Microsoft Internet Explorer 4+ and Netscape 6+ supports customized cursors defined with CSS.
Although the cursors will not have the customized look in other browsers, it usually doesn't
cause problems. These browsers will simply show the normal arrow-cursor which would be same case as if you refrained from customizing cursors at all.
Unless the page really does not work without the customized cursor, there shouldn't be technical reasons for choosing not to.
However there might be other reasons for thinking twice before adding custom cursor to your pages. Many users are easily confused or irritated when a site breaks the standard user interface.
CURSOR
PROPERTIES
|
Look |
Values |
Look |
NS |
IE |
Example |
|
default |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:default |
|
crosshair |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:crosshair |
|
hand |
TEST |
|
4+ |
cursor:hand |
|
pointer |
TEST |
6+ |
|
cursor:pointer |
|
Cross browser |
TEST |
|
4+ |
cursor:pointer;cursor:hand
|
|
move |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:move |
|
text |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:text |
|
wait |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:wait |
|
help |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:help |
|
n-resize |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:n-resize |
|
ne-resize |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:ne-resize |
|
e-resize |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:e-resize |
|
se-resize |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:se-resize |
|
s-resize |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:s-resize |
|
sw-resize |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:sw-resize |
|
w-resize |
TEST |
6+ |
4+ |
cursor:w-resize |
|
nw-resize |
TEST |
4+ |
4+ |
cursor:nw-resize |
|
progress |
TEST |
|
6+ |
cursor:progress |
|
not-allowed |
TEST |
|
6+ |
cursor:not-allowed |
|
no-drop |
TEST |
|
6+ |
cursor:no-drop |
|
vertical-text |
TEST |
|
6+ |
cursor:vertical-text |
|
all-scroll |
TEST |
|
6+ |
cursor:all-scroll |
|
col-resize |
TEST |
|
6+ |
cursor:col-resize |
|
row-resize |
TEST |
|
6+ |
cursor:row-resize |
|
cursor:url(uri) |
TEST |
|
6+ |
cursor:url(uri)
|
4P:problems, 4M:Mac only, 4W:Windows only
Adding a customized cursor
The syntax for a customized cursor is this: (Position the mouse over each link to see the effect)
Selector {cursor:value}
For example
<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
.xlink {cursor:crosshair}
.hlink {cursor:help}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<b>
<a href="mypage.htm"
class="xlink">CROSS LINK</a>
<br><br><br>
<a href="mypage.htm"
class="hlink">HELP LINK</a>
</b>
</body>
</html>
|
Click
to view
Redefining the cursor for the entire page
If you want to redefine the cursor so that
it is not only showing up when moved over a link, you simply specify the desired cursor using the body-selector.
For example:
<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
body {cursor:crosshair}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<b>
SOME TEXT
<br>
<a href="mypage.htm">ONE LINK</a>
<br>
<a href="mypage.htm">ANOTHER LINK</a>
</b>
</body>
</html>
|
Redefining the cursor for areas on the page
If you want one look of the cursor in one area of the page and another look of the cursor in another area you can do it with context dependant selectors.
This way, you create different styles for links, that are dependant on the context. Now if the context is set with a dummy tag, such as <span> you don't have to specify the desired style each and every time there is a link in the section.
For example
<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
.xlink A{cursor:crosshair}
.hlink A{cursor:help}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<b>
<span class="xlink">
<a href="mypage.htm">CROSS LINK 1</a><br>
<a href="mypage.htm">CROSS LINK 2</a><br>
<a href="mypage.htm">CROSS LINK 3</a><br>
</span>
<br>
<span class="hlink">
<a href="mypage.htm">HELP LINK 1</a><br>
<a href="mypage.htm">HELP LINK 2</a><br>
<a href="mypage.htm">HELP LINK 3</a><br>
</span>
</b>
</body>
</html>
|
