I can appreciate the dl approach. I'm often worried that I will end up abusing 
the dl as the table was abused in the past. It is true that the dt could label 
the lists and the dd's could include the list elements. The list items would be 
related. I think I will even re-approach our page next week. 
Thanks
Ted


-----Original Message-----
From: Derek Featherstone [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 8:59 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [WSG] Fieldsets can be used outside the box - Correct use
of <fieldset>


On Tuesday, November 23, 2004 11:22 AM, Ted Drake wrote:

> I think a fieldset could be used outside a form if you are
> using it to group similar links. We can fixate on the name or
> look at the purpose.  It says, the fields inside it are
> related. If the standards say it can be outside a form than
> we can use it to group similar objects.

Let's just clarify this -- the DTD says that a fieldset "can" be outside a
form, but only really because it is defined as a block level element. I
don't think that supercedes the intent of the element though. As you said,
look at its purpose:

"The FIELDSET element allows authors to group thematically related controls
and labels."
http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/interact/forms.html#edef-FIELDSET

And controls are form fields of some sort: buttons, checkboxes, radio
buttons, text boxes, textareas, file selects, etc... 
http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/interact/forms.html#h-17.2

I'd say that using fieldset and legend to present groups of links in this
way is twisting its meaning completely.

If you want the closest semantic relationship possible for presenting a list
of related links, you might consider a definition list. The title of the
group of links is the <dt></dt> and each of the links could be the
<dd></dd>. You might even use a properly-coded, semantically-structured
table to do the job.

My preference would be to use appropriate headings with a <ul></ul>, or even
a nested list structure, but I can't see using fieldset for it...

Best regards,
Derek.
-- 
Derek Featherstone     [EMAIL PROTECTED]
phone: 613.599.9784;   toll-free: 1.866.932.4878 (North America)
Web Accessibility:  http://www.wats.ca
Personal: http://www.boxofchocolates.ca

******************************************************
The discussion list for  http://webstandardsgroup.org/

 See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm
 for some hints on posting to the list & getting help
******************************************************

******************************************************
The discussion list for  http://webstandardsgroup.org/

 See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm
 for some hints on posting to the list & getting help
******************************************************

Reply via email to