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Thread: Link to PDF best practise

Number of posts in this thread: 8 (In chronological order)

From: Rick Hill
Date: Wed, Feb 08 2012 10:00AM
Subject: Link to PDF best practise
No previous message | Next message →

We have a site that has specified links to PDF files as:

<ul>
…
<li>
Data Sheet Instructions and certifications (
<a class="internal-link" title="SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf" target="_blank" href="../pgc/d/spo/SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf">PDF</a>
)
</li>
…

Note, jut the word PDF is the link label. Although this might fit the WCAG 2 requirements for links:

G53: Identifying the purpose of a link using link text combined with the text of the enclosing sentence

I'm thinking this would be better:

<ul>
…
<li>
Data Sheet Instructions and certifications (PDF)
<a class="internal-link" title="SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf" target="_blank" href="../pgc/d/spo/SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf"></a>
</li>
…

Thoughts?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Rick Hill, Web CMS Administrator
University Communications, UC Davis

From: Steve Flaukner
Date: Wed, Feb 08 2012 10:06AM
Subject: Re: Link to PDF best practise
← Previous message | Next message →

Take a look at that. The a tag is empty on your suggestion.
On Feb 8, 2012 11:58 AM, "Rick Hill" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> We have a site that has specified links to PDF files as:
>
> <ul>
> …
> <li>
> Data Sheet Instructions and certifications (
> <a class="internal-link" title="SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf"
> target="_blank" href="../pgc/d/spo/SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf">PDF</a>
> )
> </li>
> …
>
> Note, jut the word PDF is the link label. Although this might fit the WCAG
> 2 requirements for links:
>
> G53: Identifying the purpose of a link using link text combined with the
> text of the enclosing sentence
>
> I'm thinking this would be better:
>
> <ul>
> …
> <li>
> Data Sheet Instructions and certifications (PDF)
> <a class="internal-link" title="SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf"
> target="_blank" href="../pgc/d/spo/SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf"></a>
> </li>
> …
>
>
> Thoughts?
> –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
> Rick Hill, Web CMS Administrator
> University Communications, UC Davis
>
>

From: Jared Smith
Date: Wed, Feb 08 2012 10:18AM
Subject: Re: Link to PDF best practise
← Previous message | Next message →

I think you may have made a mistake in your code. Your "better"
example presents a totally empty link. This would always be an issue.
The best presentation would be:

<a class="internal-link" title="SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf"
href="../pgc/d/spo/SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf">Data Sheet
Instructions and certifications (PDF)</a>

This provides both the content of the link and the file type within
the link text.

Note that I removed the target="_blank" attribute. It's always rather
annoying to me when such links open a new window because my system
(and I think most systems these days) are set to handle PDF files in
external programs (not within the browser window). Having
target="_blank" results in an empty window that must then be closed by
the user.

Jared

From: Angela French
Date: Wed, Feb 08 2012 10:54AM
Subject: Re: Link to PDF best practise
← Previous message | Next message →

May I suggest the way I do it now - to make the document icon part of the hypertext link label:

http://sbctc.edu/college/f_accounting.aspx

>
>We have a site that has specified links to PDF files as:
>
><ul>
>...
><li>
>Data Sheet Instructions and certifications ( <a class="internal-link"
>title="SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf" target="_blank"
>href="../pgc/d/spo/SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf">PDF</a>
>)
></li>
>...
>
>Note, jut the word PDF is the link label. Although this might fit the WCAG 2
>requirements for links:
>
>G53: Identifying the purpose of a link using link text combined with the text
>of the enclosing sentence
>
>I'm thinking this would be better:
>
><ul>
>...
><li>
>Data Sheet Instructions and certifications (PDF) <a class="internal-link"
>title="SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf" target="_blank"
>href="../pgc/d/spo/SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf"></a>
></li>
>...
>
>
>Thoughts?
>---------------------------------------
>Rick Hill, Web CMS Administrator
>University Communications, UC Davis
>
>

From: Steve Flaukner
Date: Wed, Feb 08 2012 12:06PM
Subject: Re: Link to PDF best practise
← Previous message | Next message →

Are you going to include an alternate link for the media type? Meaning if
someone needs to know the program they require to view the file? Plus file
size? I usually list the file types beside each other with file size.
On Feb 8, 2012 1:53 PM, "Rick Hill" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> Hmmm… any suggestions for instances where they have more than one file
> format linked?
>
> <li>
> Social and Behavioral Full Committee Review Application Form (
> <a class="internal-link"
> href="d/irb/Application_SBE_FullBoard12.5.11LT.doc">DOC</a>
> |
> <a class="internal-link"
> href="d/irb/Application_SBE_FullBoard12.5.11LT.rtf">RTF</a>
> )
> </li>
>
> –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
> Rick
>
> From: Jared Smith < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
> Reply-To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto:
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 10:03:56 -0700
> To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto:
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Link to PDF best practise
>
> I think you may have made a mistake in your code. Your "better"
> example presents a totally empty link. This would always be an issue.
> The best presentation would be:
>
> <a class="internal-link" title="SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf"
> href="../pgc/d/spo/SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf">Data Sheet
> Instructions and certifications (PDF)</a>
>
> This provides both the content of the link and the file type within
> the link text.
>
> Note that I removed the target="_blank" attribute. It's always rather
> annoying to me when such links open a new window because my system
> (and I think most systems these days) are set to handle PDF files in
> external programs (not within the browser window). Having
> target="_blank" results in an empty window that must then be closed by
> the user.
>
> Jared
>

