Linking external text

Topic

New Reply

Hi,
I figured there may already be information on this or something similar but couldn’t find any…
I am working for a client at the moment who knows nothing about web development or updating etc. and he will need to update 2 pages on the website i have made for him, i currently use a Flash 8 content section that reads from an external text file, but in order to meet accessibility policies a text only version must be included, now, i could just let the user view the text files that are linked into the flash movie, but there are operators that would look messy and they text files are quite long currently. Is there a way to:-
A) Link a text file into html
Allow the user to easily update the site without fear of breaking any code
C) Any other ways around it?

Reply | Quote

Replies

Hi Danny

There are various ways you can do this. My preferred way is longdesc.

If you have person with visual impairment you can use it like this:

sitemap.html can now be picked up by screen readers, if you have flash you can do a similar thing. Have a look at Longdesc and associated posts to get a flavour of what was discussed altvtag also goes on about the string length 79 limitation

You may also hunt the interweb thingy for accessibility and longdesc as this can provide compliancy for screen readers and the visually impaired.

Also some good tips from http://webxact.watchfire.com/%5B/url%5D

Enjoy

Reply | Quote

I have just found one way of doing it, but it leaves a lot to be desired…
this seems to work for me, but i will have to seperate the text files, then i can remove flash all together.
Although… It doesn’t wrap and there can be no formatting…

Reply | Quote

Yep that is a way, personally, I do not like it for the reasons given, but if it does the job go for it.

If you want to go for pure disability and get a thumds up you can use the D link method

D

Screen readers and disabled people will love you as this is the best practice conformity

Personally, I think your iframe method does a job but it may look a bit like a porn site…not that I have ever been to one

Reply | Quote

Ok now i have another way, linking a simple HTML file into the iframe, i don’t know why i didn’t think of it earlier, it solves the wrapping problem and formatting is good, however, i still have a problem, and that is that i don’t want the client to be editing HTML, so, is there a program that will hide the HTML tags, much like microsoft word, i tried using this but it produces far too many tags, but is an option as a last resort.

Reply | Quote

Ok Word is OK, lots of HTML code but they don’t have to see that otherwise have a look at some WYSIWYG in this post: HTML Teacher / Editor / Viewer

I have to say you are in that horrible limbo area that I found myself in a few years back…one of your requirements for this “client” is to get them training or train them with good guidance notes telling them exactly where to type the text. If you don’t want to go that route have a look at the various programmes in the link I have provided.

Reply | Quote

Mucho thankso! was very glad of your help jezza, you always seem to come to my aid, so thanks again! i figure i will use word, as you rightly said, they won’t ever see the code, so no worries, see you soon,

Reply | Quote