I am trying to make the background color transparent in the 'Style & Configure layout'.

I have tried this code:

background: #ffffff;
        alpha(opacity=50);
        -moz-opacity:0.5;
        -khtml-opacity: 0.5;
        -webkit-opacity: 0.5;
        opacity: 0.5;

This code produces transparent background as I want for the containter, but it also produces transparent text, which I don't want. Is there another code that will make this background transparent, but not the text?

Do I have the code placed in the wrong section? If so, where should this code be placed?

That is how transparancy works in css.

You can try this: http://www.impressivewebs.com/css-op...hild-elements/

I have the

background: transparent;

into Layout Container Style and it works fine in chrome, firefox, IE.
or you can edit a picture (transparent png) to the alpha you want and place it as the background
opac.zip