ISSUE-20

table-headers

Improvements to the table-headers algorithm in the HTML 5 spec

State:

CLOSED

Product:

HTML 5 spec

Raised by:

Dan Connolly

Opened on:

2007-11-21

Description:

The table headers algorithm currently in the HTML 5 spec does not deal with some common table formats without significant additional markup using @scope.

Issue is detailed at:
http://esw.w3.org/topic/HTML/IssueTableHeaders

The algorithm to establish cell-header relationships in the absence of specific scoping for header cells can probably be improved in line with suggestions in the following URLs:

- http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2007Sep/0134.html
- http://projectcerbera.com/blog/2007/11/htmlwg#day09
- http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Mar/0075.html with a sample implementation at http://james.html5.org/tables/table_inspector.html (choose "Smart Headers")
- http://www.whatwg.org/specs/web-apps/current-work/multipage/tabular-data.html#header-and-data-cell-semantics

This issue will also cover aspects previously in Issue 57 (Rasied July 17, 2008 by Joshue O Connor, such as:

- retaining headers/id functionality
- current or backwards compatibility
- grandfathering headers/id into the spec until it can be demonstrated that the HTML5 replacement works better and is in service

Issue first raised May 1, 2007 by Roger Johansson.
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2007May/thread.html#msg12

Request to PFWG to advise on headers attribute debate - May 27, 2007.
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/wai-xtech/2007May/0049.html
PFWG Review and Advice - Al Gilman, June 6, 2007.
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2007Jun/0145.html

Chaals volunteered to make table-headers test cases 
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2009Aug/0535.html

Related Bugs:
5822: The headers attribute should be able to reference a td.
http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=5822
6181: Process table feedback (including headers='" issue)
http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=6181
Bug 7260: Create testsuite for table headers association
http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=7260

Related Actions Items:

• ACTION-67 on Dan Connolly to Propose a test case regarding table headers/id - due 2008-06-26, closed
• ACTION-63 on Michael(tm) Smith to Ensure HTML WG response to 6 Jun 2007 PF WG msg re table headers http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2007Jun/0145.html - due 2008-10-08, closed
• ACTION-84 on Joshue O Connor to Prepare status report on @headers discussion by next week - due 2008-11-19, closed
• ACTION-85 on Ben Millard to compare "Smart Headers" with HTML5 algorithm - due 2008-12-01, closed
• ACTION-87 on Michael(tm) Smith to Ensure Ian Hickson follows up on semantics-tables messages - due 2008-12-20, closed
• ACTION-72 on Sam Ruby to monitor progress of testing re 20 Dec HTML 5 spec draft and test materials from WCAG 2 - due 2009-04-09, closed

Related emails:

