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Groups > comp.sys.mac.system > #68392

Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac

From Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com>
Newsgroups comp.sys.mac.system
Subject Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac
Date 2015-01-14 01:10 +0000
Organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Pirates
Message-ID <chlu0lFsmk7U1@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References <2015011307565647215-tomevans9890@yahoo.ca> <140120150904095929%YourName@YourISP.com> <barmar-79AC90.16015013012015@88-209-239-213.giganet.hu> <140120151327017800%YourName@YourISP.com>

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On 2015-01-14, Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:
>
> If you build the website properly, then it will work in every sensible
> web browser, and for the most part even in Internet Explorer as well.
> The issues start when you try to do fancy, usually unnecessary, things
> that only work in Internet Explorer (which seems especially prevalent
> in Government websites!).

If only that were the case. Any web developer worth his salt knows that
IE does things in such wrong ways that often you have to write
special-case code just to make web pages that work in most other web
browsers work properly with IE. Here's just one small example (and there
are plenty more where this came from):

Anyone familiar with web development will recognize the <button> element
(here's a sample shortened a bit for brevity):

<button type="submit" name="operation" value="print">
	<span class="ui-icon-print"></span>
	<span class="ui-button-text">Print</span>
</button>

Notice that the button element in the example above has a "name"
attribute set to "operation" and a "value" attribute set to "print".
When this button is clicked inside of a form container element, most
sane web browsers will send a parameter named "operation" with the value
"print" to the form processing CGI, which allows the CGI to process the
button correctly based on those attrivutes.

It turns out, Microsoft, in their ongoing all-out war on web developer
productivity, decided that rather than sending the "value" attribute to
the CGI, they would instead send the entire inner HTML content of the
button element. And to top it off, Internet Explorer ignores the value
attribute altogether! 

So from the example above, this is what most sane browsers send to the
CGI:

operation: print

And this is what Internet Explorer decides to send to the CGI instead:

operation: <span class="ui-icon-print"></span><span
class="ui-button-text">Print</span>

Note the lack of the value attribute and the useless inner HTML. Why?
Who knows! It makes no sense to any sane person, and is completely
useless to web developers. But hey, isn't it nice of Microsoft to try to
keep us on our toes?  : )

Not only has this problem been with us since Internet Explorer version 6
(yes, SIX) - the problem is still around in Internet Explorer version 8!
I haven't bothered since he last time I looked to see if newer versions
have fixed this, but I'm not holding my breath.

Anyhow, there are tons of articles from frustrated web developers about
this particular issue, some with rather interesting work-around
solutions:

<http://allinthehead.com/retro/330/coping-with-internet-explorers-mishandling-of-buttons>

In the past I've worked around the problem by adding the value to the
"name" attribute of the button element, making it a key/value pair,
which has minimal impact on my HTML:

<button type="submit" name="operation=print" value="print">
	<span class="ui-icon-print"></span>
	<span class="ui-button-text">Print</span>
</button>

Then I looks for the presence of "=" in the name to detect the key/value
pair in the CGI as a special case just for IE.

I recall spending about 30 minutes debugging this the first time I
encountered it before I figured out what the heck was going on, and then
another 20 minutes or so figuring out the best way to tackle it. There
went an hour I'll never get back. Thanks Microsoft!

-- 
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR

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Thread

Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Tom Evans <tomevans9890@yahoo.ca> - 2015-01-13 07:56 -0800
  Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-13 11:07 -0500
    Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Barry Margolin <barmar@alum.mit.edu> - 2015-01-13 13:13 -0500
      Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Tom Evans <tomevans9890@yahoo.ca> - 2015-01-13 10:50 -0800
        Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-13 13:52 -0500
          Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-13 19:59 +0100
            Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-13 20:02 +0100
              Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-01-14 08:50 +1300
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-13 21:07 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-01-14 09:39 +1300
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-13 22:37 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-01-14 13:28 +1300
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-14 06:05 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-01-14 18:11 +1300
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-14 07:17 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-01-14 19:19 +1300
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-14 12:51 -0500
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-15 15:51 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-15 10:13 -0500
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-15 17:45 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-15 17:19 +0000
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-15 18:47 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-15 17:52 +0000
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2015-01-17 02:31 +0000
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-15 12:21 -0500
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-15 18:47 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-15 13:00 -0500
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-15 19:16 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz> - 2015-01-15 10:47 -0800
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-15 20:03 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-15 14:04 -0500
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz> - 2015-01-15 15:05 -0800
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-15 14:04 -0500
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-15 20:13 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-15 19:23 +0000
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-15 20:30 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-15 14:57 -0500
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-15 21:13 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2015-01-17 02:31 +0000
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2015-01-17 02:30 +0000
            Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-13 14:03 -0500
              Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-13 19:12 +0000
            Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-13 19:11 +0000
              Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-13 20:14 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-13 19:20 +0000
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-13 20:25 +0100
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-13 19:32 +0000
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-13 20:55 +0100
          Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-13 19:11 +0000
            Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2015-01-13 22:16 +0000
              Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-13 22:54 +0000
          Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Tim Streater <timstreater@greenbee.net> - 2015-01-13 20:46 +0000
        Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-13 19:08 +0000
  Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-13 16:46 +0000
    Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Tom Evans <tomevans9890@yahoo.ca> - 2015-01-13 10:47 -0800
      Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-13 19:10 +0000
  Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac dorayme <do_ray_me@bigpond.com> - 2015-01-14 06:02 +1100
    Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac android <here@there.was> - 2015-01-13 20:12 +0100
  Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-01-14 09:04 +1300
    Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-13 20:13 +0000
    Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-13 15:42 -0500
    Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Barry Margolin <barmar@alum.mit.edu> - 2015-01-13 16:01 -0500
      Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-01-14 13:27 +1300
        Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-14 01:10 +0000
        Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Barry Margolin <barmar@alum.mit.edu> - 2015-01-14 09:43 -0500
          Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-01-15 09:36 +1300
          Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2015-01-17 02:28 +0000
            Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-01-16 21:49 -0500
              Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac dorayme <do_ray_me@bigpond.com> - 2015-01-17 19:04 +1100
            Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-17 15:06 +0000
              Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2015-01-18 02:10 +0000
                Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-18 16:17 +0000
    Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Tom Evans <tomevans9890@yahoo.ca> - 2015-01-13 22:25 -0800
      Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-01-14 14:56 +0000
      Re: Netrenderer.com to emulate Internet Explorer on a Mac Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-01-15 09:31 +1300

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