It’s a while since I’ve worked with table based layouts but maybe this’ll help.
Ideally you’d switch to a CSS layout but if circumstances are restricting you to tweaking tables here’s a suggestion for simplifying the structure.
In the source code, the sidebar currently resides in a tr below the tr containing the main content area. When working with tables for layout it tends to be easier to mark up elements in the order in which they are intended to be rendered, so the sidebar td could be in the same tr as the main content and preceding it. This would make the sidebar and content a simple two cell structure with no rowspan jiggery-pokery required. In brief:
<tr>
<td>sidebar (with shadow image at top)</td>
<td> Main content</td>
</tr>
Here’s code for the Departments page. Some validation errors for missing or superfluous closing tags have been fixed but there are various other errors still present such as missing alt attributes on images and self closed tags that are suitable for XHTML but not for HTML4 e.g. <br />.
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<!-- #BeginTemplate "depts.dwt" -->
<head>
<!-- #BeginEditable "doctitle" -->
<title>Danville Area Community College | Departments and Offices</title>
<!-- #EndEditable -->
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<script language="JavaScript" type="text/JavaScript">
<!--
function MM_preloadImages() { //v3.0
var d=document; if(d.images){ if(!d.MM_p) d.MM_p=new Array();
var i,j=d.MM_p.length,a=MM_preloadImages.arguments; for(i=0; i<a.length; i++)
if (a[i].indexOf("#")!=0){ d.MM_p[j]=new Image; d.MM_p[j++].src=a[i];}}
}
function MM_swapImgRestore() { //v3.0
var i,x,a=document.MM_sr; for(i=0;a&&i<a.length&&(x=a[i])&&x.oSrc;i++) x.src=x.oSrc;
}
function MM_findObj(n, d) { //v4.01
var p,i,x; if(!d) d=document; if((p=n.indexOf("?"))>0&&parent.frames.length) {
d=parent.frames[n.substring(p+1)].document; n=n.substring(0,p);}
if(!(x=d[n])&&d.all) x=d.all[n]; for (i=0;!x&&i<d.forms.length;i++) x=d.forms[i][n];
for(i=0;!x&&d.layers&&i<d.layers.length;i++) x=MM_findObj(n,d.layers[i].document);
if(!x && d.getElementById) x=d.getElementById(n); return x;
}
function MM_swapImage() { //v3.0
var i,j=0,x,a=MM_swapImage.arguments; document.MM_sr=new Array; for(i=0;i<(a.length-2);i+=3)
if ((x=MM_findObj(a[i]))!=null){document.MM_sr[j++]=x; if(!x.oSrc) x.oSrc=x.src; x.src=a[i+2];}
}
//-->
</script>
<style type="text/css">
.style1 {
text-align: center;
}
.style2 {
text-align: left;
}
td {border:1px red solid;}
</style>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#003300" link="#666666" vlink="#CC9900" onLoad="MM_preloadImages('current2.jpg','departments2.jpg','foundation2.jpg','cce2.jpg','working2.jpg','about2.jpg','courses2.jpg','tuition2.jpg','athletics2.jpg','online2.jpg','future2.jpg','alumni2.jpg')">
<table width="747" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td width="213" height="105"><div align="right"><img src="../main1.jpg" width="212" height="176" border="0" usemap="#Map"></div></td>
<td colspan="3"><img src="../working.jpg" width="533" height="176"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" bgcolor="#66FF99">
<img src="../shadow.jpg" width="212" height="26" align="top">
<p align="left"><font color="#006633" size="-2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image14','','../working2.jpg',1)">
</a><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image13','','../cce2.jpg',1)">
</a><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image12','','../foundation2.jpg',1)">
</a><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image11','','../departments2.jpg',1)">
</a><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image10','','../current2.jpg',1)">
</a>
<a href="../about/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image6','','../about2.jpg',1)"><img src="../about1.jpg" name="Image6" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="top"></a><a href="/about/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image6','','../about2.jpg',1)"><br>
</a>
<a href="../programs/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image5','','../courses2.jpg',1)"><img src="../courses1.jpg" name="Image5" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="top"></a><br>
<a href="../tuition/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image61','','../tuition2.jpg',1)"><img src="../tuition1.jpg" name="Image61" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="top" id="Image61"></a><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image61','','../tuition2.jpg',1)"><br>
</a><a href="../athletics" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image16','','../athletics2.jpg',1)"><img src="../athletics/athletics1.jpg" name="Image16" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="top"></a><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image7','','../athletics2.jpg',1)"><br>
</a>
<a href="../online/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image8','','../online2.jpg',1)"><img src="../online1.jpg" name="Image8" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="top"></a><br>
<a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image14','','../working2.jpg',1)">
</a><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image13','','../cce2.jpg',1)">
</a><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image12','','../foundation2.jpg',1)">
</a><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image11','','../departments2.jpg',1)">
