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Bad HTML habits
Even the best HTML jockey has likely developed
habits along the way that hinder accessibility. You may have grabbed at
style sheets to alleviate your dependence on FONT formatting tags, but
as you tweak your way through the HTML world, you're probably still using
some renegade code that works but isn't exactly up to spec.
Tweaking Headings
Priority 2 - For example, user agents may be able to build a table of
contents by reading the headings on a Web page. So, using H1 through H6
tags to structure your information is important, and using these tags
simply to size text can cause problems.
Tweaking Spacing
Transparent images have become a de facto workaround by which many Web
builders elude HTML's layout limitations. These images, however, can make
it difficult for user agents to distinguish between real content and ancillary
images such as spacers. Instead, use style sheets to control margins,
spacing, and other page elements. (CSS2 also offers new styles that address
white space.)
Tweaking Indentation
Another no-no is using block quotes or list containers to control indention.
Both are common workarounds used by Web builders to indent paragraphs
or whole pages. The problem is that software may interpret and deliver
information a certain way because of the tag. So, a text-to-voice reader
might interpret the block quote information as a quote and read it accordingly
when, in fact, you were just trying to indent a paragraph. Again, style
sheets offer the best solution; they allow you to separate the formatting
and visual appearance of the material from the structure of the page.
Tweaking Text
Another culprit is the use of absolute text formatting tags instead of
relative ones. <B> and <STRONG>, for example, may render the
same in many browsers, but they do not mean the same thing. The <STRONG>
tag, as well as the <EM> tag, was designed to indicate structural
emphasis that could take the form of either a visual change (font, size,
and style) or an audible change (inflection, volume, and pitch).
Don't Ignore These Tags
Priority 1 - You need to provide alternative content if you're creating
pages with certain elements:
* When you use SCRIPT, provide NOSCRIPT information.
* When using FRAMES, provide NOFRAMES information.
* When using EMBED, provide NOEMBED information.
* When using APPLETS, use ALT text.
* When using FRAMESET, make sure to use TITLE.
* Provide a text-only alternative to audio or video.
Even if you only explain why the user isn't receiving
the information, you will be alleviating some confusion.
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HTML Tip 1
Use only hexadecimal #RGB values for colors. The behavior of named
colors is browser-idiosyncratic and totally unpredictable. |
HTML Tip 2
You can resize your images without a graphics program by changing
the HEIGHT and WIDTH in your image tag. |
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