called "IE TAB" would correct any screen problems. It will add a small icon above the task bar clock. Click on it to make Firefox act like IE... only problem is.. I have read that doing that opens you up to the security risk of IE.. Do a search for "IE tab" to find the Add On.. or go here.. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1419

 

drhans....that's kinda neat, thanks. It doesn't solve the basic problem, but makes things more convenient.

 

Your welcome... I don't believe your text problem has anything to do with your ISP or display, computer, etc.. I'm going to assume that if your ISP supports FF they mean that they will help you with it if you have any problems accessing the web & using FF. After that your ISP is just a means to get to the highway.. (the web).. You could use any browser you want or OS (Windows, Linux, etc) I think the problem starts with whoever is creating the web page.. They drafted the page with the guidelines for IE and probably didn't test it against other platforms.. Quality control has been lax... But that's just an assumption on my part..

 

I agree %100, whether you use IE, FF or ANOther browser it has nothing to do with the ISP, all browsers use the same protocols but how they implement them may be a problem. I've not looked too much into this (at this time of year I've other more pressing problems ) but I agree with it's a website problem not ISP. However, I still wouldn't rule out your display settings, IE is not W3C compliant and websites designed for this browser may break others who are more W3C compliant.