providing a long description using the summary and details elements.

Hi all,
an idea:

using the summary /details elements to provide a long description for an
image:


   - image goes in the <summary>
   - long description in <details>
   - use of longdesc attribute on image provides indication to browser/AT
   that details/summary is being used for the specific purpose of providing a
   long description.
   - longdesc attribute with URL value (longdesc="URL") provided for
   backwards compatibility (suggest deprecated in HTML5)
   - longdesc attribute without an URL "longdesc" be specced as an indicator
   that a long description is present when image is sole content of the summary
   element.

 example code:

<details>
  <summary role="button"><img src="images/table.gif" alt="Average rainfall
in millimetres by country and season." width="407" height="341"
longdesc="details.html#table"></summary>

<table border="1" id="table" tabindex="0"><caption>Rainfall in millimetres
by Country and Season.</caption><tr> <td></td><th scope="col">UK</th><th
scope="col">Japan</th><th scope="col">Australia</th></tr><tr> <th
scope="row">Spring</th><td>5.5</td><td>2.4</td><td>2</td></tr><tr> <th
scope="row">Summer</th><td>4.5</td><td>3.4</td><td>2</td></tr><tr> <th
scope="row">Autumn</th><td>3.5</td><td>1.8</td><td>1.5</td></tr><tr> <th
scope="row">Winter</th><td>1.5</td><td>1.2</td><td>1</td></tr></table>

</details>

sort of working example
http://www.paciellogroup.com/blog/misc/details.html (haven't
had time to work out glitches, but gives an idea of how it could work,
doesn't work in IE yet. note: scripting would not be required once
details/summary implemented by browsers).
resolves issues of:

   - providing *standardized* method for a programnmatically associated long
   description
   - provides it inline next to the image
   - only displayed on user request
   - does not clutter design (note example does not a disclosure triangle as
   is suggested for details/summary in spec, but this would not clutter desigh
   , i don't think)
   - deprecates current longdesc use, but provides for backwards compat and
   continued use of longdesc attribute
   - details could conatin a.n <iframe> to display long descriptions
   external to the page.
   - long desc available to anybody who wants it.



-- 
with regards

Steve Faulkner
Technical Director - TPG Europe
Director - Web Accessibility Tools Consortium

www.paciellogroup.com | www.wat-c.org
Web Accessibility Toolbar -
http://www.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat-ie-about.html