E-mail List Archives
Thread: Group Opinion: default values in forms
Number of posts in this thread: 5 (In chronological order)
From: Jeff Rhodes
Date: Fri, Sep 06 2002 12:39PM
Subject: Group Opinion: default values in forms
No previous message | Next message →
I am in the process of updating my forms to be accessible. In order
to meet Level III, I must put default text in any of my input boxes.
This is something that I think isn't really required. When I run the
page through Jaws everything reads fine (I have my labels defined
for each of these fields). What is the general groups feeling on this?
If I include default values then I have to include Javascript on the
page to remove that text on focus of the object.
Jeff Rhodes, Developer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Internet Association Corporation
www.iaccorp.com
voice: (330) 376-6006 x255
fax: (330) 376-3355
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thought for the day:
-What is a "free" gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
----
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
From: Paul Bohman
Date: Fri, Sep 06 2002 1:23PM
Subject: RE: Group Opinion: default values in forms
← Previous message | Next message →
>>Jeff Rhodes wrote:
>>"In order to meet Level III, I must put default text in any of my
input boxes. This is something that I think isn't really required. ...
What is the general groups feeling on this? "
My response:
I generally agree that this is something that is not required. Several
generations of screen readers and text-only browsers have been able to
handle empty input fields without any problem. The exact wording from
the WAI guidelines is this:
"Until user agents handle empty controls correctly, include default,
place-holding characters in edit boxes and text areas. "
Notice the use of the phrase "until user agents handle empty controls
correctly..." User agents have been able to handle empty controls for
quite some time now. I believe that this is a guideline that is no
longer as useful as it once was. Based on this, it is my opinion that
you could still claim Priority 3 compliance even if you don't put
default text in your form controls (as long as the rest of the document
conforms to the other guidelines, of course!).
Paul Bohman
Technology Coordinator
WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind)
www.webaim.org
Center for Persons with Disabilities
www.cpd.usu.edu
Utah State University
www.usu.edu
----
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
From: Dan Jones
Date: Fri, Sep 06 2002 1:28PM
Subject: RE: Group Opinion: default values in forms
← Previous message | Next message →
She has an attitude like that though
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Bohman [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Friday, September 06, 2002 1:16 PM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Subject: RE: Group Opinion: default values in forms
>>Jeff Rhodes wrote:
>>"In order to meet Level III, I must put default text in any of my
input boxes. This is something that I think isn't really required. ...
What is the general groups feeling on this? "
My response:
I generally agree that this is something that is not required. Several
generations of screen readers and text-only browsers have been able to
handle empty input fields without any problem. The exact wording from
the WAI guidelines is this:
"Until user agents handle empty controls correctly, include default,
place-holding characters in edit boxes and text areas. "
Notice the use of the phrase "until user agents handle empty controls
correctly..." User agents have been able to handle empty controls for
quite some time now. I believe that this is a guideline that is no
longer as useful as it once was. Based on this, it is my opinion that
you could still claim Priority 3 compliance even if you don't put
default text in your form controls (as long as the rest of the document
conforms to the other guidelines, of course!).
Paul Bohman
Technology Coordinator
WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind)
www.webaim.org
Center for Persons with Disabilities
www.cpd.usu.edu
Utah State University
www.usu.edu
----
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
----
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
From: Timothy J. Luoma
Date: Sun, Sep 08 2002 1:56PM
Subject: Re: Group Opinion: default values in forms
← Previous message | Next message →
Jeff Rhodes wrote:
> I am in the process of updating my forms to be accessible. In order
> to meet Level III, I must put default text in any of my input boxes.
> This is something that I think isn't really required.
I agree with the sentiment that we are now living in an age when user
agents handle this "problem".
However if you want to satisfy the legal requirement, it is true that
" " is valid default text
Some might argue it is not in the spirit of the law, but it is the
<em>letter</em> of the law, and the spirit of the law I still would
argue is covered by the "until" clause we have already discussed.
TjL
--
30 Days to becoming an Opera Lover
http://www.tntluoma.com/opera/lover/
Day 10: Finger Clicking Good!
http://tntluoma.com/opera/lover/day10-fingerclickinggood/
----
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
From: Raman Gulati
Date: Sun, Sep 08 2002 9:16PM
Subject: Re: Group Opinion: default values in forms
← Previous message | No next message
UNSUBSCRIBE ME....I DO NOT WHY I AM GETTING THESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Timothy J. Luoma" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2002 2:16 AM
Subject: Re: Group Opinion: default values in forms
> Jeff Rhodes wrote:
> > I am in the process of updating my forms to be accessible. In order
> > to meet Level III, I must put default text in any of my input boxes.
> > This is something that I think isn't really required.
>
> I agree with the sentiment that we are now living in an age when user
> agents handle this "problem".
>
> However if you want to satisfy the legal requirement, it is true that
> " " is valid default text
>
> Some might argue it is not in the spirit of the law, but it is the
> <em>letter</em> of the law, and the spirit of the law I still would
> argue is covered by the "until" clause we have already discussed.
>
> TjL
>
> --
> 30 Days to becoming an Opera Lover
> http://www.tntluoma.com/opera/lover/
> Day 10: Finger Clicking Good!
> http://tntluoma.com/opera/lover/day10-fingerclickinggood/
>
>
>
> ----
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
> visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
>
----
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/