Handling of script attributes (was Re: HTML 4.0 draft available) (fwd)

Once upon a time Scott Matthewman shaped the electrons to say...
>I do think, though, that the insertion of script events into tags should be
>discouraged more firmly, to be replaced by binding from a script in the
><HEAD> element. Individual event attributes in tags should be deprecated,
>to be replaced by a SCRIPT attribute, in much the same way as the STYLE
>attribute can incorporate style changes.

You must have a way to bind event handlers to elements - no way around that.
All the event handlers define are the crossover points between HTML and the
scripting language.  Note that the language itself is NOT defined - only
the event handlers.  These are universal elements and I consider them no
different from a CLASS attribute.

You can inline scripts, sure - you can also inline style sheets.  Sometimes
an inline script makes more sense.  A simple status bar change can be inlined
more efficiently then calling it as a seperate function.  But a large rollover
image array script should be called seperately.  Note that you can already 
use the SRC attribute on a SCRIPT element to call an external script.

>1) Main document, including text, graphics and hyperlinks
>2) Style sheet, governing presentational output
>3) Script, governing interactivity.

To me this does not make sense.  Style sheets and scripts can be called as
external files when it makes sense, they can be included in header blocks
when it makes sense, and they can be inlined when in makes sense.

Sure it will be abused - but making the rules tighter will not stop that, and
will only hamper those who want to do decent work.

-MZ
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Received on Wednesday, 9 July 1997 19:41:39 UTC