i am a camera

In the first two installments of this three-part series, I set the goal of producing valid Strict XHTML, then discussed the problems and pitfalls that lead to non-validating websites. I explained that a content repository containing non-valid XHTML is the cause of most non-validating sites. I called out two pathways that allowed non-validating XHTML to enter the repository as the first two enemies of non-validating Strict XHTML.

In the first part of this three-part series, I outlined the scope of the series. It begins with the goal of valid Strict XHTML and states that the reason so many sites don't produce valid Strict XHTML is because their content repositories are contaminated with non-validating content, generated primarily by end users and content producers.

Microsoft of late seems to be catching the XHTML validity bug. The marketing buzz surrounding its latest online publishing title, Expression Web, spouts XHTML validity nearly every other sentence. Visual Studio 2005 as well touts XHTML validity as a goal and feature. That's a great start, but neither product is a silver bullet to creating valid Strict XHTML sites. What pitfalls are there that we need to watch out for? What are the enemies of XHTML valid sites?

Okay, I'm guilty of some poor programming practices on occasion. Specifically and recently, I used exception processing as a means of input validation. I used the System.Convert.ToInt32(string) method to validate whether an input was numeric or not.

But there goes Scott again, bringing to light my less than stellar habits. So I'll throw this open to the four or five of you listening. Help me create an improved IsInt32() method.

Pngfix.htc seems to be squishing my png images. It's quite obvious when reloading sometimes because the png will show in its correct size, then shrink (I assume) as the behavior code is loaded and invoked.

What's pngfix.htc?

It's a script that is called from a CSS file that allows support for PNG alpha transparency in IE5.5 and IE6. I don't invoke any transparency on this site (currently) but the script is a standard feature of every (will be a standard feature of every) Vine Type website.

Milan's website desires to "promote both ASP.NET and web standards." That's just about sums up my core interests as well. I came across this site less than a week ago, but I can tell that this is one worth watching.

I enjoy this site because Milan's mix of design and development are right in alignment with my own. I enjoy his articles and the tools he shares. The writing style is informative and substantive.