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RE: best way to use <a href> and javascript?

for

From: Ian.Lloyd@nationwide.co.uk
Date: Oct 30, 2002 3:47AM


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I have written some guidelines on this very topic, which I have pasted in a
raw format at the very bottom of this note. NB - the pop-up function is not
included, but you get the idea.

Hope this helps

Ian Lloyd, Electronic Channels
Nationwide Building Society

e-mail: <EMAIL REMOVED>
tel: 01793-655260
fax: 01793-656368


- -----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
Sent: 29 October 2002 12:13
To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Subject: best way to use <a href> and javascript?


Hi all, I was looking for view opinions on this one.
Ive seen before in lots of lists not to use <a href="javascript:function
();">read notes</a> for the reason that screenreaders will read out the
javascript function when they execute the link.
An example often given to fix this is <a href="page.html" onClick
="window.open('page.html');">read notes</a>.
What if you are not linking to a new page though. What if your script is
for rewriting the content of a div.
What can you put in the href if you want to use the onClick method?
Ive used <a href="#" onClick="function();">read notes</a>
Jaws reads this as "link same page read notes" which I know is not good
enough.
How are people getting around this one, Id appreciate any thoughts,
Thanks Kieran

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- --------------------------------------------------------

Introduction
The pop-up window may be convenient for presenting information in a slightly
different way from a standard web page. It also presents increased
accessibility problems because:

* it relies on the person browsing to have JavaScript enabled
* it forces a change of window which may be jarring for someone who perhaps
cannot see the window and relies on being told that the window is a new one

However, despite this, there are techniques to make pop-up windows more
accessible.

Accessibility tips

To ensure your pop-ups are accessible, do the following:

* Pre-warn if a window is launched in a pop-up - this could be either in
body text or in a title attribute of the launcher link, e.g <a href="..."
onClick="..." title="Launch the mortgage quote in a pop-up window">
* Be mindful of what options are available in the pop-up, for example, are
you removing the menu bar and toolbar, thus making it more difficult to
print? Just something to consider.
* Do not rely on the browser to be script-enabled. This means taking a
two-track approach in which you:
* use a simple href
* call the JavaScript function in an onClick event
* use 'return false' to cancel the default action of the href
* use a target window - this is also cancelled out by the return false
<a
href="testpage.htm" - for accessibility
target="popUpWin" - for accessibility
onclick="popUpWin('testpage.htm','standard',300,300); - for script enabled
browsers
return false; - for script enabled (cancels out first two accessibility
parts)
">Open Pop-up</a>


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