Lynx Use

[C Eric Tull]

Lynx is important.  A recent stat indicated that 15% of our users at 
the University of Calgary Library selected the non-graphical option 
on our home page.  Visually-impaired students have told me that 
lynx access is important to them.

I would like to see non-graphical alternatives when graphical pages
are unreadable in lynx.  As far as tables are concerned, I have 
found that some tricks in building the table will give a reasonably 
acceptable page in lynx, and thereby avoid the hassle of keeping two 
frequently changing pages up-to-date and in-synch.  

By putting <h4> level headers within a <td> element or by 
ending the item within the <td> with a <br>  you can get each table 
item as a separate line in lynx.  With some further trial and error
you can put more white space between the table lines than between the 
items on a table line, and you can get some limited indentation.

The result is not great, but I think it is acceptable, and it sure beats
the jumble that most tables are when viewed with lynx.  As an example,
look at   http://www.ucalgary.ca/library/gateway/alphindex.html  with
both Netscape and lynx.

It won't work for all tables, but it is worth a try.

Eric Tull
University of Calgary Library