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Re: complex layout tables

for

From: Olaf Drümmer
Date: Jan 29, 2014 4:33PM

And on top of that, WCAG2 as well is happy to guide a user using layout tables:

from: F49: Failure of Success Criterion 1.3.2 due to using an HTML layout table that does not make sense when linearized
see: http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/F49

> Although WCAG 2 does not prohibit the use of layout tables, CSS-based layouts are recommended in order to retain the defined semantic meaning of the HTML tableelements and to conform to the coding practice of separating presentation from content. If a layout table is used, however, it is important that the content make sense when linearized.

So the one thing to watch out for when using layout tables is to make sure that the order in which the cells are to be presented / consumed, match linearized processing of the table.

Olaf


On 29 Jan 2014, at 21:26, Steve Faulkner < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> On 29 January 2014 20:00, Olaf Drümmer < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
>> I actually do dispute that. HTML 5 even tells you how to do layout tables:
>
>
> patrick is right, tables are for data, that is the semantics they convey,
> when the normative advice in the spec is ignored one repair technique is to
> remove the semantics with role=presentation.
> HTML5 says<http://www.w3.org/html/wg/drafts/html/master/tabular-data.html#the-table-element>;
> :
>
> "Tables should not be used as layout aids. Historically, many Web authors
> have tables in HTML as a way to control their page layout making it
> difficult to extract tabular data from such documents. In particular, users
> of accessibility tools, like screen readers, are likely to find it very
> difficult to navigate pages with tables used for layout. If a table is to
> be used for layout it must be marked with the attribute role="presentation"
> for a user agent to properly represent the table to an assistive technology
> and to properly convey the intent of the author to tools that wish to
> extract tabular data from the document."
>
> note the SHOULD NOT in the first sentence is a normative statement (as is
> the MUST in the third sentence). In other words use of tables for layout is
> NOT RECOMMENDED, but the spec acknowledges that tables are misused and
> provides advice on a repair mechanism. This advice could probably do with
> strengthening and expanding.
>
>
>
> --
>
> Regards
>
> SteveF
> HTML 5.1 <http://www.w3.org/html/wg/drafts/html/master/>;
> > >