Re: lynx-dev ALT ignored on <input type=button>

[Greg Marr]

At 05:01 PM 1/20/99 , you wrote:
>On Wed, 20 Jan 1999, Greg Marr wrote:
>
>> >> Although <INPUT TYPE=BUTTON... is only meaningful for script enabled 
>> >> browsers, Lynx displays [BUTTON} even when there is an ALT parameter.
>> >> 
>> >> Lynx Version 2.8.1dev.16, Win32.
>> >> 
>> >> <input type=button value="Find/Next" alt=""
>> >>     tabindex="33"
>> >>     onClick="search_description ('p5a', this.form.p5s, true);">
>> >
>> >ALT is an attribute of the IMG element.
>> 
>> <!ATTLIST INPUT
>>   alt         CDATA          #IMPLIED  -- short description --
>>   ^^^
>> and of Input.
>
>Although HTML 4.0 says that ALT is an attribute of IMG, APPLET, AREA and
>INPUT, ALT is always associated with an image. Without an image, as in the
>example given by David, there is no place for ALT. HTML 4.0 clearly says
>that "the alt attribute specifies alternate text that is rendered when the
>image cannot be displayed" and that "authors that create a BUTTON with an
>IMG element should specify alternate text for the image".

While it is correct that ALT has no meaning in this case, it is not because of
ALT is not an attribute of INPUT, as was implied by "ALT is an attribute of the
IMG element".  It is because ALT is only meaningful for TYPE=SUBMIT.  I really
don't see the use of displaying [BUTTON] at all.  The VALUE attribute of the
BUTTON is what is supposed to be displayed on the button, and you can't do
anything with a [BUTTON] in lynx.  Anyone remember when/why that was added?  I
haven't been able to find anything useful in the archives.

--
Greg Marr
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"We thought you were dead." 
"I was, but I'm better now." - Sheridan, "The Summoning"