imagemap problem in NCSA httpd?

[Bob Long]

At 07:57 AM 11/7/96 -0800, Thomas Dowling wrote:
>Greetings--
>
>Our main web site is running NCSA httpd 1.5.2, and has a couple of
>server-side image maps in use.  I have gotten a number of comments from
>people that clicking on parts of an image occasionally takes them to the
>wrong document.  I have seen this behavior myself, but cannot replicate it
>consistently.  I have checked and double-checked my map files to make sure
>that they cover the whole image and cannot find any problem there.  I also
>never heard of any problems when we were on httpd 1.5.
>
>Does anyone know if the imagemap CGI program in 1.5.2 has a reputation for
>bugginess?  Or httpd 1.5.2 itself?

Thomas:

I don't know about 1.5.2 but earlier versions of NCSA httpd did have an
"unusual feature." Maybe it persists. ?????
        When a coordinate is selected, imagemap starts at the top of the map
file and works its way down. If it finds a point match it goes to that URL,
if no exact match is found it goes to the CLOSEST point URL (this may be
what your users are experiencing). Otherwise it goes to the default URL.
Weird, eh?         Essentially, default directives are useless since you
can't effectively use both, and what good is a map file without the point
directives?
        I would suggest going to client-side maps. They are much easier to
setup, they load faster since the map information loads along with the rest
of the page. And it doesn't have to go out to the server, launch a program,
then read the map file.
        Netscape versions 2.0 and above can handle client-side maps. Not
sure about IE 2.0, but 3.0 is certainly capable.
        If you're really worried about some browsers not being able to
handle it, just add some text links somewhere on the page. Actually works okay.
        Hope this helps.

Bob