Re: HTML Table Markup

checkers need to get better or to be more informative, lay out tables is an
oxi moron since a true table on the web is for tabular mark up of data.

Johnnie Apple Seed

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phill Jenkins" <pjenkins@us.ibm.com>
To: "Chris Ridpath" <chris.ridpath@utoronto.ca>
Cc: <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 1:35 AM
Subject: Re: HTML Table Markup


> There's been a lot of discussion lately on the IG list regarding HTML
table
> markup.

yep

> 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 consensus 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.


I introduced null summary to indicate a layout table.  And I agree (and no
one has disagreed either) that TH elements are prohibited from layout
tables.  The concern I introduced with ONLY using TH to identify data
tables is that no automated code checker can tell the difference between
data tables that are correctly marked up and those that should have TH's
added - hence the need for a method to positively identify layout tables.

The only argument I've seen so far is that authors and tools could
incorrectly add the null summary to a table when if fact it is a data
table that should have a summary.  The example of tools incorrectly adding
null alt text was cited - to which my reply is that we can't prevent
author or tools from being stupid.  Which raises the question, what
happens when a table has a null summary, but also has TH's?  Is it a bad
summary or incorrect TH elements?  I submit that this case should be an
undetermined exception and leave it to the author to approve as valid or
change it.  Again, I'm trying to improve the automated ability to test
tables.  I'm not suggesting that all tables must have the summary
attribute.  Only that those tables that authors choose to positively
identify as layout tables to be correctly identified with the null
summary.  Data tables could still have TH elements without a summary
attribute (not a null summary) and be considered valid.

In other words, how can I tell an automated checked that this is in fact a
layout table?  By just leaving the TH's out of the mark-up I haven't told
the checker anything new yet.  The checker will still think that the table
may need some data table markup added.

I don't think it is possible for WCAG to change the HTML or XHTML specs,
but WCAG can, and should, define the correct interpretation for
accessibility considerations.  For example:
1.  presence of TH elements should be correctly interpreted as a data
table [not the same as all data tables must have TH elements].
2.  presence of null summary is valid HTML and should be interpreted as a
layout table.
3.  presence of both null summary and TH elements is undefined (may be
flagged each time to query the author).
4.  presence of TH and summary="some text" is valid and should be
interpreted as a compliant data table.
5.  presence of TH and no summary is still valid HTML.

Phill Jenkins
IBM Worldwide Accessibility Center

[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

Received on Monday, 13 September 2004 11:24:38 UTC