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Nesting lists to display directory structure?

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From: David R. Stong
Date: Feb 4, 2004 1:45PM

I'm having html/css code problems and my brain is completely full.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I'm coding a styled html page that will be a model for dynamic output
as a JSP page from a database. Users of the database can upload Zip
files containing complex directory structures, then using the page
I'm coding, edit or delete files within the Zip file they've
uploaded. I have to represent columns of data- filename, size, date
modified and a "Delete" checkbox -while presenting the directory
structure.

For just one flat directory, I could code a simple table with folder
name as caption, then file name, size, date modified, and delete as
headers with a 'column' scope, a label on the 'Delete' checkbox, and
the file names as headers each with the 'row' scope.

But there may often be a cascade of nested folders, and nesting
tables seems like it would be a confusing, inaccessible hack.

My thought to address this would be nested lists- that seems to be
exactly what nested lists do- mimic an outline. Presenting the visual
cascade of nested folders is important, too. Lists will eliminate the
headers, though, and they provide handy information about what each
bit of info is.

Any thoughts? Are nested tables that are coded with 'headers' and
'ids' understandable to anyone?


--
David R. Stong
Microcomputer Information Specialist (Graphic Designer),
Education Technology Services, a unit of
Teaching and Learning with Technology
Information Technology Services
The Pennsylvania State University
Phone 8148651843

212 Rider Building II
227 W Beaver Avenue
State College, PA 16801-4819

Working for Universal Design: http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/accessibility


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