Permitted Context: %Body.Content, %flow, %block
and from [2],
DD - Term Definition
Permitted Context: DL
Content Model: %flow
Therefore, a cascaded <DL> is defined, to an entirely arbitrary
number of levels, limited only by the capabilities of the browsing
software.
In the example you give, I presume that we're talking along these
lines:
Computer
An electronic device. Computers usually comprise a number of
distinct components, including a CPU, RAM, ROM and possibly a hard
(or fixed, winchester) disk drive or drives.
CPU
The CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT. The part of a computer which
"thinks", although this is very much an over simplification.
RAM
Random Access Memory. A form of Volatile (non-permanent) data
storage. The Computers RAM is usually cleared when the computer
is turned off.
Personally, I don't much like this. All these terms are being
defined, are definitions in their own right, and have no major
dependence on the preceeding term. I'd prefer to use the <DFN> tag in
the first definition, and somehow refer to a subsequent definition
via that, perhaps
<DL>
<DT>Computer</DT>
<DD><P>An electronic device. Computer usually comprise a number of
distinct components, including a <DFN href="#cpu">CPU</DFN>, RAM, ROM
and possibly a hard (or fixed, winchester) disk drive or drives.</P></DD>
<DT id="cpu">Computer</DT>
<DD><P>The CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT. The part of a computer which
"thinks", although this is very much an over simplification.</P></DD>
</DL>
This would indicate that the term "CPU" in the first definition is in
fact defined elsewhere, and provides a link to that definition
(although you'd probably do this with <DFN> and <A>; DFN doesn't
support the HREF attribute).
Looking at [3], though,
DFN
The <DFN> element indicates the defining instance of a term.
New in 3.0.
It appears that DFN is mean to indicate where a term is defined,
which strikes me as possibly rather odd, since we already have a
definition list mechanism (unless you would like to include perhaps
in a paragraph, a definition, and indicate the term which is defined
there. Since DFN is only character level markup though, it doesn't
seem that useful for this purpose...). I'd just add that my grammar
isn't very good, so I may of misunderstood this sentence :-)
References:
[1] <URL:http://www.hpl.hp.co.uk/people/dsr/html/deflists.html>
[2] <URL:http://www.hpl.hp.co.uk/people/dsr/html/termname.html>
[3] <URL:http://www.hpl.hp.co.uk/people/dsr/html/logical.html>
Regards,
Chris
--
Chris Tilbury, Estates Office, University of Warwick, UK, CV4 7AL
Tel: +44 1203 523523 x2665 Fax: +44 1203 524444
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