Tables and HTML+

Dave_Raggett <dsr@hplb.hpl.hp.com>
From: Dave_Raggett <dsr@hplb.hpl.hp.com>
Message-id: <9305101703.AA06581@manuel.hpl.hp.com>
Subject: Tables and HTML+
To: raisch@ora.com
Date: Mon, 10 May 93 18:03:42 BST
Cc: dale@ora.com, www-talk@nxoc01.cern.ch
Mailer: Elm [revision: 66.36.1.1]
Rob,

I was hoping you could give me the benefit of the views of O'Reilly and
Associates on some features that we could put into the extended standard for
HTML. In particular, I would like some input on how much information is
needed to specify tables.

It seems to me that tables can be characterised as follows:

    o   tables consist of headers, rows and columns

    o   tables often have dividing lines (single and double lines)

    o   alignment of cell data, e.g. left, right, on decimal point, ...

    o   tables can be nested (breaking a cell up into a nested table)

How important do you guys think it is to give the author detailed control
over things like dividing lines and cell alignment?

I would be very interested if you have any thoughts as to how HTML should
handle tables and the level of detail to aim for. We want to keep HTML
reasonably simple while hitting most peoples needs. As experienced publishers
of technical material where do you think we should take HTML?

Many thanks,

Dave Raggett