Re[7]: Project X

[Iain Harrison <iharrison -at- SCT -dot- CO -dot- UK>]

     In a rather irritated style of writing, Arlen replied:

If an imagemap is the only available navigation tool, then it's a poor
design. Period. The fault is the designer's, not the imagemap's. It's a
poor craftsman who blames his tools.

        I think you'll find that it is a limitation of imagemaps that ALT
        text doesn't work with them. To have to add duplicate links for
        text users spoils the look of the page - it is far better to be
        able to hide the text links in ALT tags for graphics users. This is
        a defect of the tool. The craftsman is only at fault for knowingly
        using a defective tool.

Some people prefer to use imagemaps, and get irritated at long lists of
text. It's the way people are. Some want graphics. Some want text. The only
way to satisfy both camps is to include both.

     No it isn't. You can construct a clickable map by using several
     different small graphics, each with its own ALT text. The visual effect
     is the same, the ALT tags work properly, browsers can use the cached
     pages, and the only feature that is missing is the ability to use
     non-rectangular hotspots.

     For an example of this, have a look at www.windows95.com - a very slow
     site, but one which uses multiple graphics to make 'virtual imagemaps'
     very successfully.

To suggest simply because some customers don't want something that it never
be made available for anyone is a quick way for a business to go under. Web
sites are no different.

     How many customers are really so bothered whether the hotspots are
     rectangular or not? Wouldn't they prefer to be able to see the URL of
     the link the cursor is over, rather than some meaningless number?

     You seem to be advocating complexity with no benefit. Have I missed
     something that imagemaps offer and multiple side-by-side image links
     with ALT tags don't offer?

     Iain

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