Putting the MAP in an external file would be great for older brain dead
browsers but it would make the savvy ones do 2 connections/retrievals
needlessly. Since that extra connect/retrieval can be saved by putting the
MAP(s) into the HEADer then Id say thats a better way to implement it.
(Thats not to say that supporting MAPs in external files should be poo-poo'd,
they can be quite useful for 'shared' maps).
My take on the description of both MAP and AREA is that there is nothing
preventing them from being placed _anywhere_ in the document. Since MAP only
contains AREAs and AREAs are not containers, there is no real hard reason to
place MAPs in the HEADer. A browser that wont grok MAP & AREA wont have
anything to render... Still, if it would give everyone warm fuzzies I can go
either way.
Bruce
INet: Bruce_Kahn@iris.com