Re: Layout versus data tables proposal for null summary attribute

Proposed definition for data tables:

"Data tables are those tables in HTML that do or should have row and/or
column headings (TH's), do or should have captions, and do or should
have other markup, such as summary, scope, and other attributes and
elements associated with tabular data."

The above definition of data tables shows us the main problem:

Most data tables do not use headers or captions, etc. because the tables
are too simple and easy to understand for ordinary users without them.
Using headers, etc., are often overkill if all you have are two columns
with names and addresses.

So the "should have" is not right in the above definition. A table is a
data table if there are headers, etc., or if the table could have had
headers, etc.

The best approach is then to say:

If a data table is so simple that proper headers, etc. are not present
but could have been used, the data table should at least use the summary
attribute in order to be recognized as a data table.

Best regards,

Jesper Tverskov
www.smackthemouse.com

Received on Friday, 27 August 2004 08:27:41 UTC