[ic] interchange html4 validation problems

[Murray Gibbins]

Mike Heins wrote:

> Virtually every existing CGI program uses ampersand to separate parameters,
> as that was defined in the original CGI spec.
> 
> This is actually quite absurd of the HTML4 validation suite.
> It of course doesn't have anything to do with mv_pc=.... -- it would
> apply to any URL generated by Interchange -- or Google -- or just
> about anyone. So in order to comply with their validation suite, they
> are saying that the thousands of existing CGI programs should be modified --
> instead of building in a switch which says "ignore this".
> 
> We won't be complying with HTML 4 in this way any time soon. If ever.

It seems strange to me that in previous releases of minivend you have correct
URL html syntax. 
You were compliant then why not now? I was talking to Mr.Tweedie in the pub last
night about this too. Maybe this needs to be brought to the attention of /. or
someone else even higher up in RH.

It is likely that this change from "&" would not require a lot of effort, a
couple of small changes in the libraries.

But if you must be non compliant with agreed HTML standards can you at least
state this in your release notes? Something along the lines of ...

"Although we make every effort to adhere to internationally agreed standards of
HTML we at interchange ( i.e. RedHat) don't care about them enough to bother".
 
Otherwise people in the UK are going to get into trouble. It is now the law here
that public sites ( i.e. shopping sites) be accessible to the disabled. This,
more often than not requires valid html to pass the "bobby" test.

I would be happy to discuss in private with your team a course of action to make
interchange compliant.


Yours
Murray

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