HTML5 tags background won't show in IE7 or IE8

[benjaminmorgan]

This works perfectly in IE9 but if I have a section tag with a background it won't work in ie6, iE 7 or IE8, If i change the section tag to a div tag it works like it should, why can't i do it with the section tag?

I have even declared the section tag display: block;

 

Hopefully someone can help

[Wickham]

The new HTML5 tags like section, aside, footer aren't supported by older IE versions unless you use a javascript shiv or shim file. Look at this page

http://www.wickham43.net/html5.php

and include

   <!--[if lt IE 9]>
   <script src="http://html5shiv.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/html5.js"></script>
   <![endif]-->

in your head section and make sure that ActiveX is enabled in older IE versions.

[benjaminmorgan]

Thanks so much, I have another question, is there any way to make sure ActiveX is auto enabled instead of them having to click allow blocked content?

[Wickham]

Thanks so much, I have another question, is there any way to make sure ActiveX is auto enabled instead of them having to click allow blocked content?

 

No, you can't assume that all users will have IE activeX enabled, but most do. For important parts of a website it's probably safer to use an id or class and avoid the new html5 sections.

[benjaminmorgan]

Thanks for all your help