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Indicating hierarchy in a site tree

for

From: Rachel
Date: Apr 21, 2003 10:33AM

We're working on a DHTML site tree. You can click on a
plus or minus icon to reveal subsections. It is using
the CSS "display" property to show or hide
subsections.

We are indenting subsections under their parent
sections. In other words, the visual indentations help
show the hierarchy.

If you do not have CSS enabled, you will see or hear
the whole site tree. All of the site's sections are
listed. So, it's hard to get a sense of the site
hierarchy if you are using a screenreader.

Any suggestions?

One idea I had was to add numbers in front of each
section, that show its placement in the site
hierarchy. The numbers could be hidden or made into
tiny, white text, via CSS. So screenreaders will hear
it. The numbers will show up to visual users if you do
not have CSS enabled or are not using our external
style sheet.

Example:
1. About Us
1.1 Our Mission
1.1.1 Message from the President
1.2 Our History
1.2.1 Timeline
2. Contact Us
2.1 Our Offices

Etc.

Another idea would be to use unordered or ordered
lists to construct the tree. Children sections would
be lists that are nested in their parent's lists.

Thanks, as always, for your ideas,
Rachel Sengers

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