TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: HTML, ASCII, and Homesite From:"Walker, Arlen P" <Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 4 Jan 1999 15:58:30 -0600
"When characters above ASCII 127 are entered, convert them to their
corresponding entity name...."
The software kept changing my — to — .
I have a few questions:
What is an "entity" ??
An "entity," in this case, is a specific HTML code. "—" will tell the
browser that an emdash is required at this point.
Why would this option be "on" by default? What advantages are there to
using "entities" vs. ASCII code?
Readability, for one. There is no such thing as ASCII above 127. The
standard doesn't exist in that region. When the code 210 produces the same
letter on two different systems, it is the result of a happy accident, and
as soon as the designers involved discover it They Will Take Steps. Since
you most likely can't control what font the viewer is using to view your
page, you shouldn't rely on features that are font-specific, such as what
character is produced by codes above 127.
How am I supposed to make pages that are multiple-browser-friendly
when I can't even get a consistent display in a company where everyone
has the same browser (albeit different versions)???
Welcome to the wonderful world of Web Design. Now, pick up that tea
strainer and help me bail!
Every version of every browser introduces new bugs in how pages look.
Occasionally, they fix bugs in previous versions, but that's so uncommon
that it can't be intentional; the old bug only gets fixed because the new
bug they're trying to introduce you to required it.
(Somehow, I'm not surprised that someone from Calgary is a barrel-racer.
How many times you been in the Stampede?)
Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 224
Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- Com
----------------------------------------------
In God we trust; all others must provide data.
----------------------------------------------
Opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.
If JCI had an opinion on this, they'd hire someone else to deliver it.
