Re: Selecting Software

Thanks for keeping at this Sarah.  My comments are mixed in, below.

Chuck

At 27/06/02 11:44 AM, Sarah Horton wrote:
>Hello, all! I have a new version of Selecting and Using Authoring Tools 
>for Web Accessibility. I have not made many changes since we last talked. 
>I cut down the intro a bit and moved the inline links to ATAG and WCAG.
><http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/27june2002.html>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/27june2002.html 
>
>
>For my own enjoyment I made a version with the links removed altogether:
><http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/12june2002a.html>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/12june2002a.html 
>
>
>I still feel that we could remove the references to ATAG in the context of 
>discussing workarounds, but I promise I won't mention it again.

I am neutral on the subject...
Con: the ATAG/WCAG links do reduce readability somewhat (especially for 
screen-reader users)
Pro: the ATAG checkpoints are (sometimes) useful in  providing a 
restatement (or some additional context) for the workaround.


>If you follow the links below to the changelog you will see the specific 
>entries that I still have questions about:
>
> >From Change Requests from 11 Feb 2002
>1 Is this item a "not"? Hard to tell from the changelog.
><http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#110202.1>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#110202.1 
>
I wasn't on the 11 Feb 2002 call so I have no personal recollection, and 
the minutes of that meeting don't make it any clearer.  Maybe somebody else 
who was on that call can remember what was intended.

>2 I added A-Prompt to strategy 2 but wasn't sure how to add it to strategy 1.
><http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#110202.2>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#110202.2 
>

Rather than refer  to A-Prompt in strategy 1, wouldn't it make more sense 
to refer to "Evaluating Web sites for Accessibility"?  If not, then how 
about adding:
"A clean-up tool such as A-Prompt may be of assistance when developing 
accessible templates."  Note that A-Prompt is referred to as a "clean-up 
tool" in 2, but  an "accessibility-retrofitting tool" in 5.


>3 This item does not seem related to selecting software or even strategies 
>for working around software limitations. It's more of an accessible Web 
>page authoring strategy.
><http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#110202.3>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#110202.3 
>

Perhaps it could add value to strategy 10.  Having a database (or reference 
list) of standard (i.e. commonly needed) equivalents (.e.g. longdesc for 
company logo,  alt for spacers, bullets, standard nav-buttons) is a good 
idea.  If you have turned off auto-alt feature or have to manually correct 
bad-alt, then having such a  list to refer to would speed the repair 
process.  I agree that this might be a useful tip to add to Evaluating Web 
Sites for Accessibility as well.

>4 and 5 Unclear from changelog what to do about language issues.
><http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#110202.4>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#110202.4 
>

Sorry... no idea what is meant here.  The minutes are somewhat cryptic on 
the subject.


> >From Change Requests from 13 Feb 2002
>1 I was uncertain where this item belongs. Is this a vendor question? Is 
>this something you ask webmasters when considering authoring tool selection?
><http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#111302.1>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#111302.1 
>

I think it pertains to "Evaluating software currently in use by an 
organization" although the 13 Feb 2002 minutes seem to suggest it modify 
"Selecting new or replacement software" .  Perhaps something like 
"Webmasters or content providers using authoring tools should be consulted..."

>2 I do not know what this means.
><http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#111302.2>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~shorton/eowg/implementation/software/changelog.html#111302.2 
>

The 13 Feb 2002 minutes go on at some length about Phil's 3-column comment, 
but I can't get a clear sense of the issue.

Not much help, I admit...

Cheers!
Chuck