Object and (X)HTML

This is related to the <include> thread, but I am not proposing a new 
element.  One of the problems that frustrates the use of <object> to 
incorporate parts of a document as a separate (X)HTML file is the lack 
of any guidance as to how it is supposed to be treated.  As a result, 
it is impossible to get any consistent presentation.  For example, one 
major browser by default always includes scrollbars, even if they are 
not needed, unless some non-standard additions to HTML are used.  I 
think that it would be extremely helpful if at the minimum, some 
guidance, and hopefully some requirements were included in XHTML2 as to 
the expected behavior of an (X)HTML file incorporated into another by 
means of the <object> element.

A proposed definition of the expected behavior follows:

An HTML or XHTML file included via either the <object> element or the 
src attribute MUST be treated as follows:

The presentation of the file must be the same as if the (X)HTML code 
contained in the <body> were contained in a pair of nested <div>'s in 
the originating file. The outer <div> shall have the same presentation 
properties as the as the element that the included file replaces in the 
originating file, and the inner <div> shall have the same presentation 
properies of the <body> of the included file.

No styling or scripting defined in the originating file shall affect 
the included file.

No styling or scripting defined in the included file shall affect the 
originating file.

Received on Friday, 11 April 2003 12:12:28 UTC