Setting max-height for table cell contents

We finally found an answer of sorts. First, the problem: the table always sizes itself around the content, rather than forcing the content to fit in the table. That limits your options.

We did it by setting the content div to display:none, letting the table size itself, and then in javascript setting the height and width of the content div to the inner height and width of the enclosing td tag. Show the content div. Repeat the process when the window is resized.

Possibly not cross browser but I managed get this: http://jsfiddle.net/QexkH/

basically it requires a fixed height header and footer. and it absolute positions the table.

    table {
        width: 50%;
        height: 50%;
        border-spacing: 0;
        position:absolute;
    }
    td {
        border: 1px solid black;
    }
    #content {
        position:absolute;
        width:100%;
        left:0px;
        top:20px;
        bottom:20px;
        overflow: hidden;
    }

Just put the labels in a div inside the TD and put the height and overflow.. like below.

<table>
<tr>
  <td><div style="height:40px; overflow:hidden">Sample</div></td>
  <td><div style="height:40px; overflow:hidden">Text</div></td>
  <td><div style="height:40px; overflow:hidden">Here</div></td>
</tr>
</table>