Re: test 59

> I am confused by the example in the test
>
Sorry, it wasn't very clear. I've changed the example files so they are the same as used in the techniques document and much clearer.

http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/tests/test59.html

However the new test files do not use an associated label in order to make the need for clear alt text more obvious. We currently allow input elements with a type of "image" to be without an associated label.

> The alt text should only be necessary if the input element
> does NOT have a label associated with it.
>
I believe that alt text is always necessary but perhaps its use changes. Instead of describing the purpose of the control, it should describe the image. Examples:

No label so Alt text describes purpose of control:
<input type="image" name="submit" src="button.gif" alt="Submit" />

With label so Alt text describes image:
<label for="submitinput">Submit</label> <input id="submitinput" type="image" name="submit" src="button.gif" alt="red button" />

We've been considering using the TITLE attribute on anchors to describe the link destination. What if we required the same of submit buttons? Alt text would always be a text equivalent of the image and the TITLE attribute would describe the control's purpose. Example:

<input type="image" name="submit" src="button.gif" alt="red button" title="submit the form" />

The TITLE attribute requirement would apply even if there was an associated label. As always, comments appreciated.

Cheers,
Chris

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Becky_Gibson@notesdev.ibm.com 
  To: WAI WCAG List 
  Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 4:17 PM
  Subject: re: test 59 



  <Chris wrote> 
  >59 - INPUT element with type of "image" must have Alt text that describes
  >the purpose of the control.
  >http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/tests/test59.html 
  </end Chris > 

  I hate to advocate not putting alt text on images but I think this should be an optional test.  The alt text should only be only necessary if the input element does NOT have a label associated with it.   If the label is available the alt text should not be necessary to describe the purpose of the control - the label should do that.  I know we don't base our testing on how particular user agents perform but I did test this with JAWS 5.1 (with default installation settings).  It will read the label text followed by the word "button" for an input element of type image.  It does not read the alt text in this case (although I suspect I could change settings to make it read the alt text as well). 
  <label for="inputImg">Input Image Button</label><input type="image" id="inputImg"  name="inputImgWithLabel" alt="picture of penguins" src="..\images\on the move.jpg" /> 

  Also, I am confused by the example in the test.  The default action of an input type="image" is to submit a form.  The pass example does not have any event handlers so the default action would be to submit. But, the label for this button is "Name" - I don't think this makes sense? 

  -becky
  Becky Gibson
  Web Accessibility Architect
                                                        
  IBM Emerging Internet Technologies
  5 Technology Park Drive
  Westford, MA 01886
  Voice: 978 399-6101; t/l 333-6101
  Email: gibsonb@us.ibm.com