From: Vincent Young
Date: Wed, Feb 08 2012 12:36PM
Subject: Re: Link to PDF best practise
← Previous message | Next message →

I would just use images with appropriate title/alt:

File Title:
<a href="http://www.PDF.com">
<img src="pdf.jpg" title="PDF" alt="File Title: PDF" />
</a>
<a href="http://www.DOC.com">
<img src="doc.jpg" title="DOC" alt="File Title: DOC" />
</a>

if you don't have images, I'd probably just hide the title for each
off-screen:

File Title:
<a href="http://www.PDF.com">
File Title
PDF
</a>
<a href="http://www.DOC.com">
File Title
DOC
</a>

On Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 10:52 AM, Rick Hill < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> Hmmm… any suggestions for instances where they have more than one file
> format linked?
>
> <li>
> Social and Behavioral Full Committee Review Application Form (
> <a class="internal-link"
> href="d/irb/Application_SBE_FullBoard12.5.11LT.doc">DOC</a>
> |
> <a class="internal-link"
> href="d/irb/Application_SBE_FullBoard12.5.11LT.rtf">RTF</a>
> )
> </li>
>
> –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
> Rick
>
> From: Jared Smith < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
> Reply-To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto:
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 10:03:56 -0700
> To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto:
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Link to PDF best practise
>
> I think you may have made a mistake in your code. Your "better"
> example presents a totally empty link. This would always be an issue.
> The best presentation would be:
>
> <a class="internal-link" title="SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf"
> href="../pgc/d/spo/SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf">Data Sheet
> Instructions and certifications (PDF)</a>
>
> This provides both the content of the link and the file type within
> the link text.
>
> Note that I removed the target="_blank" attribute. It's always rather
> annoying to me when such links open a new window because my system
> (and I think most systems these days) are set to handle PDF files in
> external programs (not within the browser window). Having
> target="_blank" results in an empty window that must then be closed by
> the user.
>
> Jared
>

From: Rick Hill
Date: Wed, Feb 08 2012 12:42PM
Subject: Re: Link to PDF best practise
← Previous message | Next message →

Ooops! My bad! Shouldn't send stuff off without proofing! Too much of a hurry this morning!

Yup, your example is what I would recommend. I also would remove the target=" _blank"

I suppose use of title is up to them but is not required.

Thanks for the input and correction!
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The chagrinned Rick

From: Jared Smith < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
Reply-To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 10:03:56 -0700
To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Link to PDF best practise

I think you may have made a mistake in your code. Your "better"
example presents a totally empty link. This would always be an issue.
The best presentation would be:

<a class="internal-link" title="SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf"
href="../pgc/d/spo/SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf">Data Sheet
Instructions and certifications (PDF)</a>

This provides both the content of the link and the file type within
the link text.

Note that I removed the target="_blank" attribute. It's always rather
annoying to me when such links open a new window because my system
(and I think most systems these days) are set to handle PDF files in
external programs (not within the browser window). Having
target="_blank" results in an empty window that must then be closed by
the user.

Jared

From: Rick Hill
Date: Wed, Feb 08 2012 1:00PM
Subject: Re: Link to PDF best practise
← Previous message | No next message

Hmmm… any suggestions for instances where they have more than one file format linked?

<li>
Social and Behavioral Full Committee Review Application Form (
<a class="internal-link" href="d/irb/Application_SBE_FullBoard12.5.11LT.doc">DOC</a>
|
<a class="internal-link" href="d/irb/Application_SBE_FullBoard12.5.11LT.rtf">RTF</a>
)
</li>

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Rick

From: Jared Smith < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
Reply-To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 10:03:56 -0700
To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Link to PDF best practise

I think you may have made a mistake in your code. Your "better"
example presents a totally empty link. This would always be an issue.
The best presentation would be:

<a class="internal-link" title="SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf"
href="../pgc/d/spo/SPO_DataSheetInstructions.pdf">Data Sheet
Instructions and certifications (PDF)</a>

This provides both the content of the link and the file type within
the link text.

Note that I removed the target="_blank" attribute. It's always rather
annoying to me when such links open a new window because my system
(and I think most systems these days) are set to handle PDF files in
external programs (not within the browser window). Having
target="_blank" results in an empty window that must then be closed by
the user.

Jared