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Re: Best way to set up links to documents

for

From: Keith Parks
Date: Oct 3, 2008 4:10PM

On Oct 3, 2008, at 11:56 AM, Cliff Tyllick wrote:

> Good question, Keith. This comes up all the time here, so I would
> also like feedback. I wonder about these options:
>
> 1. As you first described, but adding the form name to the "title"
> attribute:
> [snip...]
> Does having unique title attributes overcome the "same wording,
> different target" issue?

From what I recall of previous Title discussions, to paraphrase, they
"aren't considered a reliable way to communicate essential
information", something like that. Which I assume means there are a
lot of common situations/configurations where assistive technology
does not communicate the title info.

> 2. Creating a data table, which I can only approximate here, and
> simply use icons representing each file format as links.
> Approximation:
>
> Form Name in MS Word in
> PDF [<--- column headers]
> [row headers in this column]
> Disability Verification Form [Word icon] [PDF icon]
> Disability Questionnaire [Word icon] [PDF icon]
> Application for Services [Word icon] [PDF icon]
>
> If the alt text for each image is the form name plus the format,
> then people using JAWS would know what each is regardless of whether
> they were in Tables mode. Also, people using screen magnifiers could
> tell what each is even if the headings aren't in their field of view
> because alt text should display on mouseover.

I like this better, but I don't see that it would really need to be
set up in a table format. By using icons with full-description ALT
text as the links, that alone should clarify the link issue. Though
I'm not sure if the average user would intuitively think to click on
the icon to download the file. Maybe a slightly more elaborate graphic
that said "download [Word icon]", with ALT text as you describe?

Though I *also* had been hoping to use CSS to automate the link's file
format icon, the way I've seen some sites doing lately. But that only
works with background properties, which can't have an ALT value. So
maybe regular inline image icons/graphics are still the way to go.

Thanks,

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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