css to work with dynamic 1, 2, 3 column layout based on if column exist with 1 set of rules

Question

Note:

In some situations elements with display:table-cell; have space at the top that is not padding, or margin and border-collapse:collapse; doesn't fix it either. You need to also use vertical-align:text-top;. Another users question on the subject.

Original question

I create my template files with php and have been using 3 different sets of css rules for the columns depending on if there is 1, 2 or 3 columns. Im wondering if I can get 1 set of rules to work.

glimpse of the php idea

if($this->_data['left']!=NULL)
    echo "<div id='left'>{$this->left}</div>";
if($this->_data['right']!=NULL)
    echo "<div id='right'>{$this->right}</div>";
echo "<div id='content'>{$this->main}</div>";

#left and #right would be fixed width and to the left and right. The #main would be in center and use up the rest of the #wrappers width. so if there wasnt a #right the #main would fill the space where #right would have been.

<!-- 3 column -->
<div id='container'>
    <div id='left'></div>
    <div id='main'></div>
    <div id='right'></div>
</div>

<!-- 2 column -->
<div id='container'>
    <div id='left'></div>
    <div id='main'></div>
</div>
<!-- or -->
<div id='container'>
    <div id='main'></div>
    <div id='right'></div>
</div>

<!-- 1 column -->
<div id='container'>
    <div id='main'></div>
</div>

Answer 1

You can use display:table property for this. Write like this:

#container{
    display:table;
    width:100%;
}
#container > div{
    display:table-cell;
    height:50px;
}
#left, #right{
    width:100px;
    background:red;
}
#right{
    background:green;
}
#main{
    background:blue;
}

Check this http://jsfiddle.net/HXaPR/