RE: HTML Table Markup

> I was not aware that consensus about using this markup to determine
> table type had been reached.
> 
Yes, my wording was not quite right. Let me try again...

We agreed that data tables must use TH elements and that layout tables cannot 
use TH elements.

You determine the table type using the definitions supplied by the techniques 
doc.

So further...

If a data table, as determined by the definitions, does not contain TH 
elements then it is improperly marked.

If a layout table does contain TH elements then it is improperly marked.

This is the way things are now in the techniques and test suite. If you 
disagree then please comment (but please check the mail archive and minutes 
for previous dicsussion first.)

I am trying to be as clear as possible so sorry for the ambiguity.

Cheers,
Chris


Quoting John M Slatin <john_slatin@austin.utexas.edu>:

> 
> Chris Ridpath wrote:
> <blockquote>
> The concensus reached was that TH elements would be used to determine
> table 
> type. Data tables must use TH elements. Layout tables cannot use TH
> elements.
> </blockquote>
> 
> I was aware tof the consensus that <th> should be used in data tables
> and must not be used in layout tables.
> 
> I was not aware that consensus about using this markup to determine
> table type had been reached.
> 
> Wouldn't that be problematic? Wouldn't it mean that any table that
> included a row of <th> elements would then *by definition* be a "data
> table" even if it shouldn't be?
> 
> 
> "Good design is accessible design." 
> John Slatin, Ph.D.
> Director, Accessibility Institute
> University of Texas at Austin
> FAC 248C
> 1 University Station G9600
> Austin, TX 78712
> ph 512-495-4288, f 512-495-4524
> email jslatin@mail.utexas.edu
> web http://www.utexas.edu/research/accessibility/
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: w3c-wai-ig-request@w3.org [mailto:w3c-wai-ig-request@w3.org] On
> Behalf Of Chris Ridpath
> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 9:07 am
> To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
> Subject: HTML Table Markup
> 
> 
> 
> There's been a lot of discussion lately on the IG list regarding HTML
> table 
> markup.
> 
> Phil Jenkins started a thread on using a null summary to indicate the 
> difference between layout and data tables[1].
> 
> Bruce Bailey started a thread on using the TH element in data tables[2].
> 
> Both of these issues, among others, have been discussed at length on the
> WCAG 
> list and in phone conferences and have led to a series of techniques and
> tests 
> for the accessible markup of tables.
> 
> The concensus reached was that TH elements would be used to determine
> table 
> type. Data tables must use TH elements. Layout tables cannot use TH
> elements.
> 
> The use of summary on layout tables is still under discussion[3] but the
> 
> current view is that summary is optional on both layout and data tables.
> 
> Caption is optional on data tables and is not permitted on layout
> tables.
> 
> Several other elements, such as tbody, thead and tfoot, are not
> permitted in 
> layout tables[4].
> 
> Other techniques for proper table markup can be found in the techniques 
> document.
> 
> There are tests for checking proper table markup that can be found in
> the HTML 
> test suite[5] although these are lagging a bit behind the techniques
> document.
> 
> The techniques and test suite hope to clarify what the WCAG means to
> HTML 
> authors and these documents illustrate current WAI thinking. Please take
> a 
> look and speak up if you'd like change.
> 
> Cheers,
> Chris
> 
> [1] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-ig/2004JulSep/0464.html
> [2] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-ig/2004JulSep/0568.html
> [3]
> http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/WD-WCAG20-HTML-TECHS/#datatables_summary
> [4]
> http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/WD-WCAG20-HTML-TECHS/#layouttables_td
> [5]
> http://tile-cridpath.atrc.utoronto.ca/acheck/servlet/ShowGuide?name=wcag
> -2-
> 0-aaa.xml&lang=eng&wcag=true&sort=3
> 
> 
> 
>

Received on Thursday, 9 September 2004 18:57:30 UTC