</a><a href="#" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image10','','../current2.jpg',1)">
</a>
<a href="../futurestudents/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image9','','../future2.jpg',1)"><img src="../future1.jpg" name="Image9" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="top"></a><a href="../futurestudents.html" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image9','','../future2.jpg',1)"><br>
</a>
<a href="../currentstudents/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image10','','../current2.jpg',1)"><img src="../current1.jpg" name="Image10" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="top"></a><a href="../currentstudents.html" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image10','','../current2.jpg',1)"><br>
</a>
<a href="../depts/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image11','','../departments2.jpg',1)"><img src="../departments1.jpg" name="Image11" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="middle"><br>
</a>
<a href="../foundation/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image12','','../foundation2.jpg',1)"><img src="../foundation1.jpg" name="Image12" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="top"></a><a href="/foundation/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image12','','../foundation2.jpg',1)"><br>
</a>
<a href="../cce/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image13','','../cce2.jpg',1)"><img src="../cce1.jpg" name="Image13" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="top"></a><a href="/cce/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image13','','../cce2.jpg',1)"><br>
</a>
<a href="../hr/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image14','','../working2.jpg',1)"><img src="../working1.jpg" name="Image14" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="top"></a><a href="../working.html" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image14','','../working2.jpg',1)"><br>
</a>
<a href="../alumni/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('Image15','','../alumni2.jpg',1)"><img src="../alumni1.jpg" name="Image15" width="212" height="21" border="0" align="top"></a></strong></font></p>
<p align="center"><a href="../jaguarspot/index.html">
<img src="../jagspot.jpg" width="127" height="118" border="0" alt="The Jaguar Spot"></a><br>
<font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Click on the Spot to access<br>the Student Portal to Online Technology!</em></font></p>
<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
function goPage (newURL) {
if (newURL != "") {
if (newURL == "-" ) {
resetMenu();
} else {
document.location.href = newURL;
}
}
}
</script>
<form name="quicklinks" action="">
<p align="center"><select name="quicklinks-list" size="1" id="quicklinks-list" onchange="goPage(this.options[this.selectedIndex].value)">
<option value="." selected="selected">Quicklinks</option>
<option value="/aac/">Advisement</option>
<option value="https://dacc.blackboard.com">Blackboard</option>
<option value="/catalog/">Catalog</option>
<option value="/courses">Course Descriptions</option>
<option value="https://webui.dacc.edu/wIntJava">Datatel Colleague</option>
<option value="http://mail.dacc.edu">Employee Email</option>
<option value="/finaid">Financial Aid</option>
<option value="/employees/?page=main">For Employees</option>
<option value="/jaguarspot">Jaguar Spot</option>
<option value="/library">Library</option>
<option value="/finaid/shortloan.html">NBS (formerly FACTS)</option>
<option value="http://partnerpage.google.com/students.dacc.edu">Student Gmail</option>
<option value="https://webadv.dacc.edu:8443/WebAdvisor/WebAdvisor">WebAdvisor</option>
</select></p>
</form>
<form action="search_results.asp" method=post>
<div class="style1">
<font color="#006633" size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>
<br />
Search DACC</strong></font><br />
<input type=text name="searchTerm" value="" /><br />
<input type=submit value="Search" />
</div>
</form>
</td>
<td width="25" valign="top" background="../line.jpg" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td>
<td width="481" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <p align="center">
</p>
<!-- #BeginEditable "depts" -->
<p class="style2">
<font size="-1"><strong>
<font size="+1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Departments and Offices</font></strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Academics</em></font><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
<a href="stuserv/adulted/">Adult Education</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="stuserv/adulted/readersroute.html">Reader's
Route</a><br>
Alternative Delivery<br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../online/">Online (Internet) Courses</a><br>
<a href="inst/bus/">Business Division</a><br>
<a href="../deved/">Developmental Education</a><br>
<a href="inst/la/">Liberal Arts Division</a><br>
<a href="../library/">Library</a><br>
<a href="inst/sci/">Sciences Division</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="http://www.dacc.edu/~kjenkins/engineering.php" target="_blank">Coordinated
Engineering Program</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="inst/sci/sono/">Diagnostic Medical
Sonography</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="inst/sci/echo/">Echocardiography</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="inst/sci/hit/">Health Information
