Re: @headers issue resolved - allowing a td to be referenced by a header to be in the HTML5 spec.

A few further points in regards to this matter:

1.Allowing a header to reference a td does not preclude the use of an
algorithm which in the majority of cases may obviate the need for the
headers attribute. It merely recognises a mechanism that can provide
the required associations in cases where the algorithm cannot.

2. This issue arose from a bug post [1]. It was escalated to the
Chairs of the HTML WG by the editor "Reassigning to Mike for
arbitration." [2]
It has been decided by Chris Wilson as Chair that a header should be
allowed to reference a td.

So the question is whether the editor will abide by an arbitration
process that he invoked, or because he disagrees with the decision
choose to ignore it?

He has recognised the authority of the chairs to override his authority:

 "Sure, so long as I am editor, the chairs have the authority (and
responsibility) to override me if I make mistakes." [3]

In the case of @headers it would seem that the Chairs have decided the
editor has made a mistake in not allowing it.

But it appears to despite the editor sending the issue to arbitration
and publicly stating that the chairs have authority over what goes
into the spec. The editor will now  ignore the result of the process
he himself  set in motion:

"<Hixie> fwiw my plan with this tables stuff is to do exactly what i
was going to do anyway, which is to get to it when i get to it, and
when i get to it, read all the arguments and research, and come to a
conclusion based on that" [4]

[1] http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=5822
[2] http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=5822#c14
[3] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Aug/0599.html
[4] http://krijnhoetmer.nl/irc-logs/whatwg/20080829#l-1284


regards
stevef

Received on Sunday, 31 August 2008 04:01:11 UTC