Re: More comments on validator and HTML4
From: Roger W. Winget (wingetr@cs.byuh.edu)
Date: Mon, Jan 31 2000
Message-ID: <389552C4.7C0B230E@cs.byuh.edu>
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 23:15:49 -1000
From: "Roger W. Winget" <wingetr@cs.byuh.edu>
To: Vidiot <vidiot@vidiot.com>
CC: www-validator@w3.org
Subject: Re: More comments on validator and HTML4
Vidiot wrote:
> I added a DOCTYPE to www.vidiot.com/forumdisplay.html so that I
> look for other errors. What I came up with has surprised me.
>
> 1) <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
> This error has been mentioned before, so I'm probably beating a
> dead horse, but to force the TYPE attribute on the world is going
> to be like leading a horse to water. You can't make it drink.
> All of the Javascript examples that I have seen out on the web
> all use the above to describe the script language type. It is
> never going to go away. If you want to use TYPE, fine. But don't
> deprecate LANGUAGE. Allow both. Have the HTML document strongly
> urge the usage of TYPE, but don't kill LANGUAGE.
>
> 2) Error: required attribute "ALT" not specified
> Really? I understand the need for ALT within IMG, but to require
> it? Browsers certain to not refuse to display pages because the
> attribute is missing. I personally always use them, but to
> require them is a bit much. I would strongly urge the optional
> use of the attribute and fully describe the reason for the use in
> the HTML 4 document.
>
> 3) Line 87, column 146:
> ... middle> <A
> HREF="ubbmisc.cgi?action=getannounce&ForumNumber=3&Start= ...
> ^
> Error: general entity "ForumNumber" not defined and no default entity
>
> Oops, validator parsing error? Arguments being passed to a CGI
> script are not invalid.
You should replace '&' with' &'. This list has discussed the use of
ampersands separating arguments to a CGI script for the past two or three
weeks. Your browser will convert '&' to '&' and your script will run
just fine.
>
>
> 4) Line 259, column 120:
> ... eryone Looking for Brendan's Autograph from the M&M Board -
> Click Here ...
> ^
> Error: general entity "M" not defined and no default entity
>
> Am I missing something here? The & character is not illegal. To
> require that the & character be defind as an entity is going too
> far. The validator should ignore the & character if there isn't
> a ; to close the entity within a certain number of characters.
You face this problem with any language with meta characters. In
C (and quite a few other languages) '\' is a special character. In html,
we use '&' but it's the same general idea. This specification isn't new
to html 4.0 - it's part of 2.0 if not earlier.
>
>
> General comment on the HTML4 PDF document. When the document is
> printed,
> which I have done, it is tough to find a page because for some
> unknown reason, the page numbers are in the INSIDE of the printed
> page instead on the OUTSIDE of the printed page. Please move the
> date/section info to the inside and the page number to the outside.
> Yes, I printed the document double-sided.
>
> Thanks for reading my comments.
>
> Mike Brown
> --
> e-mail: vidiot@vidiot.com
> Bart: Hey, why is it destroying other toys? Lisa: They must have
> programmed it to eliminate the competition. Bart: You mean like
> Microsoft? Lisa: Exactly. [The Simpsons - 12/18/99]
> Visit - URL:http://www.vidiot.com/ (Your link to Star Trek and UPN)
Roger W. Winget
mailto:wingetr@cs.byuh.edu