Re: note about alternative pages

Wendy A Chisholm wrote:
> 
> We've been working to create an appropriate "warning" about the use of
> alternative pages (technique 2 in C.1).  The following is the text of the
> proposed "note" to accompany this technique.  It's a little wordy, but it
> seems to capture most of the concerns people have about the use of
> alternative pages.
> 
> thoughts?
> --the editors
> 
>  Alternative pages should be used sparingly since authors tend to neglect
> updating the alternative page as often as the original page. An out-of-date
> page may be as frustrating as one that is inaccessible since, in both
> cases, the information presented on the original page is not available.
> Automatically generating alternative pages can make it easier to keep up
> with updates. However, authors must be careful to ensure that generated
> pages always make sense and that each version (original and alternative)
> contains the appropriate links such that one may either follow the original
> path throughout the site, or the alternative one, or flip back and forth
> between the two. 

For the previous sentence, how about:

However, authors must be careful to ensure that generated pages always
make sense and that users be able to navigate a site by following
links on primary pages, alternative pages, or both.

> Before resorting to an alternative page you may want to
> reconsider the design of the original page. A page that is too elaborate
> may deter a larger audience than you might expect.

 - Ian

-- 
Ian Jacobs (jacobs@w3.org) 
Tel/Fax: (212) 684-1814 
http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs

Received on Sunday, 25 October 1998 19:47:59 UTC