Re: SELECT tab

Wilbur Streett wrote:
> 
> Greg,
> 
> I read your message with interest..  I get the digest form, so I couldn't
> respond earlier.
> 
Thanks for the input.

> And I agree entirely with what you have said.  I have noticed the same issue
> with the <PRE> tag around SELECTs.. and I do want to be able to use the WWW
> as a application development tool.  (I'm actually doing just that..)
> 
If Netscape has implemented this correctly in its Windows
versions, I probably wouldn't be making this proposal.

> I agree that the SELECT implementation is flawed.. but I don't expect that
> they will do anything about it.  Given the current emphasis on Java and
> Javascript, (not to mention ActiveX), I'm sure that the answer is going to
> be...  if you don't like it, write your own in .. (pick whatever you want..)
> 
Unfortunately, because of the absence of this functionality
in Windows, many projects have been scaled back or cancelled
altogether.  Typically a database prototype application is
developed on UNIX with the potential of being an enterprise-
wide or even world-wide application.  When it becomes clear
that this defect exists in HTML's implementation on Windows
platforms, alternatives are proposed: Java, Frames & Tables,
and proprietary, non-Web solutions.  The development effort,
time, cost, and risk suddenly see a dramatic rise.  Managers
get nervous.

Ultimately, if the project continues, it is developed as a 
less interactive or read-only web application or as a 
proprietary platform-specific application that falls far 
short of its original potential while costing much more.

> Sorry to put a damper on your suggestion..  I think it's a good one.  But
> given the current level of politics and percieved value, I don't believe
> that anyone will bother to do anything to straighten out WWW as an
> application development environment, which sort of makes our life more fun..
> 
I believe that if people will give my case a fair hearing and really
try to understand why I am proposing it (is that asking too much?), it 
can succeed.
 
====================================================================
Gregory A. Smith
303-541-6006
gasmith@advtech.uswest.com

Received on Tuesday, 3 September 1996 12:23:22 UTC