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ARIA: A grid header

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From: Mario Batusic
Date: Apr 1, 2010 2:51PM

Hi there!
I am working currently at proposing WAI-ARIA solutions for a big
Webapp Base System used by the FaBaSoft Company (Linz, Austria) to
produce different Webapps in the eGovernment area. To get a look&feel,
you can register for free on http://www.fabasoft.com/cloud/register
My question is very specific:
The main widget in this application is the object list, that is to
implement as a grid. The problem no. 1 arises through the fact, that
the grid header is not integrated in the data table of the grid. It is
implemented as a set of span elements positioned exactly above the
columns by CSS.
The header contains not only the name for each column, but
also a variable set of graphical buttons to: sort, delete the
column from the grid, move the column left or right as well as to
insert an additional column in the grid.
My qestions:
What would be the proper WAI-ARIA enrichment, which "role" for this
grid header? Such grid headers in Windows programs such as Windows
Ecplorer, Outlook, Novell Groupwise Mailer etc. are not at all
keyboard accessible, but the functionalities placed there are
accessible through the main menu and some also through the context
menu only.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Mario