Missing ALT Tags

[jkruit]

I have a large website and I have this error message somewhere on every page. In common validation errors, it touches on this but it doesn't explain how to fix it. Here is my examples....

Line 35, column 50:
... iceform.html" shape="rect" coords="20, 9, 138, 41"></map><img border=" ...
^
Error: required attribute "ALT" not specified

Line 42, column 50:
... height="50" src="_borders/newlogo.jpg" width="147"></a></p></td>
^
Error: required attribute "ALT" not specified

Line 87, column 50:
... onvo_new.html" shape="circle" coords="116, 85, 53"></map><br><img bord ...

Can someone tell me what I need to do to fix this. I work in FP2000.

Thanks
Janine

[agerhart]

Is that an image map?

Regardless of it is an image map or it is an image, put this in within the current tag:

alt="blah blah blah"

[Brett_Tabke]

Yes, per standard, all images should include alt tags.

[Craig_F]

In FP *right* click on the image.

Then select "Picture Properties" on the menu that pops up.

A dialog box with tabs will pop up.

Click the "General" tab.

In that section you should see a section called "Alternative Representations". Enter some text describing the image where it says "Text:"

[Marshall]

If you don't have anything to say about the image, but still want it to validate, use alt="". Alt tags are primarily for accessibility, but sometimes display when a picture doesn't download.

[papabaer]

I have a large image map on a client's site that depicts members logos in a collage format. I use an alt tag for each to give a brief desciption of the unique services offered by each member. Alt tags are good....

[jkruit]

Thanks for the quick response. I have alt tags on most of my pictures. I just didn't know what alt tag meant. But now that I know, I can fix this.

HOORAY!!!!! - I may actually get a page to validate.

Thanks
Janine

[Purple Martin]

I'll add a bit more to what's already been said.

An alt attribute gives the "tooltip" text that is displayed when you hover your mouse over an image for a couple of seconds. For example, the alt attribute for the Webmaster World Logo at the top left of this screen is "home".

Using alt attributes is a MUST for accessibility: not only is it displayed when the browser has images turned off, it is also spoken out loud by screen readers used by visually impaired people. Given that all sites are legally required to be accessible these days you must always include the alt attribute, and make an effort to give a description of what the image is actually of so that nobody misses out on content (pretend that you're blind yourself - what would you want to know about the image?).

[txbakers]

pretend that you're blind yourself - what would you want to know about the image

Um, if I were blind, how would I know there were images?

[ggrot]

Lol, the browser would read them to you. Also, I don't believe accessibility is legally required unless you are a governmental contractor or something. I've never heard of any company paying fines for failing to use alt tags. Heck, many university home pages dont have a complete set of alt tags.

[luma]

An alt attribute gives the "tooltip" text that is displayed when you hover your mouse over an image for a couple of seconds.

Actually this is a bug. Browsers shouldn't display the alt tag, they should display the title tag. You should use both, alt and title tags on images. Opera gets it right, as does Mozilla I think.

I wrote a short essay about the alt tag a week ago when I came across some stupid alt text examples on ccn's search results:

[schrode.net...]

[jkruit]

I just want ya'll to know, I actually have some valitdated pages now. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Janine

[luma]

jkruit, that's really great!

btw, in-depth information on the alt text can be found at: [ppeph.gla.ac.uk...]

jkruit, want an even more challenging job? Get your pages "Bobby AAA" approved: [bobby.cast.org...]