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Re: Complex forms

for

From: Holly Marie
Date: Apr 9, 2003 12:23PM

From: "Gerard Corboz"

> One thing that I'm struggling with is the best way to present a
complex
> form.


> When I say complex I am talking about a lot of explanatory text that
goes
> with the form (at the start, during and at the end), a lot of skipping
i.e.
> if answer is no then go to question xyz, a lot of detailed and complex
data
> etc. I have observed a blind person using Jaws a few times and have
noticed
> that when it comes to form filling they enter into a 'forms' mode
which
> appeared to skip a lot of the explanatory text that came with the
example
> form that we were looking at and read the labels and other extra
information
> tags that were associated with each particular field in the form.

I wonder if fieldset would be of use?
Content and associated form items could be placed inside those Fieldset
tags?
For XHTML I believe the inputs need to be contained in a block level
item, so P or Div would work?
Though I do not know if a user in Forms Mode would pick up that text
simply because it is contained in the fieldset tagset, or perhaps the
user is working with tabindex on the forms? (I did not include tabindex
here because the order is simple and clear.)

<form action="">
<fieldset >
<legend>Personal Information</legend>
<p>In this section, <strong>all areas are required</strong>. If you
would like to be called, please leave a daytime phone number where you
can be reached.<br /><br />
<label for="name">Name </label><br />
<input type="text" name="name" id="name" /><br />
<label for="address">Address </label><br />
<input type="text" name="address" id="address" /><br />
<label for="email">E-mail </label><br />
<input type="text" name="email" id="email" /><br /><br />

Your Phone Number <br />
<input type="text" name="phone" id="phone" />
<label for="call">Call Me</label>
<input type="checkbox" name="call" id="call" />
<label for="nocall">Don't Call Me</label>
<input type="checkbox" name="nocall" id="nocall" /><br />
</p>
</fieldset>
</form>

I wonder if placing a tabindex="NUMBER" on the associated content would
help include it with the form elements and order of items? Or, would the
device still skip the content?

<form action="">
<fieldset >
<legend>Personal Information</legend>
<p tabindex="1">In this section, <strong>all areas are
required</strong>. If you would like to be called, please leave a
daytime phone number where you can be reached.<br /><br />
<label for="name">Name </label><br />
<input type="text" name="name" id="name" tabindex="2" /><br />
<label for="address">Address </label><br />
<input type="text" name="address" id="address" tabindex="3" /><br />
<label for="email">E-mail </label><br />
<input type="text" name="email" id="email" tabindex="4" /><br /><br />

Your Phone Number <br />
<input type="text" name="phone" id="phone" tabindex="5" />
<label for="call">Call Me</label>
<input type="checkbox" name="call" id="call" tabindex="6" />
<label for="nocall">Don't Call Me</label>
<input type="checkbox" name="nocall" id="nocall" tabindex="7" /><br />
</p>
</fieldset>
</form>

Interesting.
I also read that using Tabindex may not be accurate if the user tabs
before the document is completely loaded or if there are scripts
involved that have or make other areas of the content appear after
actions. [something to consider when using tabindex, if it needs to be
used.]

holly


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