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Re: Best way to set up links to documents

for

From: Karlen Communications
Date: Oct 3, 2008 12:40PM

I apologize for my "soapbox."
One of the serious issues with this approach is that when I get a list of
links, they look like this:

MS Word File
PDF file
MS Word file
PDF file
MS Word file
PDF file

I can't tell which document is which from this type of linking. I literally
have to read entire pages of information and navigate through text and links
to find the one document...in this case the one form I need. It simply takes
too much time and I usually send a post asking someone to send me what I
want...it takes less time than trying to figure it out.

In the cases where the link is simply:

Word
PDF
Word
PDF

I have concerns about the ability of people with motor disabilities being
able to target the small link.

For me not including context is the same as having:

Click
more
Here
Click here

I know it is redundant but including the name of the document in a link to a
specific file format really helps in ensuring I open or download the right
document...and don't waste time

Cheers, Karen

-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Keith Parks
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 2:22 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: [WebAIM] Best way to set up links to documents

Hi folks.

I looking for recommendations/best practices for handling a list of
links to downloadable forms. Currently I have a page of links to Word
files, set up like this...


Disability Verification Form (MS Word file)

Disability Questionnaire (MS Word file)

Application for Services (MS Word file)


...where the name of the document is the hyperlinked text. The client
wants to add PDF version of the documents linked up.

One way I've seen would be something like...

Disability Verification Form (MS Word file, PDF file)

Disability Questionnaire (MS Word file, PDF file)

Application for Services (MS Word file, PDF file)

where the words "MS Word file" and "PDF file" were the links to the
documents. But then you have both non-descriptive link text plus
identical words on the page that link to different things. A real no-
no, yes?

What seems theoretically the most "correct" way would be...

Disability Verification Form (MS Word file)
Disability Verification Form (PDF file)

Disability Questionnaire (MS Word file)
Disability Questionnaire (PDF file)

Application for Services (MS Word file)
Application for Services (PDF file)

... where the entire text is the link. But some of the forms have
fairly long names, and the repetition of the names ends up confusing
to my eye, especially when they wrap.

Authorization for Release of Information from Student Disability
Services [MS Word file]
Authorization for Release of Information from Student Disability
Services [PDF file]

Authorization for Release of Information from Outside Agency [MS Word
file]
Authorization for Release of Information from Outside Agency [PDF file]

Has anyone tackled this sort of thing from a different angle that I'm
not thinking of?

TIA,
Keith

******************************
Keith Parks
Graphic Designer/Web Designer
Student Affairs Communications Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7444
(619) 594-1046
mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED>
http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/communications

http://kparks.deviantart.com/gallery
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