SRC attribute for HR/UL/DIR/MENU?

    I haven't seen any discussion of this bit of HTML on this list, and while
it's not as important as some of the other proposed HTML 3.2 changes, I think
it bears mentioning.
    One of the neat little touch I really like in the HTML 3.0 proposal was
the addition of the SRC attribute for HR, and the list tags.  Then, I was
quite disappointed to see HTML 3.2 leaves it out.  I'd like to see a SRC
attribute for HR, which specifies an image to use as the horizontal rule, and
a SRC attribute for UL, which specifies an image to use as the bullet, with a
possible SRC for LI, which overrides the list's image for that one item.
    Here's why:

* Better compatibility with text-based browsers. They can safely ignore the
SRC attribute, and render horizontal rules and lists in their normal fashion. 
Eliminate the all-too-common <IMG SRC="bluebar.gif" ALT="-------------------">
abomination.

* Easier page design, especially for authors typing HTML directly in a text
editor.  Type the name of the bullet image once, instead of once per item.

* Proper structure-based markup, so software analyzing document structure
knows what is a list, and what is a horizontal rule.

* Smaller file sizes.

    I've seen many HTML authors ask how to create a proper horizontal rule for
text-based browsers, usually wondering if <IMG SRC="bluebar.gif" ALT="<HR>">
was legal.  I'm quite sure that many people would jump at the chance to use
<HR SRC="bluebar.gif"> instead.  Similarly, I'm sure many people (myself
included) would also jump at the chance to use

<UL SRC="greenball.gif">
<LI>Item one
<LI>Item two
<LI>Item three
</UL>

instead of

<IMG SRC="greenball.gif">Item one<BR>
<IMG SRC="greenball.gif">Item two<BR>
<IMG SRC="greenball.gif">Item three<BR>.

    This addition wouldn't require anybody to change their documents, as the
old, broken way will still work fine, but will add an easy new way to solve
problems as old as Mosaic.  Nor would it require users to change browsers,
because it's perfectly backwards-compatible.  (Maybe you can see why I thought
it was one of the neater bits of HTML 3.0?)
    Anyway, is it worth submitting an Internet Draft?

-- 
Jonathan Gapen (innuendo@execpc.com)
Bread in, toast out. How does it DO that?

Received on Friday, 14 June 1996 16:01:55 UTC