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RE: summary attribute on layout vs data tables

for

From: John Foliot - bytown internet
Date: Nov 27, 2002 9:08AM

Short answer... yep. you got it.

In my demonstration sessions, whenever I encounter this type of redundancy,
I turn to the authors/group and say "This is a pen... I use it to write...".
It kinda drives home the point.

Some policies however insist that a Table Summary be present on *ALL*
tables, to which I can only say that the attribute 'summary="" ' will both
validate and satisfy 'ol Bobby (the none-thinking robot-tool with too much
clout)

(Interesting aside... if you run the Bobby on-line test, the resulting page
returns the following <title>Untitled</title>. Yep, real accessible...)

JF


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Leo Smith [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2002 10:42 AM
> To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
> Subject: summary attribute on layout vs data tables
>
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I remember a while back there was some discussion on the list
> about the usefulness of providing summary attributes on layout
> tables.
>
> Is it generally the consensus that summary attributes for layout
> tables of the type "this table is for layout purposes only" are
> somewhat redundant, and even annoying for screen reader users to
> have to listen to?
>
> (as long as the information laid out in the table linearizes OK, is
> there any use in telling screen reader users that the table is for
> layout purposes only?).
>
> Is the summary attribute only really useful when describing data
> tables?
>
> Thanks and Happy Holidays!!
>
> Leo.
>
>
>
> Leo Smith
> Web Designer/Developer
> USM Office of Publications and Marketing
> University of Southern Maine
> 207-780-4774
>
>
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