HOW TO: Use user functions for better table structure

[Albert Wiersch]

You can use user functions in the Pro+ edition to generate warning messages if a table is missing explicit tags like <tbody>, <thead>, and <tfoot>.

To do this, create a text file (for this example we'll call it 'userfunctions.txt') and copy and paste the follow functions into it:

Code: Select all

function onStartTag_tbody() {
 if !isTagExplicit { MessageEx(5, 2024070100, MSG_WARNING, 'My User Functions', 'Implied <'+CurrentTagName+'> tag before this tag.'); }
}

function onEndTag_table() {
 if !hasChildElement('thead') { MessageEx(5, 2024070101, MSG_WARNING, 'My User Functions', 'No <thead> element found for this table.'); }
 if !hasChildElement('tfoot') { MessageEx(5, 2024070102, MSG_WARNING, 'My User Functions', 'No <tfoot> element found for this table.'); }
}

Next, specify this file (userfunctions.txt) in the Validator Engine Options in the 'Validator Engine > Config File' options page as a 'User functions' file. Press OK and, when asked, be sure to reload the configuration to load and enable the new user functions.

If everything is working correctly then, when appropriate, you should see the new validator warnings in a new message category called 'My User Functions' in the 'Grouped' tab of the Results Window.