Invalid XHTML being generated by some Telerik Controls

[Ken Lassesen]

I'm in the midst of ensuring XHTML compliance against the validator at: http://validator.w3.org (the definitive validator IMHO).

The following is being correctly identifed as being invalid:

<div id="ctl00_MainContent_AlertsCardGrid" class="RadGrid RadGrid_Office2007">
<!-- 2009.3.1314.35 --><table cellspacing="0" accesskey="T" . . .



Access key is NOT VALID on a <table> element.

I have done a workaround for this issue by using a <a> element. One possible correct solution is shown below


<div id="ctl00_MainContent_AlertsCardGrid" class="RadGrid RadGrid_Office2007">
<!-- 2009.4.1914.35 --><a accesskey="T" name="AccountSummaryGrid"></a>
<table cellspacing="0" . . .




This issue is in other Telerik Controls (and rampant in Microsoft's AspNet Control!)
"

The following elements support the accesskey attribute: A, AREA, BUTTON, INPUT, LABEL, and LEGEND, and TEXTAREA."
from http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/interact/forms.html#h-17.11.2. Placing it on ANY OTHER ELEMENTS will cause the page to fail validation.

[Dimo]

Hi Ken,

We can consider implementing a similar approach out-of-the-box if there is a high-enough demand for it. Out of curiosity, why do you need an access key for RadGrid? There is some debate in the online community whether access keys should be used at all - are you aware of the pros and cons? If you need it for easy in-page navigation, an alternative (and valid) approach is to use the RadGrid ID as an anchor.

<a href="#grid_id">go to grid</a>


Best wishes,
Dimo
the Telerik team

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[Ken Lassesen]

Access keys are there if you want to get through strict Section 508 certifications (thus devs discussing them is really a moot point).

Look at the official US Gov web site:

• http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/software-tutorial.htm
• http://cita.disability.uiuc.edu/html-best-practices/standards/sect508.php

etc.

I'm involved in architecting and implementing ISV applications for educational institutions and thus getting 508 certification is a requirement.

A few blogs of mine

• http://www.31a2ba2a-b718-11dc-8314-0800200c9a66.com/2010/02/planning-for-web-accessibility.html
• http://www.31a2ba2a-b718-11dc-8314-0800200c9a66.com/2010/03/robust-set-of-html-access-key.html

As you your question, If there happen to be two GRIDS on a page, then assigning an accesskey (IF THE PROPERTY IS THERE THEY WILL USE IT -- so IMHO, if it is there it should not result in INVALID HTML)

If you remove the AccessKey from Telerik, that is also a sweet solution ---- My issue is having members of my C# team use it (naive about a lot of HTML stuff) and it being defected by an external 508 reviewer -- so we have to rework, resubmit (with repay) to get pass the reviewer.

[Dimo]

Hello Ken,

I don't see how Section 508 requires you to set AccessKey to the RadGrid control - can you please clarify? The control has this property but it is inherited by the ASP.NET framework. I am afraid that removing or reworking all ASP.NET properties, which are obsolete or render invalid HTML markup would be an overhead.

Best wishes,
Dimo
the Telerik team

Do you want to have your say when we set our development plans? Do you want to know when a feature you care about is added or when a bug fixed? Explore the Telerik Public Issue Tracking system and vote to affect the priority of the items.