[Bug 22049] New: Describing cell for an header cell in a data table

https://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=22049

            Bug ID: 22049
           Summary: Describing cell for an header cell in a data table
    Classification: Unclassified
           Product: HTML WG
           Version: unspecified
          Hardware: PC
                OS: Windows XP
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P2
         Component: HTML5 spec
          Assignee: dave.null@w3.org
          Reporter: eoconnor@apple.com
        QA Contact: public-html-bugzilla@w3.org
                CC: duboisp2@gmail.com, erika.doyle@microsoft.com,
                    faulkner.steve@gmail.com, mike@w3.org,
                    public-html-admin@w3.org,
                    public-html-wg-issue-tracking@w3.org, robin@w3.org
        Depends on: 18790

+++ This bug was initially created as a clone of Bug #18790 +++

Hi,

In the Editor's Draft 4 September 2012, "Section 4.9.6 The thead element" show
a method about on how to add a description to a column header cell.

The "algorithm for assigning header cells" defined in the "Section 4.9.12.1
Forming a table" do not add any particular meaning to those describing cell
because they are parsed with the "internal algorithm for scanning and assigning
header cells", the same algorithm for parsing the real data cell. 

This can create a confusion between the real data cell vs. the describing cell
in a table because the "internal algorithm for scanning and assigning header
cells" are not considering any column group and/or any row group.

----
Describing cell for a row header cell


I would like to propose an addition in the specification about on how to add a
description to a row header cell in a data table. That relation can be made by
using the colgroup element. 
See the draft of that technique: 
http://wet-boew.github.com/wet-boew/docs/tableparser/rowheader-description-techniques.html
(FYI, the intention of that technique is for submission to the WCAG 2.0
Techniques)

A note in the section "4.9.3 The colgroup element" can be added to say "the
first column group (colgroup element) can be used as an header column group if
inside the column group there are at least one row header cell defined inside a
tbody row group. Otherwise the first column group would be a data column
group." 

With that note, it would be possible to set a descriptive cell to a row header
cell.

----

Attached: A javascript table parser that takes in consideration the row group,
the column group and the placement, size of the header cell to create the
relationship between each cell contained in a table. You can find the most
recent version here:
https://github.com/wet-boew/wet-boew/blob/master/src/js/workers/parser.table.js

The following table validator use the preceding table parser.
http://wet-boew.github.com/wet-boew/docs/tableparser/validator-htmltable.html

FYI - Here a mailing sent to WAI Interrest Group about a request for comments
in regards of the techniques mentioned here.
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-ig/2012JulSep/0310.html

Thank you

:-)

Pierre Dubois

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Received on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 19:05:00 UTC