Re: usage of fieldsets

Hi all,
I agree with Shadi when he says that it would be too exagerated to 
enclose/relate each question to its section heading. As a user and 
operational point of view, i'd suggest that enclose each question and it 
related input controls into individual fieldsets. That will focus user's 
attention only to the question to answer rather than the section, which is 
the most important at the end of the day, isn't it?
Regards
Tanguy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shadi Abou-Zahra" <shadi@w3.org>
To: <public-wai-eo-badtf@w3.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 6:59 PM
Subject: usage of fieldsets


>
> Hi,
>
> There is an issue regarding the usage of fieldsets on the forms page that 
> we need to discuss and take a decision on. Here is a brief description of 
> the issue:
>
> Grouping form controls with fieldsets is especially useful when using 
> forms mode in screen readers because it put the input labels into context 
> of an overall group of questions.
>
> At the same time, the legend of the fieldsets are often read out loud 
> repeatedly at each label. This can become very verbose.
>
> Also, how extensively should the fieldsets be used/nested? The following 
> two special cases arise on the survey form of the Demo:
>
> * Groups of questions are grouped into sections. For example, "1. General 
> Information" followed by three questions that group several input 
> controls. Currently this section heading is coded as a page header but 
> that means it will not be read out in forms mode.
>
> * If we do take this purist approach that everything needs to be within a 
> fieldset, then we end up with the text area at the bottom of the page that 
> is also nested into a fieldset (because it is a different question but 
> composed of only one control). Isn't this exaggerated?
>
> Note that there are other directions within <p> elements throughout the 
> form too. To me the conclusion is that we need to rethink our usage of 
> fieldsets and reduce the amount somewhat.
>
> What are peoples perspective on this?
>
> Regards,
>  Shadi
>
>
> -- 
> Shadi Abou-Zahra     Web Accessibility Specialist for Europe | Chair & 
> Staff Contact for the Evaluation and Repair Tools WG | World Wide Web 
> Consortium (W3C)           http://www.w3.org/ | Web Accessibility 
> Initiative (WAI),   http://www.w3.org/WAI/ | WAI-TIES Project, 
> http://www.w3.org/WAI/TIES/ | Evaluation and Repair Tools WG, 
> http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/ | 2004, Route des Lucioles - 06560, 
> Sophia-Antipolis - France | Voice: +33(0)4 92 38 50 64          Fax: 
> +33(0)4 92 38 78 22 |

Received on Thursday, 23 February 2006 09:00:26 UTC