The DIR element represents a list of short items, typically up to
20 characters each. Most browsers implement this element exactly the
same as an unordered list while a few others arrange the data
in columns across the screen. The only content of this list
structure is the <li> (list item)
element. As with other list elements, the closing
</li> tag is optional in HTML (Required
in XHTML), as it is implied by the subsequent <li>
or end </dir> tags.
Description:
This attribute helps an author in situations with floating objects (images,
tables, etc.) produced through the Left and
Right ALIGN attributes. It allows content to stop being
flowed around the floated element.
Values: None
[DEFAULT - No special line breaking
effects are applied relative to the floating element.] Left [breaks line after this element
and moves down vertically until the left margin is clear of floated objects.] Right [breaks line after this element
and moves down vertically until the right margin is clear of floated objects.] All [breaks line after this element
and moves down vertically until both margins are clear of floated objects.]
Compact
[2|3|3.2|4]
[X1|X1.1]
[IE|M|N|O]
Standards Details:
Deprecated in HTML 4.x/XHTML 1.0. Dropped in XHTML 1.1.
Required? No
Description:
This is a stand alone attribute flag that indicates a compact rendering be used
if possible, possibly because the list items are small or the entire list is large.
Description:
This is an SGML Document Access
(SDA) attribute. SDA attributes are designed to transform HTML (and
other SGML-based documents) to the ICADD
DTD - which is used in creating accessible documents for users with
visual disabilities (rendering in Braille, large print, speech
synthesis, etc.) The attribute value specifies the name of the element
to convert this element to in the SDA element group (in this case the
'List' element - "list of items".) SDA also allows attributes and values
from the original element to be used in the new SDA element where necessary.
Description:
This is an SGML Document Access
(SDA) attribute. SDA attributes are designed to transform HTML (and
other SGML-based documents) to the ICADD
DTD - which is used in creating accessible documents for users with
visual disabilities (rendering in Braille, large print, speech
synthesis, etc.) The attribute value specifies content to be added
BEFORE the original element content (in this case the string
"<LHead>Directory</LHead>") when the SDA document is rendered.
Description:
This attribute is used to indicate a number other than
"1" to use in incrementing the list
structure when it is set to a numeric list type. Values are
automatically converted to the TYPE attribute, if present.
Description:
The TYPE attribute indicates different marker schemes to be
used instead of the default.
Values: none [no marker is used] A [capital letters] a [lower-case letters] I [large roman numerals] i [small roman numerals] upper-alpha [capital letters] lower-alpha [lower-case letters] upper-roman [large roman numerals] lower-roman [small roman numerals] decimal [integer numbering] disc [default solid bullet] square [solid square] circle [hollow bullet] round [hollow bullet]
Common implementation of this element is exactly the same as a UL
list. As such, there is little need for the DIR element (indeed, it has
been dropped from XHTML 1.1)
None of the popular browsers have yet implemented the DIR list as a
multi-column listing in the way the specifications originally intended.
Netscape added an element called MULTICOL in its 4.x release which is
similar to the "ideal" behavior for DIR, but it was dropped
in Netscape 6+.
DTD Note: The HTML 3.0 DTD also listed DIR and MENU
as deprecated elements (this is why the common attributes are missing
support in HTML 3.0)
Browser Peculiarities
[Test]
Internet Explorer, Mosaic and Netscape do not make a distinction in
display between a UL and a DIR list.
[Test]
All browsers have major problems with roman numeral counting and
marker rendering, but only Netscape 4+ allows roman numerals to be
used for this list structure. See the Browser
Peculiarities section of the OL element for more details on this.