Really Basic XHTML / DW Question

Hey Gang,

I just finished a XHTML tutorial an in it the author explained all images needed to have ALT text. He also went on to explain something either I never learned or forgot. I'm not sure. But he explained that ALT text was for the visually impaired. Title text was for those who had browsers, mice, pointers etc..

I thought - well - okay - that's cool. I'll just start using both. And having not really worked much with DW in a while but recently updating it I thought I'd find a place for "title text" in the property inspector. Prolly somewhere right beside the Alt text. But it's not there.

Anyway - that said I can always go into the code and add title text in a snap. But is there somewhere in the property inspector that I'm just not seeing where one can do this on the fly?

And lastly - as for this XHTML requirement of labeling all images with ALT text can someone expand on that tiny subject a bit? For instance, will alt="" (empty) validate?

Cheers!

Hi JK

You have to add the title atribute in code view your self, the pi does
not handle this.

alt="" is fine and will validate.


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Cheers jojo
Team Macromedia Member Volunteer for Dreamweaver MX
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But he explained that ALT text was for the visually impaired.

ALT text is pretty much what it says...it's the 'alternative' to the actual
image. So, for those that can't see, that's what tells them what's on the
page. It's also useful for search engines, which can't 'see' images as well
as those that prefer to use text-based browsers, which just don't even
render images.

Title text was for those who had browsers, mice, pointers etc..

Sort of. To put it simply, ALT attributes are for those who don't
display/see the images. TITLE attributes are for everyone.

Or...

alt is 'instead of' the image, while title is in 'addition to' the image.
Also note that the title attribute can be applied to more than just the img
tag.

I thought I'd find a place for "title text" in the property inspector.
Prolly somewhere right beside the Alt text. But it's not there.

Nope. Actually, I don't see it in MX 2004 either. Not sure why they never
put that in there.

And lastly - as for this XHTML requirement of labeling all images with ALT
text can someone expand on that tiny subject a bit? For instance, will

alt="" (empty) validate?

Yes. You should use empty alt tags for all 'decorative' images and a short,
but clear description for all 'content' images.

-Darrel

The others have answered your questions so I'll just give you a tip.

If you go to Edit > Preferences > Accessibility and check Images then every
time you insert an image an alt text dialogue box will pop up and you can enter
it from there. This is really handy so that you can't forget to put it in. If
it's a decorative image then just click "ok" and then in the PI enter the empty
set.

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The reasons given are all good reasons to use the ALT tag.

In addition the ALT tag helps the blind to comprehend what is on the page,
which means it helps to provide information that helps construct an image,
i.e. Man and dog ===> Man walks dog on leash in city park. (If you would
like additional information on how the blind use readers on the internet do
a Google search for "JAWS Reader."

Richard



"JK Bowman" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Hey Gang,

I just finished a XHTML tutorial an in it the author explained all images
needed to have ALT text. He also went on to explain something either I

never learned or forgot. I'm not sure. But he explained that ALT text was
for the visually impaired. Title text was for those who had browsers, mice,
pointers etc..

I thought - well - okay - that's cool. I'll just start using both. And
having not really worked much with DW in a while but recently updating it I

thought I'd find a place for "title text" in the property inspector. Prolly
somewhere right beside the Alt text. But it's not there.

Anyway - that said I can always go into the code and add title text in a
snap. But is there somewhere in the property inspector that I'm just not

seeing where one can do this on the fly?

And lastly - as for this XHTML requirement of labeling all images with ALT
text can someone expand on that tiny subject a bit? For instance, will

alt="" (empty) validate?

Cheers!

Hey thanks everyone,

I also liked that tip, DiMa. I think I'll do that. I guess I should also mention for anyone who may be interested that the XHTML tutorials I took were the QuickTime ones over at lynda.com. I thought they were very good. And in taking them I honestly was suprized at a couple of little things I aparently missed when I first took up HTML. I also identified a coupld of sloppy habits I think that I unknowingly picked up over the years - regardless of XHTML. It really was pretty cool.

Just one more thing though. It has to do with the DW Interface and just kinda making a better web.

I think it would be a cool idea to see all the "phrase elements" for text seperated from all the style elements. For example, the phrase ones are listed below.

Perhaps there is already something for this on the exchange. I dunno. I think I'll go check. But it would be nice to see both kind of elements lined up side by side where you can pick in between the two.

Cheers! And again - thanks everyone!

J.K.

EM:
Indicates emphasis.
STRONG:
Indicates stronger emphasis.
CITE:
Contains a citation or a reference to other sources.
DFN:
Indicates that this is the defining instance of the enclosed term.
CODE:
Designates a fragment of computer code.
SAMP:
Designates sample output from programs, scripts, etc.
KBD:
Indicates text to be entered by the user.
VAR:
Indicates an instance of a variable or program argument.
ABBR:
Indicates an abbreviated form (e.g., WWW, HTTP, URI, Mass., etc.).
ACRONYM:
Indicates an acronym (e.g., WAC, radar, etc.).

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 20:37:50 GMT, "Storyman"
<mystoryman (AT) earthlink (DOT) net> wrote:

The reasons given are all good reasons to use the ALT tag.

In addition the ALT tag helps the blind to comprehend what is on the page,
which means it helps to provide information that helps construct an image,
i.e. Man and dog ===> Man walks dog on leash in city park. (If you would
like additional information on how the blind use readers on the internet do
a Google search for "JAWS Reader."

Richard



"JK Bowman" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:bsuogc$3ib$1 (AT) forums (DOT) macromedia.com...
Hey Gang,

I just finished a XHTML tutorial an in it the author explained all images
needed to have ALT text. He also went on to explain something either I
never learned or forgot. I'm not sure. But he explained that ALT text was
for the visually impaired. Title text was for those who had browsers, mice,
pointers etc..

I thought - well - okay - that's cool. I'll just start using both. And
having not really worked much with DW in a while but recently updating it I
thought I'd find a place for "title text" in the property inspector. Prolly
somewhere right beside the Alt text. But it's not there.

Anyway - that said I can always go into the code and add title text in a
snap. But is there somewhere in the property inspector that I'm just not
seeing where one can do this on the fly?

And lastly - as for this XHTML requirement of labeling all images with ALT
text can someone expand on that tiny subject a bit? For instance, will
alt="" (empty) validate?

Cheers!

title attributes have to be entered into the code. Every so often, on

and off, but with not really sufficient understanding, I have been
trying to create a Property Inspector extension that will include a
title attribute, as there isn't one in the inspector given. This is,
to me, an oversight on the part of Macromedia.

alt="" is perfectly valid. In fact, it is a good thing to do, where
the image gives no help to visually impaired people at all. For
example, suppose you have a drop-down menu system, created using
images and graphics. Every image could have alt="" in it. This CAN be
applied by the Property Inspector. Just set the alt box to <empty>
using the drop down menu. Mind you, you need to provide an
alternative. A suitable alternative would be a set of text links at
the bottom of the page, including a link to a site map page, which is
always a helpful tool for visually impaired people, and a boon to the
rest of us, too.


Paul Taylor

JK:

Happy New Year!

I am not quite sure I get your point here. Can you explain what you are
asking, please?

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"JK Bowman" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Hey thanks everyone,