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While registering for a click-use licence on the UK OPSI website I was presented with this gem, see if you can spot the mistake:
<p>We publish a list of Licence Holders on our
website. However, to comply with data protection
legislation we do not show details of private
individuals without their consent.</p>
<label class='checkbox' for='listpublic'>Please tick
the box if you have no objections to your name and
address details appearing on our website:</label>
<input class='checkbox' type='checkbox'
name='listpublic' id='listpublic' checked='checked'
disabled='disabled' />
The input to opt out of being listed, and thus be compliant with the UK Data Protection Act, has the disabled attribute, which disables the use of the checkbox completely. You're signed up whether you like it or not.
Let's see what the W3C HTML spec says about use of the disabled attribute:
"In contexts where user input is either undesirable or irrelevant, it is important to be able to disable a control or render it read-only..."
Genius. :)
by Stephen Stewart
18-Jun-08
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Next to this checkbox issue, the p-in-p is against any W3C specs, too. So, what’s my prize? ;)
datenkind
5-Jul-08 18:08
To offer an explanation about the "disabled" data protection check-box on Click-Use. We're not quite as mad as you suggest!
This control is disabled in the case where somebody registers for a Click-Use licence on behalf of an organisation, but is enabled for private individuals, thus facilitating the opt-out from publication in the list of licence holders.
Regarding the nested p's. The page referred to correctly validates as XHTML Transitional 1.0, with no HTML errors or warnings. The extract above misquotes the code on the page, which in fact has no nested p's.
John Sheridan
Head of e-Services
Office of Public Sector Information
John Sheridan
17-Jul-08 11:48
Apologies, the nested p's is something I've clearly introduced when copying over the source. They're now removed from this post.
Still not sure why you'd present a disabled checkbox in this case, perhaps there was some part of the page I misread? Should it not simply remove the option to opt-out if you're an organisation? Or at least explain what's going on in the context of that form element?
A checked and disabled checkbox seems redundant and confusing to me.
Stephen Stewart
17-Jul-08 12:15