From GL: On Using MAP to identify navigation mechanisms

-- 
Ian Jacobs (jacobs@w3.org)   http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
Tel/Fax:                     +1 212 684-1814

Forwarded message 1

  • From: Wendy A Chisholm <chisholm@trace.wisc.edu>
  • Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1999 11:39:35 -0500
  • Subject: Re: Technique: Use MAP to identify navigation mechanisms
  • To: w3c-wai-gl@w3.org
  • Message-Id: <199907121644.LAA43128@mail1.doit.wisc.edu>
The GL group decided, after much discussion, not to use MAP as a way to
group text links because it is a non-standard use of the MAP element.
Please refer to the closed issue "grouping and bypassing links" at
http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/wai-gl-tech-issues.html#group-bypass.  MAP is
defined in the HTML4 spec to create client-side image maps - refer to
http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/struct/objects.html#edef-MAP.  

If the group would like to reopen this for discussion based on the UA
action item, then we will.  However, we need to think very clearly about
the implications.  it seems like a kludge to me.

--wendy

At 12:04 PM 7/9/99 , you wrote:
>Hello,
>
>In the User Agent Working Group, we're talking what user agents can
>do to help users navigate, including making navigation mechanisms 
>readily available. I am charged with an action to propose a technique
>for the Web Content Techniques: use MAP to create navigation bars/group
>related links.
>
>In the 5 May Techniques document, section 4.6.1 ("Grouping and
>bypassing links") [1], an example shows <P class="nav">. Should
>use the following markup instead?
>
><MAP name="map1">
>   <P>Navigate the site:
>      <A href=".." shape="rect"   coords="..">Access Guide</a> |
>      <A href=".." shape="rect"   coords="..">Go</A>           |
>      <A href=".." shape="circle" coords="..">Search</A>       |
>      <A href=".." shape="poly"   coords="..">Top Ten</A>
></MAP>
>
>User agents may assume that the MAP element is used to create
>navigation mechanisms (whether image maps or more accessible
>ones with rich content).
>
> - Ian
>
>[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT-TECHS/#group-bypass
>
>
>-- 
>Ian Jacobs (jacobs@w3.org)   http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
>Tel/Fax:                     +1 212 684-1814
> 

Received on Monday, 12 July 1999 13:36:57 UTC