SECTION V. Web Publications Conventions
F. Use of HTML
STANDARDS:
1. Whenever possible, UWRF departments/offices should publish all text in HTML.
Explanation:
Publishing all information in HTML eliminates the need for additional software. Many users may be unauthorized or too uncomfortable to download and install new software, or they may encounter installation problems or software conflicts. In addition, the alternative formats – audio or video files without text equivalents and PDF files – are inaccessible to users who are hearing-impaired or blind. For accessibility, video or audio files should have an explanation for how they may be obtained in text format.
2. UWRF Web pages must use HTML mark up tags properly. Departments/offices should use the officially sanctioned HTML tags as established by the W3C [www.w3.org]
to promote consistency and accessibility across all Web sites.
Specifically:
- Avoid the misuse of tags to convey formatting.
- Avoid using images to represent text; use text and style sheets instead.
- When needed, use tables for layout as long as the screen readers used by the visually impaired can accurately translate the information. Note that screen readers read table information across the screen, from left to right.
Common errors to be avoided:
- Paragraph break errors (Using a paragraph tag before a heading or list can cause unnecessary white space in your document.)
- Missing quotes in links (Links that don't work can be the result of a missing quote mark in the link specification. The quote marks are small and easy to overlook in a long reference.)
- Missing end tags (Some HTML tags are opening and closing pairs. Leaving out one or the other will result in strange looking documents. Using an HTML editor can be a great help in avoiding this mistake.)
It is a good practice to use two or more browsers to review and test your pages. Control varies from one browser to another. Using at least two will give you an idea of what your readers may be seeing. (See Section V, Q: “Usability by various browsers/versions/ technologies,” below.)
Explanation:
Using HTML tags (e.g., headings, lists, blockquotes, tables, etc.) to achieve desired formatting effects on a Web page relies on how a particular browser interprets the tags. Misusing tags or using them incorrectly can confuse the organization of a page, hinder navigation, and/or prevent accessibility.