Technology</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="inst/sci/radtech/">Radiologic Technology</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="inst/sci/nursing/">School of Nursing</a><br>
<a href="../scholars/">Scholars Program</a><br>
<a href="inst/tech/">Technology and Information Systems Division</a><br>
<br>
<font size="+1"><em>Athletics</em></font><br>
<a href="../athletics/">Athletics Home</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../athletics/bb/">Baseball</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../athletics/mbb/">Basketball (men's)</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../athletics/wbb/">Basketball (women's)</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../athletics/cc/">Cross-Country</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../athletics/golf/">Golf</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../athletics/soccer/">Soccer</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../athletics/sb/">Softball</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../athletics/vb/">Volleyball</a><br>
<a href="../njcaa/">NJCAA National Basketball Tournament</a><br>
<br>
<font size="+1"><em>Services</em></font><br>
<a href="../aac/">Academic Advisement and Counseling</a><br>
<a href="../ar/">Admissions and Records/Registration</a><br>
<a href="../bookstore/">Bookstore</a><br>
<a href="../cns/">Computer and Network Services</a><br>
<a href="../cce/">Corporate and Community Education (CCE)</a> <em>(formerly
B&EI)</em><br>
<a href="../fitness/">Fitness Center</a><br>
<a href="../imc/">Instructional Media Center</a><br>
<a href="/wib/main_site/jtp.html" target="_blank">Job Training Partnership</a><br>
<a href="inst/pccs/">Partnerships for College and Career Success (PCCS)</a>
<em>(formerly Tech Prep)</em><br>
<a href="../sbdc/">Small Business Development Center (SBDC)</a><br>
<a href="stuserv/">Student Services</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../aac/">Academic Advisement and Counseling</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../ar/">Admissions and Records/Registration</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="stuserv/assess/">Assessment Center/Placement Tests</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../career/">Career & Employment Services Center</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="stuserv/cdc/">Child Development Center</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../finaid/">Financial Aid & Veteran's Educational Benefits</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../ar/records.html">Records</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="stuserv/sda/">Student Diversity Advocate</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="../ssc/">Student Success Center:</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">..........</font><a href="../ssc/tutoring.html">Tutoring</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">..........</font><a href="../ssc/oa.html">Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">..........</font><a href="../ssc/trio.html">TRiO Student Support Services</a><br>
<a href="../veterans/">Veterans Multipurpose Employment Center</a><br>
<br>
<font size="+1"><em>Administration</em></font><br>
<a href="pres/">President's Office</a><br>
<a href="admin/">Administration and Finance, Office of</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="admin/ads/">Administrative Data
Systems</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="admin/busoff/">Business Office</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="admin/campserv/">Campus Services</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="admin/graphics/">Graphics / Photocopying
Center</a><br>
<font color="#FFFFFF">.....</font><a href="admin/pp/">Physical Plant / Maintenance</a><br>
<a href="../cqi/">Continuous Quality Improvement</a><span lang="en-us"> (CQI)</span><br>
<a href="../foundation/">Foundation</a><br>
<a href="gp/">Grants and Planning</a><br>
<a href="../hr/">Human Resources</a><br>
<a href="inst/ier/">Institutional Effectiveness and Research</a><br>
<a href="inst/">Instruction, Office of</a><br>
<a href="mcr/">Marketing and College Relations</a><br>
<br>
<font size="+1"><em>Organizations</em></font><br>
International Center</font></p>
<p> </p>
<!-- #EndEditable -->
</td>
<td width="28" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="../spacer.jpg" width="28" height="28"></td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr align="center" width="747">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<font size="-1" color="white" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">© 2011 Danville Area Community College · 2000 East Main Street · Danville, IL 61832-5199 · (217) 443-3222</font><br>
<span style="color: white;"><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
<a href="../copyright.php" style="color: white;"><u>Copyright, Credits, Disclaimer</u></a> ·
<a href="http://www.nexlan.com" style="color: white;"><u>Hosted by NexLAN</u></a>
</font></span>
<br>
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
<a href="http://iccbdbsrv.iccb.org/salarysearch/home.cfm" style="color:white;" target="_blank"><u>Illinois Community College System Annual Administrator and Faculty Salary and Benefits Portal</u></a></font></span>
</div>
<p> </p>
<map name="Map">
<area shape="rect" coords="56,43,160,147" href="../index.html">
</map>
</body>
<!-- #EndTemplate -->
</html>