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Re: PDF Default Behavior

for

From: Jablonski, James (LNI)
Date: Mar 19, 2009 12:00PM


Hi Lon,
Nice contribution to the global discussion!

I fired up a link on one of your offered pages and the way your team put
this together even more excellent in light of the on-line discussion.
(Also, I understand it better now! - thanks again.)

I did find one non-linked file spec on
http://www.lni.wa.gov/ClaimsIns/Insurance/DataStatistics/WorkersCompData
/default.asp that being the first entry under "Research Reports" Right
after the PDF icon, it reads:
Employer Assisted Injury Reporting ( 824 KB PDF / 2.5 min) - A Report to
the Legislature.

There is a leading space in front of the file size, and FYI (oops) none
of the parenthetical info in this one was styled as a link. Thought
you'd like to know.

James

-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Waltenberger,
Lon (LNI)
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 3:09 PM
To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] PDF Default Behavior

I think it's best to go by convention, or what users see on 80% of the
sites they visit, and to not override default behavior because that's
what users are accustomed to.

Even though I agree with Nielsen about not opening new browser windows,
that argument didn't prevail in our design planning for our public site.

However, we do include file type, size, download time at 57K dialup plus
20% overhead for files over 400KB, and off-site information in links for
screen reader and other users who list links. We style that additional
info so it visually appears to not be part of the link.

This ensures that the links include vital information to screen reader
users when out of context.

Under the Claims & Insurance tab we also work very hard to ensure the
PDFs are accessible. It's impossible to have a 100% record but we're
close.

For example:
http://www.lni.wa.gov/ClaimsIns/Insurance/RatesRisk/Check/RatesHistory/d
efault.asp.

http://www.lni.wa.gov/ClaimsIns/Insurance/Learn/StateFund/Reports/Defaul
t.asp.

http://www.lni.wa.gov/ClaimsIns/Insurance/Learn/StateFund/RelatedInfo/De
fault.asp.