[CSS3 Paged Media] Page collapsing

The CSS Paged Media specification
(http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/CR-css3-page-20040225/) is currently unclear
as to what should happen when multiple page-break-* properties
accumulate.  The spec is clear that a :left or :right pseudo-class can
require that a blank page or surface is generated.
 
For example:
<p>This is a paragraph on page 1.</p>
<div style="page-break-before">
     <div style="page-break-before">
         The first div causes a page break; does the second div cause
another page break, putting this content on page 3, or are the page
breaks collapsed into a single page break so that this is printed on
page 2?</div>
</div>

Or:

<body>
  <p> I am printed on the first page.</p>
  <div style="page-break-after:always">
    <div style="page-break-after:always">
      <div style="page-break-after:always">
        <div style="page-break-after:always">
          <div style="page-break-after:always"> I am also printed on the
first page.
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <p>Where am I printed?</p>
</body>

Or:

<body>
<p style="page-break-after">This is a paragraph on page 1.</p>
<div style="page-break-before">
         The p generated a page break; does the div cause another page
break, putting this content on page 3, or are the page breaks collapsed
into a single page break so that this is printed on page 2?
</div>
</body>

Different implementations behave differently, as might be expected.  It
seems that most implementations collapse pages.  Notably Opera's does
not.  I propose that the spec be made explicit to require that
page-break properties collapse such that no empty pages or surfaces are
generated except for one when needed to get to the next right- or
left-facing page.  Authors can use other means to create blank pages.
This would make printed results more interoperable.

Thoughts? 
 
Best wishes,
 
Melinda
  _____ 

HP  -   Melinda Grant
Connectivity Standards 
Consumer Printing and Imaging
+1 (541) 582-3681
melinda.grant@hp.com   
  _____

Received on Thursday, 14 September 2006 02:40:14 UTC