On 10/20/05, Christian Montoya <[email hidden]> wrote:
It looks like a data table to me. If you didn't use a table, you would
probably use lists, which might be more confusing.
I've had advise from [EMAIL PROTECTED] against using data table markup
for forms because screen readers often have different modes for the
navigation of tables and the navigation of forms. And if you provide
information in a mix of data table markup and form markup, users may
miss one or the other. See:
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-ig/2005JulSep/0196.html
So if you do use a table to layout your form, you might want to
consider it a layout table and not use structural data table markup. In
this case, the content is generally considered part of a form, not a
table. Form elements already provide ways for explicitly associating
labels with inputs and legends with fieldsets. So, you do not need
structural table elements and attributes in order to mark-up the
relationship. Just be sure the layout table makes sense when linearized.
So my take is...
- The way you choose to go (layout table or CSS) depends upon your CSS
knowledge. CSS layouts are becoming more popular, they are more
standards compliment. Cameron Adams has a good CSS form examples,
"Accessible, stylish form layout templates" [1]. Derek Featherstone
also has some other good CSS form techniques at Simply Accessible[2].
However, some designers/developers revert back to tables when it comes
to laying out a form because of the "complexities" involved.
- The way you choose to go might also depend upon your knowledge of
your audience (that is what software they'll be using to access a page)
and the amount of cross-browser compatibility you want to accomplish.
Some More References:
CSS Forms
http://www.d.umn.edu/goto/css#forms
Forms Accessibility
http://www.d.umn.edu/goto/accessibility#forms
Forms Usability
http://www.d.umn.edu/goto/usability#forms
Laura
[1] http://www.themaninblue.com/writing/perspective/2004/03/24/
[2] http://simplyaccessible.org/
___________________________________________
Laura L. Carlson
Information Technology Systems and Services
University of Minnesota Duluth
Duluth, MN 55812-3009
http://www.d.umn.edu/goto/webdesign/
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