Re: can <MAP> be used soley to group links?

"Leonard R. Kasday" wrote:
> 
> Ian,
> 
> Would you agree that the spec commentary needs re writing, e.g. change
> 
>  > This content should include A elements that specify
>  > the geometric regions of the image map and the link associated with each
>  > region"
> 
> to
> 
> "If the <MAP> is being used to specify regions of an image map, then the A
> elements should specify the geometric regions and their associated
> links.  If the <MAP> is being used only to group the links, then the
> geometric regions may be omitted."
> 
> (you suggested something like this,  to make it a "little clearer".)
> 
> also change the line in the DTD
> 
>  > name        CDATA          #REQUIRED -- for reference by usemap --
> 
> to
> 
>  > name        CDATA          #REQUIRED -- for reference by usemap and/or
> other purposes --
> 
> If you agree on the need for that rewrite, or something equivalent, then
> we're in agreement.

Yes, that seems reasonable.

 _ Ian

> Len
> 
> At 12:50 PM 7/31/00 -0400, Ian Jacobs wrote:
> >"Leonard R. Kasday" wrote:
> > >
> > > To the HTML editor,
> > >
> > > During discussions in WAI, people have been saying that in HTML 4.01 <MAP>
> > > can be used for the sole purpose of grouping links, i.e. without
> > > implementing an image map, e.g.
> > >
> > > <MAP name="foo">  <!-- with no usemap referring to "foo" -->
> > >    <A href="home.html"> home </A>
> > >    <A href="contact.html> contact </A>
> > > </MAP>
> > >
> > > However, what I read in the HTML 4.01 spec seems to contradict this.
> >
> > > 1. In 13.6.1 [1] . it says that the name attribute is required, and the
> > > comment says it's for use by usemap.  But there's no need for usemap if
> > > it's only for grouping.  So the reference to usemap seems to contradict
> > > that map can be used solely for grouping.
> >
> >That's not my reading of the spec:
> >
> >"name: This attribute assigns a name to the image map
> >        defined by a MAP element."
> >
> >One use of this name value is to be the value of the
> >usemap attribute on another element. But name may serve
> >other purposes (e.g., it could be used in scripting).
> >
> >I don't see a contradiction. "Usemap" is one consumer
> >of MAP/name.
> >
> > > 2. The document also says that
> > >
> > > "Block-level content. This content should include A elements that specify
> > > the geometric regions of the image map and the link associated with each
> > > region"
> > >
> > > This also seems to contradict the idea that <MAP> can be used solely for
> > > grouping, since there's no need to specify geometry for such uses.
> > >
> > > Are these simply editorial glitches in the 4.01 spec that need to be
> > > corrected?
> >
> >Again, I don't see a contradiction. But it might be little clearer:
> >If your A elements are associated with an image, then specify
> >the geometric reasons. Authors aren't required to put in geometries.
> >Most of this section is about image maps, so the language is
> >tailored towards that application of MAP, AREA, and A.
> >But, the following sentence clearly indicates that an image
> >is not required:
> >
> >   "The MAP element may be used without an associated image for
> >    general navigation mechanisms."
> >
> >  - Ian
> >
> > > Or is it a mistaken belief that <MAP> can be used solely for the
> > purpose of
> > > grouping links?
> > >
> > > Thanks much in advance.
> > >
> > > Len
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >--
> >Ian Jacobs (jacobs@w3.org)   http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
> >Tel:                         +1 831 457-2842
> >Cell:                        +1 917 450-8783
> 
> --
> Leonard R. Kasday, Ph.D.
> Institute on Disabilities/UAP and Dept. of Electrical Engineering at Temple
> University
> (215) 204-2247 (voice)                 (800) 750-7428 (TTY)
> http://astro.temple.edu/~kasday         mailto:kasday@acm.org
> 
> The WAVE web page accessibility evaluation assistant:
> http://www.temple.edu/inst_disabilities/piat/wave/

-- 
Ian Jacobs (jacobs@w3.org)   http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
Tel:                         +1 831 457-2842
Cell:                        +1 917 450-8783

Received on Tuesday, 1 August 2000 11:38:43 UTC