I'm doing it in a different way, using attribute selectors, a background image and a padding (as xandy also suggested):
a[href$=".pdf"] {
padding-right: 21px; /* space for the icon */
background: url(graphics/pdf.png) no-repeat right bottom;
}
This works in IE7 too.
Here's a complete example
In IE7 the PDF icon won't be visible as it does not understand data URIs:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>PDF</title>
<style type="text/css">
a:link,
a:visited {
color: #317408;
background: #eee;
}
a[href$=".pdf"] {
padding-right: 21px;
background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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);
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-position: right bottom;
}
a:hover {
color: #eee;
outline: none;
background-color: #317408;
text-decoration: none;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>
<a href="document.pdf">Here's the PDF</a>
</p>
</body>
</html>
