RE: Use of ALT texts in IMGs

All along we have been using ALT=" ". This has been the defacto standard on
how to call a image spacer, so if there is a change then we and many other
people will need to go back and re-code these pages! 

/rob

		-----Original Message-----
		From:	Brian Kelly [mailto:lisbk@ukoln.ac.uk]
		Sent:	Tuesday, November 23, 1999 12:18 PM
		To:	Marti; webmaster@dors.sailorsite.net; 'Steven
McCaffrey'
		Cc:	w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
		Subject:	Re: Use of ALT texts in IMGs

		Hi Marti

		> The biggest problem with alt="" is that I am never really
sure it that
		means
		> the image is just decoration or that the 'programmer' just
couldn't be
		> bothered to fill it in.

		We could use typed images i.e.

		<img src="clear.gif" src="" class="non-functional">

		so that evaluation and repair tools don't report on null
strings which
		are there deliberately.

		Or how about a space or &nbsp; (is this legal)?

		I suspect there are solutions - but it would require the
software
		vendors to agree on a solution.

		Brian

	
--------------------------------------------------------------------
		Brian Kelly, UK Web Focus
		UKOLN, University of Bath, BATH, England, BA2 7AY
		Email:  b.kelly@ukoln.ac.uk     URL:
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/
		Homepage: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/ukoln/staff/b.kelly.html
		Phone:  01225 323943            FAX:   01225 826838

		> > Even with images that server no real purpose beyond
decoration, I
		still
		> > feel that something like ALT="[Photo]" is better than
ALT="".
		> >
		> >
		> > On Tuesday, November 23, 1999 7:22 AM, Steven McCaffrey
		> > [SMTP:smccaffr@MAIL.NYSED.GOV] wrote:
		> > > It depends on the purpose of the page/site.
		> > > Is the purpose in this case to give an answer to the
question:
		> > > "Why you should come here?"
		> > > I infer from the question you ask that the intended
purpose is for
		> > visitors to become familiar with the hotel and grounds?
then, yes,
		the alt
		> > text should be provided.  See added comment in square
brackets
		below.
		> >
		>
		>

Received on Tuesday, 23 November 1999 12:39:44 UTC