Rob Ballou’s (Style-switcher at Contrastweb.com) has published a clarification and improvement on Chris Clark’s (A List Apart PHP style sheet switcher). The Styleswitcher V2, allows you to give the user control over any individual attribute. Another good solution is the A List Apart PHP style switcher which is used in this site’s PHP tests section.
Sitepoint style switcher is another, more simplified method.
Invasion of the Body Switchers (IOTBS) from Brothercake is an efficient object-oriented style sheet switcher, which offers independent switching of multiple media types, and supports an unlimited number of options and controls. Alterior.net has also created a nice PHP solution.
The main area where style switching becomes really practical is for offering a print and visual impairment style. Another good application as would a fast download setting with minimal images and ornamentation.
This site’s main page has style-switching options in the top right corner. It gives the option of a liquid or elastic layout. There’s also a preview of how the print style will look (the print style needs updating - to include collapsible DIVs so the menu system doesn’t need to be printed yet the style can also be used as a ‘minimal images’ style.) A few site designs that were created in the past have also been included.
written by mat
