Re: can <MAP> be used soley to group links?

(I've removed html-editor from here while we get a consensus)

OK, Ian and I now agree that the spec commentary re <MAP> needs rewording.

Do other folks agree on this?

Len


At 11:36 AM 8/1/00 -0400, Ian Jacobs wrote:
>"Leonard R. Kasday" wrote:
> >
> > Ian,
> >
> > Would you agree that the spec commentary needs re writing, e.g. change
> >
> >  > This content should include A elements that specify
> >  > the geometric regions of the image map and the link associated with each
> >  > region"
> >
> > to
> >
> > "If the <MAP> is being used to specify regions of an image map, then the A
> > elements should specify the geometric regions and their associated
> > links.  If the <MAP> is being used only to group the links, then the
> > geometric regions may be omitted."
> >
> > (you suggested something like this,  to make it a "little clearer".)
> >
> > also change the line in the DTD
> >
> >  > name        CDATA          #REQUIRED -- for reference by usemap --
> >
> > to
> >
> >  > name        CDATA          #REQUIRED -- for reference by usemap and/or
> > other purposes --
> >
> > If you agree on the need for that rewrite, or something equivalent, then
> > we're in agreement.
>
>Yes, that seems reasonable.
>
>  _ Ian
>
> > Len
> >
> > At 12:50 PM 7/31/00 -0400, Ian Jacobs wrote:
> > >"Leonard R. Kasday" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > To the HTML editor,
> > > >
> > > > During discussions in WAI, people have been saying that in HTML 
> 4.01 <MAP>
> > > > can be used for the sole purpose of grouping links, i.e. without
> > > > implementing an image map, e.g.
> > > >
> > > > <MAP name="foo">  <!-- with no usemap referring to "foo" -->
> > > >    <A href="home.html"> home </A>
> > > >    <A href="contact.html> contact </A>
> > > > </MAP>
> > > >
> > > > However, what I read in the HTML 4.01 spec seems to contradict this.
> > >
> > > > 1. In 13.6.1 [1] . it says that the name attribute is required, and the
> > > > comment says it's for use by usemap.  But there's no need for usemap if
> > > > it's only for grouping.  So the reference to usemap seems to contradict
> > > > that map can be used solely for grouping.
> > >
> > >That's not my reading of the spec:
> > >
> > >"name: This attribute assigns a name to the image map
> > >        defined by a MAP element."
> > >
> > >One use of this name value is to be the value of the
> > >usemap attribute on another element. But name may serve
> > >other purposes (e.g., it could be used in scripting).
> > >
> > >I don't see a contradiction. "Usemap" is one consumer
> > >of MAP/name.
> > >
> > > > 2. The document also says that
> > > >
> > > > "Block-level content. This content should include A elements that 
> specify
> > > > the geometric regions of the image map and the link associated with 
> each
> > > > region"
> > > >
> > > > This also seems to contradict the idea that <MAP> can be used 
> solely for
> > > > grouping, since there's no need to specify geometry for such uses.
> > > >
> > > > Are these simply editorial glitches in the 4.01 spec that need to be
> > > > corrected?
> > >
> > >Again, I don't see a contradiction. But it might be little clearer:
> > >If your A elements are associated with an image, then specify
> > >the geometric reasons. Authors aren't required to put in geometries.
> > >Most of this section is about image maps, so the language is
> > >tailored towards that application of MAP, AREA, and A.
> > >But, the following sentence clearly indicates that an image
> > >is not required:
> > >
> > >   "The MAP element may be used without an associated image for
> > >    general navigation mechanisms."
> > >
> > >  - Ian
> > >
> > > > Or is it a mistaken belief that <MAP> can be used solely for the
> > > purpose of
> > > > grouping links?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks much in advance.
> > > >
> > > > Len
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >--
> > >Ian Jacobs (jacobs@w3.org)   http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
> > >Tel:                         +1 831 457-2842
> > >Cell:                        +1 917 450-8783
> >
> > --
> > Leonard R. Kasday, Ph.D.
> > Institute on Disabilities/UAP and Dept. of Electrical Engineering at Temple
> > University
> > (215) 204-2247 (voice)                 (800) 750-7428 (TTY)
> > http://astro.temple.edu/~kasday         mailto:kasday@acm.org
> >
> > The WAVE web page accessibility evaluation assistant:
> > http://www.temple.edu/inst_disabilities/piat/wave/
>
>--
>Ian Jacobs (jacobs@w3.org)   http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
>Tel:                         +1 831 457-2842
>Cell:                        +1 917 450-8783

--
Leonard R. Kasday, Ph.D.
Institute on Disabilities/UAP and Dept. of Electrical Engineering at Temple 
University
(215) 204-2247 (voice)                 (800) 750-7428 (TTY)
http://astro.temple.edu/~kasday         mailto:kasday@acm.org

The WAVE web page accessibility evaluation assistant: 
http://www.temple.edu/inst_disabilities/piat/wave/

Received on Tuesday, 1 August 2000 12:34:25 UTC