Directory Lists (HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide, 4th Edition)

7.7.1. The <dir> Tag (Deprecated)

The designers of HTML originally dedicated the <dir> tag for displaying lists of files. As such, the browser, if it treats <dir> and <ul> differently at all (most don't), expects the various list elements to be quite short, possibly no longer than 20 characters or so. Some browsers display the elements in a multicolumn format and may not use a leading bullet.

As with the unordered list, define directory list items with the <li> tag. When used within a directory list, however, the <li> tag may not contain any block element, including paragraphs, other lists, preformatted text, or forms.

The following example puts the directory tag to its traditional task of presenting a list of filenames:

The distribution tape has the following files on it:
<dir>
  <li><code>README</code></li>
  <li><code>Makefile</code></li>
  <li><code>main.c</code></li>
  <li><code>config.h</code></li>
  <li><code>util.c</code></li>
</dir>

<dir>

Function:

Define a directory list

Attributes:

CLASS
ONKEYUP

DIR
ONMOUSEDOWN

ID
ONMOUSEMOVE

LANG
ONMOUSEOUT

ONCLICK
ONMOUSEOVER

ONDBLCLICK
ONMOUSEUP

ONKEYDOWN
STYLE

ONKEYPRESS
TITLE

End tag:

</dir>; never omitted

Contains:

list_content

Used in:

block

Notice that we use the <code> tag to ensure that the filenames would be rendered in an appropriate manner (see Figure 7-9 as rendered by the now ancient Mosaic browser).

Figure 7-9. An example <dir> list

7.7.1.1. The <dir> attributes

The attributes for the <dir> tag are identical to those for <ul> with the same effects.


7.6. Appropriate List Usage		7.8. Menu Lists

7.7. Directory Lists

7.7.1. The <dir> Tag (Deprecated)

<dir>

Figure 7-9. An example <dir> list

7.7.1.1. The <dir> attributes