how would you implement this?

[armyof1]

I am trying to make a script (or series of scripts) that will allow me to do this:

1. obtrieve the data from a mysql database
2. output the data
3. drag the element
4. save the position

Now, My dilemma is this. Lets say i retrieve the strings from the database:

"hello there, this is on one line"

"hello there<br>this is on another line"

The current script uses the CSS to position the element's however because the text can span multiple lines i could not use 'position: absolute' and specify a location. If i was to do this then there would be some overlapping text in some cases. This is what is making the drag-drop function difficult. What i have had to do is set the text inside a table and spefify the bottom padding. The problem with this is that the drag script does not work as there is no actual positioning.

Does anyone have any ideas on implementing this?

[bpat1434]

Why not have an absolutely positioned draggable element with a realtively positioned child element inside that contains the text? That way, as the elastic inner child expands with the text, the absolute parent expands too.

Of course, you could always just use javascript to "void" out the areas where another item is currently positioned 😉 Just set a voided area to it's x and y coordinates, along with the width and height. That will give you an area to mark off as "void". If you drag a box over the void area, it won't go there.