Thierry Koblentz wrote:
I've found that using "id" instead of "name" for anchors (including a href attribute) creates an accessibility issue since some browsers (at least MSIE) find the location, but are unable to keep track of the link sequence re: tabbing navigation. I posted a message a while back about this, warning people that "skipnav" links built this way are just *useless*.
I found that, even when using NAME, IE (particularly IE6/SP2 on WinXP/SP2) can exhibit this same behaviour of "forgetting" the right tab order. In fact, I just created a super simple page where my IE (version and OS as above) just does that http://dev.splintered.co.uk/IE_tab_order/.
And, in a weird twist, there are situations where, even using ID / fragment identifiers, IE gets it right (see for instance www.salford.ac.uk, where the second tab puts you on a 1x1 pixel skip link (I know, not ideal in itself, but this was done about 1 1/2 years ago)...following that link in IE (even IE 5) puts the next tab correctly (on the "order a prospectus" link top right, skipping all of the navigation). So, seems more like a complex bug in IE which depends on some unfathomable factors, rather than a problem purely with using IDs.
-- Patrick H. Lauke _____________________________________________________ re·dux (adj.): brought back; returned. used postpositively [latin : re-, re- + dux, leader; see duke.] www.splintered.co.uk | www.photographia.co.uk http://redux.deviantart.com
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