- From: Gregg Vanderheiden <po@trace.wisc.edu>
- Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1999 11:07:58 -0500
- To: "GL - WAI Guidelines WG (E-mail)" <w3c-wai-gl@w3.org>
ISSUE - 6 : An AC Member suggested that Checkpoint 5.3 should read: "once style sheets are fully supported, prohibit the use of tables for layout" as tables for layout do not transform well at all. Another AC Member suggested that 5.3 be reworded per a draft that was being discussed by the working group that said "5.3 Do not use tables for layout unless the content makes sense when linearized or a linearized version that makes sense is provided. This includes the proper use of structural markup within table cells (refer to Guideline 3). " PROPOSED RESOLUTION: The wording for this item was originally 5.3 Avoid using tables for layout [Priority 2] This was immediately followed by another priority 2 item which read 5.4 If a table is used for layout, do not use any structural markup for the purpose of visual formatting. [Priority 2] This left an ambiguous guideline that sounded like you should avoid tables but that there were times when it was ok. Though exactly when this was was not clear. To address this and the suggestions of the two AC Members, we propose to combine the two AC Members' suggestions. SPECIFIC WORDING: "5.3 Do not use tables for layout unless the content makes sense when linearized or a linearized version that makes sense is provided. This includes the proper use of structural markup within table cells (refer to Guideline 3). [Priority 2] Note. When style sheet positioning is fully supported then tables should not be used - refer to checkpoint 3.6. This keeps the priority the same and clarifies when and how it is ok to use tables for layout and what to do if they are not accessible when linearized. It also adds a link from this guideline to the issue of proper use of markup, which is covered elsewhere but is so essential to tables. Finally, a note was added to remind authors that tables should not be used for layout once it is possible to use style sheets reliably.
Received on Monday, 26 April 1999 12:08:55 UTC