Promoting a paragraph

[Peter C. Gorman]

Hello,

I'm in complete agreement with Tom Dowling's suggestions (we standards
bigots have to stick together, after all!). In this and similar threads,
there seems to be an assumption that a specific design effect (in this
case, a hanging indent) is an absolute prerequisite that must be attained
for everyone at all costs. If that is indeed the case, then HTML is the
wrong tool - you should be using PDF or some graphics format. I can think
of two examples where this is clearly motivated: reproducing an existing
item, like a book, where the physical appearance is important to retain, or
with legal documents like tax forms.

The fact that a given HTML page displays differently on different devices
and with different software is a strength, not a shortcoming - it was
designed that way. Style sheets go a long way toward addressing folks'
legitimate design concerns while adhering to both the spirit and the letter
of HTML/SGML standards. As Tom pointed out, they also accomplish this in a
way that should not interfere with browsers that don't support them.


PG
_______________________________
Peter C. Gorman
University of Wisconsin
General Library System
Automation Services
pcgorman at facstaff.wisc.edu
(608) 265-5291