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Thread: text-only version
Number of posts in this thread: 4 (In chronological order)
From: Cheryl Kirkpatrick
Date: Mon, Nov 10 2003 9:17AM
Subject: text-only version
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I normally recommend that if a text-only version of a Web site is
provided, the link should be in the upper left-hand portion of the
graphics version. A couple of years ago, this was recommended to me by a
blind user who pointed out that this would make the link be the first
encountered by his screen reader. That seems logical. I recognize that
screen readers have improved during the last couple of years and wonder
if it is still true that the text-only link should be in the upper
left-hand corner.
I recently worked with a library whose Web designer wanted to provide
the link at the bottom of the page because she thought it was visually
more appealing at the bottom. We decided to have a hidden link (white
font on white background) at the top with a visible link at the bottom.
Of course, I always point out that:
A
From: julian.rickards
Date: Mon, Nov 10 2003 9:46AM
Subject: RE: text-only version
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I think that if you need a text-only version, the link should be provided at
the top, not at the bottom - by the time the people who need the text-only
version get down to the bottom, they have probably left the page, if not the
site.
However, it is my opinion that there are rare instances where text-only is
necessary - with proper markup, virtually all pages can be made accessible.
---------------------------------------------------------
Julian Rickards
Digital Publications Distribution Coordinator
Publications Services Section
Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Phone: (705) 670-5608
Fax: (705) 670-5690
>
From: John Foliot - WATS.ca
Date: Mon, Nov 10 2003 10:18AM
Subject: RE: text-only version
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might I also add that the "design" could use positioning via CSS to make
your link "appear" in the bottom for visual users, yet be coded as the first
piece of text/link to the text only version. Something that I have done in
the past is "hide" the link behind a logo or something... Most sites today
start with some kind of branding/logo element in the top left corner. using
CSS positioning, code the link, then "position" the graphic element
(absolutely) via CSS to sit on top of the link, effectively "hiding it" from
visual users, yet making it available as the very first text/link element.
Successfully used this for "skip nav" blocks as well... (see:
http://jimwitter.com/index2.php for this in action. Strip images, strip
CSS... or view in Lynx)
I agree with Julian though, write once and CSS is far easier/cost effective
than maintaining two versions. (Use the "cost effective" line on the suits
who don't "get it"... <grin>)
JF
--
John Foliot = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Web Accessibility Specialist / Co-founder of WATS.ca
Web Accessibility Testing and Services
http://www.wats.ca 1.866.932.4878 (North America)
>
From: Stephanie Sullivan
Date: Mon, Nov 10 2003 10:21AM
Subject: Re: text-only version
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on 11/10/03 11:11 AM, Cheryl Kirkpatrick at = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
profoundly spewed forth their very articulate thoughts:
>
> I recently worked with a library whose Web designer wanted to provide
> the link at the bottom of the page because she thought it was visually
> more appealing at the bottom. We decided to have a hidden link (white
> font on white background) at the top with a visible link at the bottom.
I'm not big on text only pages as my opinion is that with CSS you can make
the page just as accessible. If I were going to provide a text only version
for some reason I'd likely provide a stylesheet switcher that would attach a
different CSS that would not include the images (set them not to show
there)...
That said, I would likely provide the link under the masthead as people
needing to know it's there need it to be rather obvious (I totally
understand your web designer not wanting to do that since if not worked into
the design properly it could be very distracting) ...
Lastly, I would NOT put the same color text on the same color background if
I were concerned about Search engines at all since that's one of the things
that will get you blacklisted... Read any of the search engine rules...
Stephanie Sullivan
Contributing Author .: "Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 Magic" :. New Riders
CommunityMX Team Member :: http://www.communitymx.com
Technical Editor .: "DreamweaverMX Killer Tips" :. New Riders
VioletSky Design :: http://www.violetsky.net