Re: PF Response: @Summary

Hi Jim,

> What information should the summary contain that should *not* be in
> the headers or the caption?

The @summary should provide an overview of the relationships between
headers and data cells in complex tables. This would vary on a case by
case basis.

> Would the @summary purpose be better fulfilled by just ensuring that
> it was easy to read the headers as a sort a preview?

@summary should be used where tabular data relationships are unusual
(nested headers, data spanning multiple rows in a non uniform way etc.

> [I realize that not all tables are properly marked up with <th> -- but
> I'm assuming (incorrectly?) that authors who can't get that right are
> unlikely to get an invisible attribute right anyhow.]

Well, it may be relatively easier to write a more verbose description
(however inaccurate) of the table than to mark it up properly (but then
again I may be too close to the issue to objectively assess if this is
the case.

My 2 Cents

HTH

Josh

Received on Monday, 6 July 2009 09:26:04 UTC