Width attribute of TD element: %Length or %Pixels

Hi,

I have a question with the XHTML 1.0 Transitional DTD (1/26/00) concerning
the Width attribute of the TD element.  It states:
<!ATTLIST td
  width       %Pixels;       #IMPLIED

Now, in HTML 4.01 (12/24/99) the DTD states:
<!ATTLIST (TH|TD)                      -- header or data cell --
  width       %Length;       #IMPLIED  -- width for cell -

Going even further back, we have the following from the 8/24/99 HTML4.01
DTD:
<!ATTLIST (TH|TD)                      -- header or data cell --
  width       %Pixels;       #IMPLIED  -- width for cell --

So, the definition of the attribute has flipped between %Pixels and %Length.
I've used percentages for this value, which is only valid when the attribute
is defined as %Length.  The archives of the www-html list go into the
various reasons why people want to use this value as a percentage-I use it
to keep a column the same relative size regardless of screen size.  I know
there are better ways to do this, but I'm trying to keep things functional
for older browsers.  So, the question is, was this change intentional?  Or
did the XHTML 1.0 spec just not pick up the latest changes from the HTML
4.01 spec?  Will this change?

Thanks for any clarification people can provide.

Josh Birnbaum

Received on Wednesday, 28 June 2000 19:54:51 UTC