ISSUE-20: Improvements to the table-headers algorithm in the HTML 5 spec

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:
Related emails:
  1. {minutes} HTML WG telecon 2012-05-31 - issues, straw poll, re-open request, W3C system outage (from glenn@skynav.com on 2012-05-31)
  2. {minutes} HTML WG telecon 2012-04-19: issues, decisions, TF reports, Change Proposal reviews (from glenn@skynav.com on 2012-04-19)
  3. Re: ISSUE-92 Change Proposal (from shelley.just@gmail.com on 2010-03-31)
  4. Re: ISSUE-92 Change Proposal (from laura.lee.carlson@gmail.com on 2010-03-31)
  5. Re: Testing suggestion: MSAA support (from laura.lee.carlson@gmail.com on 2009-10-22)
  6. Issues closed (from mjs@apple.com on 2009-08-20)
  7. {agenda} HTML WG telcon 2009-08-20 (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2009-08-19)
  8. Re: ISSUE-20: table-headers - suggest closing on 2009-08-20 (from cerbera@projectcerbera.com on 2009-08-15)
  9. Old issues - will be closed on 2009-08-20 if there are no objections (from mjs@apple.com on 2009-08-13)
  10. ISSUE-20: table-headers - suggest closing on 2009-08-20 (from mjs@apple.com on 2009-08-13)
  11. Re: {agenda} HTML WG telcon 2009-08-13 (from cooper@w3.org on 2009-08-12)
  12. Re: {agenda} HTML WG telcon 2009-08-13 (from singer@apple.com on 2009-08-12)
  13. {agenda} HTML WG telcon 2009-08-13 (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2009-08-12)
  14. Regarding closing issues (from mjs@apple.com on 2009-08-11)
  15. 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)
  16. 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)
  17. 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)
  18. 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)
  19. More suggestions for issues to be closed (from mjs@apple.com on 2009-08-11)
  20. Re: close ISSUE-20 (table-headers) without more testing? wa: Input on the agenda (from chaals@opera.com on 2009-04-25)
  21. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-04-06)
  22. Re: close ISSUE-20 (table-headers) without more testing? wa: Input on the agenda (from jgraham@opera.com on 2009-04-02)
  23. Re: close ISSUE-20 (table-headers) without more testing? wa: Input on the agenda (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-04-02)
  24. Re: Input on the agenda (from rubys@intertwingly.net on 2009-04-01)
  25. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-03-31)
  26. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-03-24)
  27. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-03-16)
  28. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-03-09)
  29. minutes: HTML WG Weekly 26 Feb 2009 (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-02-26)
  30. minutes: HTML WG Weekly 26 Feb 2009 (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-02-26)
  31. Re: Input on the agenda (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-02-23)
  32. Input on the agenda (from ian@hixie.ch on 2009-02-23)
  33. minutes: HTML WG telecon 2009-02-19 [draft] (from julian.reschke@gmx.de on 2009-02-19)
  34. minutes: HTML WG telecon 2009-02-10 [draft] (from oedipus@hicom.net on 2009-02-12)
  35. Re: revised table headers design is OK, right? (from chaals@opera.com on 2009-02-11)
  36. revised table headers design is OK, right? (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-02-11)
  37. minutes: HTML Weekly Teleconference 15 Jan 2009 (from connolly@w3.org on 2009-01-16)
  38. Table feedback (from ian@hixie.ch on 2008-12-20)
  39. Re: {minutes} HTML WG telcon 2008-11-13 - markup-spec discussion (from cerbera@projectcerbera.com on 2008-11-14)
  40. {minutes} HTML WG telcon 2008-11-13 - markup-spec discussion (from mike@w3.org on 2008-11-14)
  41. {minutes} 2008-10-23 f2f meeting (day one) (from mike@w3.org on 2008-11-07)
  42. function and impacts (was: @scope and @headers reform) (from alfred.s.gilman@ieee.org on 2008-09-14)
  43. {minutes} HTML WG telcon 2008-09-04 - html5&xslt, @profile, void elements (from mike@w3.org on 2008-09-05)
  44. HTML WG telcon 2008-09-04 - @headers, html5&xslt, @profile (from mike@w3.org on 2008-09-04)
  45. Re: Deliverable for Action 72 @headers (from jg307@cam.ac.uk on 2008-08-28)
  46. HTML WG telcon 2008-08-28 (from Chris.Wilson@microsoft.com on 2008-08-26)
  47. Re: table headers - clear description of problem (from connolly@w3.org on 2008-08-26)
  48. Can ISSUE-20 used for your concern over bug 5822? (from soypunk@gmail.com on 2008-07-10)
  49. {minutes} HTML WG issue-tracking telcon 2008-06-26 (from mike@w3.org on 2008-07-09)
  50. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from rob@robburns.com on 2008-06-27)
  51. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from rob@robburns.com on 2008-06-27)
  52. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from lhs@malform.no on 2008-06-27)
  53. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from connolly@w3.org on 2008-06-26)
  54. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from rob@robburns.com on 2008-06-26)
  55. Re: @headers on th too or just td? (from chaals@opera.com on 2008-06-26)
  56. Re: several messages about tables and related subjects (from ian@hixie.ch on 2008-03-23)
  57. 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)
  58. 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)
  59. 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)
  60. 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)

