It's a God-send. If only it had been properly explained sooner.
Fortunately my recent conversion to virtually tableless websites means I
do't have many changes to make. :)
--
Paul A Noone
Webmaster, ASHM
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
On Behalf Of Vlad Alexander (XStandard)
Sent: Thursday, 22 December 2005 9:56 AM
To: wsg@webstandardsgroup.org
Subject: Re: [WSG] Best Web Standards thing I learnt in 2005.
Hi Terrence,
The summary attribute is best used to describe the structure of the
table, not to summarise it's content.
Thanks for sharing that with us. Can you please let me know the source of
this info? Anybody else have an opinion on this?
Regards,
-Vlad
http://xstandard.com
-------- Original Message --------
From: Terrence Wood
Date: 12/21/2005 4:22 PM
The best web standards thing I learnt in 2005 is:
How to best use the summary attribute for screen reader users:
The summary attribute is best used to describe the structure of the
table, not to summarise it's content. A longer summary is better
according to actual screen reader user testing.
How do you know if your summary works, if you don't have any screen
reader users to test with?
You need two people, someone to read the summary and someone to draw
the table. Read your summary aloud and see what the other person
draws. If the result resembles your table then you are on the right
track =)
Example from complex financial table:
summary="There are 8 columns. Column 1 names the appropriation and
labels the row or rowgroup. Columns 2 through 5 report the numbers for
2004/5, where column 2 is Budgeted Annual, column 3 is Budgeted Other,
column 4 is Estimated Actual Annual, column 5 is Estimated Actual
Other. Columns 6 through 7 report the numbers for 2005/6 where column
6 is Vote Annual, column 7 is Vote Other. Column 8 contains narrative
on the scope of the appropriation. Rows are grouped by appropriation
type."
(yep.. "rowgroup" is jargon, but most people got it... you could say
"group of rows")
HTH, please share your discovery in 2005.
kind regards
Terrence Wood.
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