Re: Link separators

[this is a thread for GL, not IG, so I'm moving it here. This message
is on both but please next reply only on GL]

Chuck Opperman wrote:

> Why create more markup (=work) for the authors just to separate the links?

This is another Interim guideline, only Recommended.
(one that I usually don't apply in the documents I authored)

 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nir dagan [mailto:dagan@upf.es]
> Sent: Monday, February 16, 1998 11:42 AM
> To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
> Subject: Re: Link separators
> 
> 
> 
> In regard to separating graphic-links.
> What I do as an author is the following:
> 
> Separate icon-links with a 1 pixel transparent gif with the alt text of *
> or some other separating character. Height and width being specified.
> 
> (see e.g. http://www.econ.upf.es/%7Edagan/about.html )
> 
> This should work fine in browsers that implement ALT text correctly.
> (e.g. Lynx).
> 
> In graphical browsers it looks almost like not separating the links.(e.g.
> Netscape 3 or 4). For both cases of images on or off.  
> (I have no clue what a screen reader does here)
> 
> However it seems that graphical browsers do not implement ALT text 
> correctly. They either don't show it, cut it short if it doesn't
> fit the box, or show it as a tooltip only when one points the mouse to
> the box of the graphic.
> 
> In my view:
> 
> 1. separating text-links is important from the point of view of usability
>  of sighted users, therefore separating icon-links is a good idea,
>  even without considering accessibility. (sighted users don't get the images
>  if they don't want them, and then they should get separated text links.)
> 
> 2. Guidelines of authoring should be based primerly on what the specs say.
>  This is the only way to coordinate actions of authors and browser vendors.
>  (this is most relevant for ALT and title attributes).
> 
> Nir Dagan.
> 
> 
> > 
> > Hi,
> > 
> > I received an inquiry recently that I am unclear of the answer to, and I 
>  thought someone on this list might know.  If you have multiple graphics in
> a
>   row that also happen to be links, does the link separation rule still
> apply?
> > 
> > Any input appreciated.
> > 
> > David Clark
> > CAST, Inc.
> > 
> > 
> > 
>

Received on Tuesday, 17 February 1998 02:25:36 UTC