- From: Olivier Thereaux via cvs-syncmail <cvsmail@w3.org>
- Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 02:49:41 +0000
- To: www-validator-cvs@w3.org
Update of /sources/public/validator/htdocs/docs In directory hutz:/tmp/cvs-serv11020 Modified Files: sgml.html Log Message: updating to reflect doctype switching in recent browsers, plus other rewordings. Index: sgml.html =================================================================== RCS file: /sources/public/validator/htdocs/docs/sgml.html,v retrieving revision 1.17 retrieving revision 1.18 diff -u -d -r1.17 -r1.18 --- sgml.html 8 Jun 2005 09:19:32 -0000 1.17 +++ sgml.html 22 Jun 2005 02:49:39 -0000 1.18 @@ -56,19 +56,21 @@ <code><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "quoted string"></code> </p> <p> - The quoted string is called a <dfn>public identifier</dfn>; it refers + The "quoted string" is called a <dfn>public identifier</dfn>; it refers to the desired DTD by a "well-known" name, usually defined by an associated standard. </p> + <h4>Why add a DOCTYPE declaration?</h4> <p> - Most Web browsers don't actually use an SGML parser (in fact, none - that I'm aware of do), and so they don't need a <code>DOCTYPE</code> - declaration, and will ignore it if present. The Validator, however, - does use an SGML parser, and therefore needs a <code>DOCTYPE</code> - declaration. The Validator is more insistent on this point than - WebTechs was, which would insert a <code>DOCTYPE</code> on the fly - for you; The Validator requires that your <code>DOCTYPE</code> already - be in the document. + The Validator uses an SGML parser, and a <code>DOCTYPE</code> declaration + is the most, if not the only way to know which markup language it should + validate documents against. + </p> + <p> + Note that most Web browsers don't actually use an SGML parser, many of them display + the documents differently based on the document's <code>DOCTYPE</code> + declaration, or lack thereof. This alone is a good reason to always + add a <code>DOCTYPE</code> declaration to Web documents. </p> <p> So now you're preparing to add a <code>DOCTYPE</code> to your document. @@ -77,22 +79,22 @@ DTD, or will be unable to find a DTD at all, and will produce a huge list of absolutely meaningless errors. </p> + <h4>How do I add a DOCTYPE declaration?</h4> <p> The W3C QA Activity maintains a <a href="http://www.w3.org/QA/2002/04/valid-dtd-list.html">List of - Valid Doctypes</a> that you can choose from, and the <acronym + Doctypes</a> that you can choose from, and the <acronym title="Web Design Group">WDG</acronym> maintains a document on "<a href="http://www.htmlhelp.com/tools/validator/doctype.html">Choosing a DOCTYPE</a>". </p> <p class="warning"> <strong>WARNING:</strong> Some HTML editors will insert a - <code>DOCTYPE</code> declaration for you. Unfortunately, this - pre-inserted <code>DOCTYPE</code> will sometimes confuse - The Validator. This usually occurs when the inserted - <code>DOCTYPE</code> does not correspond to the generated HTML. + <code>DOCTYPE</code> declaration for you. Unfortunately, sometimes + thia <code>DOCTYPE</code> does not correspond to the generated HTML, + which can sometimes confuse The Validator. If your editor adds a <code>DOCTYPE</code> to your page, you may - need to correct it as described above before running your page through + need to correct it as described above before running your documents through The Validator. </p> </div>
Received on Wednesday, 22 June 2005 02:49:48 UTC