Moving The Current Focus On A Web Page With Frames Using JavaScript?

[Craig Bates]

Hi all

I am designing a website for disabled football supporters and because
of this, I obviously must consider accessibility to blind users whilst
I am producing it - as they are one of the disability groups that I am
targeting the page at.

The page basically consists of two frames; one being a vertical list
of links positioned on the left hand side of the screen and the other
being the main content pane, positioned in the remaining area of the
screen on the right of the first frame. The first frame is used to
drive the content of the second frame.

Now, I'm not sure if this is possible in JavaScript, or indeed in
another scripting language, but what I want to do is to be able to
alter the current focus or caret? on a web page when a link is
clicked. That is, when the user selects a link from the left hand
frame, then the new content is loaded into the right and the current
focus jumps straight to this new information, as opposed to having to
tab through all the same links again in order to put the focus there.

I know this is only a fiddly little thing but it is something that
would really improve the usability of the site, especially with screen
readers in mind.

Any help gratefully received.

Craig Bates

 

[rf]

Hi all

I am designing a website for disabled football supporters and because
of this, I obviously must consider accessibility to blind users whilst
I am producing it - as they are one of the disability groups that I am
targeting the page at.

The page basically consists of two frames; one being a vertical list
of links positioned on the left hand side of the screen and the other
being the main content pane, positioned in the remaining area of the
screen on the right of the first frame. The first frame is used to
drive the content of the second frame.

Now, I'm not sure if this is possible in JavaScript, or indeed in
another scripting language, but what I want to do is to be able to
alter the current focus or caret? on a web page when a link is
clicked. That is, when the user selects a link from the left hand
frame, then the new content is loaded into the right and the current
focus jumps straight to this new information, as opposed to having to
tab through all the same links again in order to put the focus there.

I know this is only a fiddly little thing but it is something that
would really improve the usability of the site, especially with screen
readers in mind.

Don't you consider the use of frames a serious accessibilty issue to start
with? Many other people do.

Cheers
Richard.

 

[kaeli]

Don't you consider the use of frames a serious accessibilty issue to start
with? Many other people do.

Yes, frames are nearly impossible for the special browsers that blind
people use to interpret properly.
As are tables for layout.

There's a bunch of articles on the subject.

Browsers for the visually impaired can only do so much, at least at the
moment.

-------------------------------------------------
~kaeli~
All I ask for is the chance to prove that money
cannot make me happy.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace
-------------------------------------------------

 

[Ivo]

Yes, frames are nearly impossible for the special browsers that blind
people use to interpret properly.
As are tables for layout.

There's a bunch of articles on the subject.

Browsers for the visually impaired can only do so much, at least at the
moment.

-------------------------------------------------
~kaeli~
All I ask for is the chance to prove that money
cannot make me happy.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace
-------------------------------------------------

For accessibility's sake, forget frames, and forget scripting too. Perhaps
the accesskey attribute can do the job. These special browsers may have
other tricks.

<a href="#here" name="here" accesskey=h>Press Alt+H to focus me.</a>

Ivo