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Thread: Docs for download in tables example

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Number of posts in this thread: 5 (In chronological order)

From: Angela French
Date: Tue, Aug 30 2011 11:18AM
Subject: Docs for download in tables example
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Thanks to those who have been helping me work through my docs-for-download issues. Here is an example of one such page I'm pulling my hair over (there are many others as there is no standardization on our site http://sbctc.edu ).


Here is my BIG problem. We use Contribute (please, do not waste tears for me!) and believe it or not, even in Contribute 5 which I believe is the latest-not-so-greatest, there is no way for the content editor to provide a title attribute. I know - unbelievable. On a page like this one: http://sbctc.edu/college/_e-assessreports.aspx it seems my only solution is to at least provide an alt attribute. (Please don't comment about all the pointless rows that have no document associated with them. You guess is as good as mine on why someone would do this).

I can understand their rationale for the table as providing such links in a list would require multiple lists and take up a lot more page space.

Angela French
Internet Specialist
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
360-704-4316
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
http://www.checkoutacollege.com/

From: Keith Parks
Date: Tue, Aug 30 2011 4:39PM
Subject: Re: Docs for download in tables example
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On Aug 30, 2011, at 10:17 AM, Angela French wrote:

> (Please don't comment about all the pointless rows that have no document associated with them. You guess is as good as mine on why someone would do this).

I know this is not directly on your issue, but I believe the empty rows *do* communicate valuable information. Not only does the table tell you what reports are available, but it also conveys clearly which reports are *not* available. With a list that only contained what was available, someone would be left to wonder "What about Bates College? Did they overlook it?"

So I'd say those rows are not really pointless at all.

As to how to list the downloads for something like this, I still might suggest a list would be easier to use.

Something like this...

BATES
• no reports

BELLEVUE
• Outcomes Assessment: 2009-10, 2008-09

BELLINGHAM
• no reports

BIG BEND
• no reports

CASCADIA
• Outcomes Assessment: 2009-10, 2008-09
• Faculty Development: 2010-11, 2009-10, 2008-09

etc.

The College names would be some <h> level (looks like <h2> in the context of this particular page), and then the years would be links to the files. Since they are all PDF files, you could state that in the copy before the list starts.

Just a thought,

Keith

******************************
Keith Parks
Graphic Designer/Web Designer
Student Affairs Communications Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7444
(619) 594-1046
mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/communications

http://kparks.deviantart.com/gallery
----------------------------------------------------------

America - now "All You Can Eat" on Mondays and Thursdays!

From: Angela French
Date: Wed, Aug 31 2011 9:09AM
Subject: Re: Docs for download in tables example
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I like the idea. Keith are you a screen reader user?

-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Keith Parks
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 3:40 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Docs for download in tables example


On Aug 30, 2011, at 10:17 AM, Angela French wrote:

> (Please don't comment about all the pointless rows that have no document associated with them. You guess is as good as mine on why someone would do this).

I know this is not directly on your issue, but I believe the empty rows *do* communicate valuable information. Not only does the table tell you what reports are available, but it also conveys clearly which reports are *not* available. With a list that only contained what was available, someone would be left to wonder "What about Bates College? Did they overlook it?"

So I'd say those rows are not really pointless at all.

As to how to list the downloads for something like this, I still might suggest a list would be easier to use.

Something like this...

BATES
* no reports

BELLEVUE
* Outcomes Assessment: 2009-10, 2008-09

BELLINGHAM
* no reports

BIG BEND
* no reports

CASCADIA
* Outcomes Assessment: 2009-10, 2008-09
* Faculty Development: 2010-11, 2009-10, 2008-09

etc.

The College names would be some <h> level (looks like <h2> in the context of this particular page), and then the years would be links to the files. Since they are all PDF files, you could state that in the copy before the list starts.

Just a thought,

Keith

******************************
Keith Parks
Graphic Designer/Web Designer
Student Affairs Communications Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7444
(619) 594-1046
mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/communications

http://kparks.deviantart.com/gallery
----------------------------------------------------------

America - now "All You Can Eat" on Mondays and Thursdays!

From: Keith Parks
Date: Wed, Aug 31 2011 12:15PM
Subject: Re: Docs for download in tables example
← Previous message | Next message →

On Aug 31, 2011, at 8:09 AM, Angela French wrote:

> I like the idea. Keith are you a screen reader user?

No, I'm not.

******************************
Keith Parks
Graphic Designer/Web Designer
Student Affairs Communications Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7444
(619) 594-1046
mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/communications

http://kparks.deviantart.com/gallery
----------------------------------------------------------

America - now "All You Can Eat" on Mondays and Thursdays!

From: Patrick Burke
Date: Wed, Aug 31 2011 12:27PM
Subject: Re: Docs for download in tables example
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I'll put in one vote from the screenreadery community in favor of
Keith's solution. Nicely done!

Patrick

At 11:17 AM 8/31/2011, Keith Parks wrote:

>On Aug 31, 2011, at 8:09 AM, Angela French wrote:
>
> > I like the idea. Keith are you a screen reader user?
>
>No, I'm not.
>
>******************************
>Keith Parks
>Graphic Designer/Web Designer
>Student Affairs Communications Services
>San Diego State University
>San Diego, CA 92182-7444
>(619) 594-1046
>mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/communications
>
>http://kparks.deviantart.com/gallery


--
Patrick J. Burke

Coordinator
UCLA Disabilities &
Computing Program

Phone: 310 206-6004
E-mail: burke <at> ucla. edu
Department Contact: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =