Browser support of HTML 2.0

While I salivate for HTML 3, and watch everyone clamor for this or that to
be supported, I am reminded that currently, most browsers don't even support
all of HTML 2 as it was designed (or as the spec says it should be handled).
For example, I have seen very little support for the following:

<DIR>
	this tag was supposed to present a multicolumn list of elements, similar
	to a file directory.  Many of what people want from tables (i.e.
	condensing long menus into several shorter columns), could be done much
	more easily if this element were supported this way.

<DL COMPACT>
	the COMPACT attribute was supposed to produce a more compact version of
	the definition list.  While the <DL> places the term and definition on
	separate lines, I would assume <DL COMPACT> would place them in adjacent
	columns on the same line.  Viola used to do this just fine.

<LINK>
	this one has been discussed often on this list, and I think everyone
	agrees that it would be great if these elements were used to form a
	non-scrolling button bar.  Everything needed is already in the spec,
	with the possible exception of a src for including icon images.  So far,
	SCO (a couple days ago) is the only company I've heard say they would
	support this.

User-controlled Appearance
	Users have control over fonts, but the spec alludes to them having more
	control, such as color and justification (i.e., make all H1's centered,
	or all ADDRESS right-justified, as it is in Arena).  I have seen color
	control in a couple browsers.

So how about it?  I know several of the browser developers have been
instrumental in writing the HTML 2.0 spec--do they plan on supporting all of it?

I don't mean to sound argumentative, or negative about the current browsers.  I
think they're wonderful--I'm just wondering if there are plans for these 
"already existing" features; and if not, why are they in the RFC?

Brandon Plewe
plewe@acsu.buffalo.edu

Received on Wednesday, 25 January 1995 11:23:00 UTC