OPTGROUP: 12.3.1

Note from the field: we implemented Technique 12.3.1 in Bobby, and used that
on our beta new web site. We implemented OPTGROUPs in SELECT elements per
the requirement. Guess what happened? In Internet Explorer 5 (and maybe
earlier, haven't tested) for Mac, drop-down lists had no options show up.

It's highly distressing that a browser (and a new one at that) has
destructive incompatibility with the HTML standard. But, that being the
case, can we have this technique? Nobody can safely implement the
requirement.

On a related note, about the threshold of triggering if there are 7 or more
option elements, there's an article at
http://www.humanfactors.com/library/sep00.asp that says the number 7 is from
a single 50-year-old study and shouldn't be given too much credence. I
wonder if that observation might affect our discussions?

Michael

Michael Cooper
Bobby Project Manager
Technical Designer
CAST, Inc.
39 Cross St.
Peabody, MA  01960
Tel +1 978-531-8555 x265
TTY +1 978-538-3110
Fax +1 978-531-0192
Email mcooper@cast.org
http://www.cast.org/
http://www.cast.org/bobby/

Received on Friday, 29 September 2000 17:45:34 UTC