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Thread: Dreamweaver Layers
Number of posts in this thread: 5 (In chronological order)
From: Candace Egan
Date: Fri, Apr 18 2003 3:00PM
Subject: Dreamweaver Layers
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Is anyone familiar with Dreamweaver layers and whether using them causes
accessibility problems?
Candace
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Academic Innovation Center
California State University, Fresno
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From: 10Tests Project
Date: Sat, Apr 19 2003 9:20AM
Subject: RE: Dreamweaver Layers
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I have used layers extensively in the past but I don't believe they
satisfy the requirements for the W3C Content Accessibility Guidelines.
As to whether they cause actual problems, I would think your best bet
may to have a look at the specifications of individual browsers. Layers
are supported in all browser version 4 onwards (MSIE 4+, Netscape, etc).
You may just have to try and test. The link below provides a list to a
number of 'alternative' browsers.
http://www.w3.org/WAI/References/Browsing
Martin.
From: Big John
Date: Sat, Apr 19 2003 11:45AM
Subject: Re: Dreamweaver Layers
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Candace Egan wrote:
> Is anyone familiar with Dreamweaver layers and whether using them causes
> accessibility problems?
I'm not up on the guidelines, but I believe DW layers are just
'absolute' positioning. If so, then it's very often possible to
place them anywhere in the source. A screen reader will treat
such elements just like any other, so being able to choose the
order they are read is very useful. To be sure, some layouts
constrict this flexibility, but no more than flowed elements.
Big John
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From: jeb
Date: Sat, Apr 19 2003 2:47PM
Subject: RE: Dreamweaver Layers
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DW as a free accessibility plug in which is supposed to check all these
things for you.
http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibility/mx/dw/validation.html
It works with MX...not sure about older versions.
John E. Brandt
Augusta, ME 04330
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From: Dey Alexander
Date: Sat, Apr 19 2003 4:52PM
Subject: Re: Dreamweaver Layers
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"Layers" is a Dreamweaver term for HTML <div> elements which are
usually, but not always, used together with stylesheets to handle
layout. This method of handling layout is preferred over the use of
HTML tables, at least according to the W3C's Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines (but is often not used because it can cause problems for
users of version 4.x browsers).
Layers are not inherently accessible or inaccessible - it depends
entirely on how they are implemented.
If you are using them on your project, you should check the page
rendering, and in particular the read order, with stylesheets turned
off. You don't need any special equipment to do this. One way is to
user your own browser to override stylesheets. For Internet Explorer, go
to Tools > Internet Options, and then select the Accessibility button at
bottom right. Check (to enable) each of the three format override
options. Then view your page. There's also an online tool you can use.
Go to http://www.delorie.com/web/wpbcv.html and check (to enable) all of
the options except stylesheets. Then type in the URL for the page you
want to check.
Cheers,
Dey
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