1. Re: Testing suggestion: MSAA support (from laura.lee.carlson@gmail.com on 2009-10-22)
2. Issues closed (from mjs@apple.com on 2009-08-20)
3. {agenda} HTML WG telcon 2009-08-20 (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2009-08-19)
4. Re: ISSUE-20: table-headers - suggest closing on 2009-08-20 (from cerbera@projectcerbera.com on 2009-08-15)
5. Old issues - will be closed on 2009-08-20 if there are no objections (from mjs@apple.com on 2009-08-13)
6. ISSUE-20: table-headers - suggest closing on 2009-08-20 (from mjs@apple.com on 2009-08-13)
7. Re: {agenda} HTML WG telcon 2009-08-13 (from cooper@w3.org on 2009-08-12)
8. Re: {agenda} HTML WG telcon 2009-08-13 (from singer@apple.com on 2009-08-12)
9. {agenda} HTML WG telcon 2009-08-13 (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2009-08-12)
10. Regarding closing issues (from mjs@apple.com on 2009-08-11)
11. Re: ISSUE-20: table-headers test cases from Chaals? (was Re: More suggestions for issues to be closed) (from mjs@apple.com on 2009-08-11)
12. Re: ISSUE-20: table-headers test cases from Chaals? (was Re: More suggestions for issues to be closed) (from jgraham@opera.com on 2009-08-11)
13. Re: ISSUE-20: table-headers test cases from Chaals? (was Re: More suggestions for issues to be closed) (from jgraham@opera.com on 2009-08-11)
14. ISSUE-20: table-headers test cases from Chaals? (was Re: More suggestions for issues to be closed) (from laura.lee.carlson@gmail.com on 2009-08-11)
15. More suggestions for issues to be closed (from mjs@apple.com on 2009-08-11)
16. Re: close ISSUE-20 (table-headers) without more testing? wa: Input on the agenda (from chaals@opera.com on 2009-04-25)
17. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-04-06)
18. Re: close ISSUE-20 (table-headers) without more testing? wa: Input on the agenda (from jgraham@opera.com on 2009-04-02)
19. Re: close ISSUE-20 (table-headers) without more testing? wa: Input on the agenda (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-04-02)
20. Re: Input on the agenda (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2009-04-01)
21. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-03-31)
22. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-03-24)
23. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-03-16)
24. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-03-09)
25. minutes: HTML WG Weekly 26 Feb 2009 (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-02-26)
26. minutes: HTML WG Weekly 26 Feb 2009 (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-02-26)
27. Re: Input on the agenda (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-02-23)
28. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-02-23)
29. minutes: HTML WG telecon 2009-02-19 [draft] (from julian.reschke@gmx.de on 2009-02-19)
30. minutes: HTML WG telecon 2009-02-10 [draft] (from oedipus@hicom.net on 2009-02-12)
31. Re: revised table headers design is OK, right? (from chaals@opera.com on 2009-02-11)
32. revised table headers design is OK, right? (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-02-11)
33. minutes: HTML Weekly Teleconference 15 Jan 2009 (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-01-16)
34. Table feedback (from ian@hixie.ch on 2008-12-20)
35. Re: {minutes} HTML WG telcon 2008-11-13 - markup-spec discussion (from cerbera@projectcerbera.com on 2008-11-14)
36. {minutes} HTML WG telcon 2008-11-13 - markup-spec discussion (from mike@w3.org on 2008-11-14)
37. {minutes} 2008-10-23 f2f meeting (day one) (from mike@w3.org on 2008-11-07)
38. function and impacts (was: @scope and @headers reform) (from alfred.s.gilman@ieee.org on 2008-09-14)
39. {minutes} HTML WG telcon 2008-09-04 - html5&xslt, @profile, void elements (from mike@w3.org on 2008-09-05)
40. HTML WG telcon 2008-09-04 - @headers, html5&xslt, @profile (from mike@w3.org on 2008-09-04)
41. Re: Deliverable for Action 72 @headers (from jg307@cam.ac.uk on 2008-08-28)
42. HTML WG telcon 2008-08-28 (from Chris.Wilson@microsoft.com on 2008-08-26)
43. Re: table headers - clear description of problem (from connolly@w3.org on 2008-08-26)
44. Can ISSUE-20 used for your concern over bug 5822? (from soypunk@gmail.com on 2008-07-10)
45. {minutes} HTML WG issue-tracking telcon 2008-06-26 (from mike@w3.org on 2008-07-09)
46. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from rob@robburns.com on 2008-06-27)
47. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from rob@robburns.com on 2008-06-27)
48. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from lhs@malform.no on 2008-06-27)
49. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from connolly@w3.org on 2008-06-26)
50. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from rob@robburns.com on 2008-06-26)
51. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from chaals@opera.com on 2008-06-26)
52. Re: several messages about tables and related subjects (from ian@hixie.ch on 2008-03-23)
53. Re: ISSUE-20 (table-headers): Improvements to the table-headers algorithm in the HTML 5 spec [HTML 5 spec] (from jg307@cam.ac.uk on 2008-01-28)
54. Re: ISSUE-20 (table-headers): Improvements to the table-headers algorithm in the HTML 5 spec [HTML 5 spec] (from jg307@cam.ac.uk on 2007-11-22)
55. Re: ISSUE-20 (table-headers): Improvements to the table-headers algorithm in the HTML 5 spec [HTML 5 spec] (from cerbera@projectcerbera.com on 2007-11-22)
56. ISSUE-20 (table-headers): Improvements to the table-headers algorithm in the HTML 5 spec [HTML 5 spec] (from sysbot+tracker@w3.org on 2007-11-21)

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