Related notes:

Resolved by changes to the spec to make <th>/<td> association cleverer.

Ian Hickson, 23 Mar 2008, 19:31:00

http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Aug/0521.html

Joshue O Connor, 22 Aug 2008, 17:27:37

http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Aug/0541.html

Joshue O Connor, 22 Aug 2008, 17:30:08

http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Aug/0561.html

Joshue O Connor, 22 Aug 2008, 17:30:50

moving back to OPEN based on:

"There is a lot of feedback on the table issue that hasn't yet been
considered"
-- Ian Hickson Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:27:06 +0000
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Aug/0760.html

Dan Connolly, 26 Aug 2008, 13:51:52

Action 72 Deliverable:
http://esw.w3.org/topic/HTML/Action72Headers

Discussion on public-html for Deliverable for Action 72 @headers
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Aug/thread.html#msg518
table headers - clear description of problem
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Aug/thread.html#msg679
@headers issue resolved
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Aug/thread.html#msg901

Previous teleconf discussions:
28 Aug 2008 meeting:
http://www.w3.org/2008/08/28-html-wg-minutes.html
17 July 2008 meeting (Rough IRC Teleconf minutes only):
http://krijnhoetmer.nl/irc-logs/html-wg/20080717#l-394
7 July 2008 meeting:
http://www.w3.org/2008/07/10-html-wg-minutes.html#item06

Bug Report 5822:
http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=5822

Testing (summer 2008):
http://esw.w3.org/topic/HTML/TableHeadersTestingBug5822

Previous Testing:
http://esw.w3.org/topic/HTML/TableAccessibility

@headers Issue History:
http://esw.w3.org/topic/HTML/IssueTableHeaders

@headers has been an issue since May 2007
http://esw.w3.org/topic/HTML/IssueTableHeaders#head-bac4baeb0cd0ea09b7f76ff9c409740257566408

Joshue O Connor, 8 Sep 2008, 13:52:57

Mozilla Bugzilla -- "Headers and id attributes in tables still not supported for screen readers":
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=441445

Shawn Medero, 23 Oct 2008, 14:35:49

Wiki updated - Laura Carlson, September 26, 2008.
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Sep/0476.html
http://esw.w3.org/topic/HTML/IssueTableHeaders

Wiki update announced at teleconference - Laura Carlson, October 2, 2008.
http://krijnhoetmer.nl/irc-logs/html-wg/20081002#l-259

Call for Wiki page review - Al Gilman, October 4, 2008.
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Oct/0006.html

Headers discussion at Face-2-Face Meeting - HTMLWG/PFWG Joint Session,
October 23, 2008.
http://esw.w3.org/topic/HTML/TableHeadersF2FDiscussion2008
http://krijnhoetmer.nl/irc-logs/html-wg/20081023#l-2191
http://www.w3.org/2008/10/23-html-wg-minutes.html

Joshue O Connor, 3 Nov 2008, 14:26:06

"(Table) header cells can now themselves have @headers" -- Dec 20, 2008: http://lists.whatwg.org/htdig.cgi/commit-watchers-whatwg.org/2008/001721.html

Shawn Medero, 29 Jan 2009, 16:46:45

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