RE: Scripting Techniques first draft

Hello Matt,

> 
> I have published a first draft of the Scripting Techniques 
> for WCAG 2.0:
> 
> http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/WD-WCAG20-SCRIPT-TECHS-20040910/

Congratulations on this milestone!

> 
> This is a very early draft. The following issues are already 
> acknowledged, and will be addressed in the next draft:
> 
> - 3 of the 5 Bugzilla bugs have not been addressed.
> - Guidelines have not been associated with techniques.
> - Certain techniques are missing descriptions and/or code samples.
> - Techniques from the HTML techniques doc have not been migrated over.
> 
> Please review the document and respond with any questions or comments.

After reading the document for the first time, a few things stand out to me.
As a good example you have:
<a href="register.php" onactivate="window.open('register.php'); return
false;">register here</a>.

I would change this to:
<a href="register.php" onactivate="window.open(this.href); return
false;">register here</a>.
This has the benefit that you only have the URL in 1 location, so if you
update one, both methods will work. An additional benefit is that automatic
link checkers can check the href thus helping developers to prevent dead
links.

Also, you say "Avoid document.write() and innerHTML()." I think this is only
one side of the story: depending on the use it can either be good or bad for
accessibility to use document.write and innerHTML().

Personally, I have found document.write a very useful technique in creating
accessible websites that transform gracefully. If I create additional
features in a website that require Javascript, I always make sure to
document.write them. For example: if I create a hyperlink that increases the
fontsize or swaps the stylesheet, I always document.write that link so it
will only appear if Javascript is enabled. This ensures that people who do
not have Javascript are not confronted with a confusing link that doesn't
work. 

I also noted that many of the examples were off the screen and need
horizontal scrolling (WinXP pro, 1024x768, IE 6 + Mozilla Firefox 0.9.2)
which makes it harder to read them in context. 

I will comment on the document more thoroughly when I have had more time to
read it. Good luck!

Yvette Hoitink
Heritas, Enschede, the Netherlands
E-mail: y.p.hoitink@heritas.nl
WWW: http://www.heritas.nl

Received on Monday, 13 September 2004 14:43:26 UTC