Foren / Cotonti / Skins / XTHML Validation

how to successfully validate a new skin?

Ross
#1 19. Dezember 2009, 23:27
I am making a new skin and I am trying to validate it.
It passed the CSS 2.1 validation test. However, it seems I cannot get the XHTML validation - either strict or transitional or even frameset.

Some errors are my fault - like to omit the alt attribute for images. There are some others I am puzzled by. For instance:

 Line 67, Column 50: reference to entity "a" for which no system identifier could be generated 
<p><form id="search" action="/plug.php?e=search&a=search" method="post">✉ 
This is usually a cascading error caused by a an undefined entity reference or use of an unencoded ampersand (&) in an URL or body text. See the previous message for further details. 
 Line 67, Column 47: entity was defined here 
<p><form id="search" action="/plug.php?e=search&a=search" method="post"> Line 67, Column 72: document type does not allow element "form" here; missing one of "object", "applet", "map", "iframe", "ins", "del" start-tag 
…="/plug.php?e=search&a=search" method="post">✉ 
The mentioned element is not allowed to appear in the context in which you've placed it; the other mentioned elements are the only ones that are both allowed there and can contain the element mentioned. This might mean that you need a containing element, or possibly that you've forgotten to close a previous element. 

One possible cause for this message is that you have attempted to put a block-level element (such as "<p>" or "<table>") inside an inline element (such as "<a>", "<span>", or "<font>"). 

Are they due to Cotonti and how can I validate the skin anyway?

The last straw is, neither Cotonti.com itself passes the validation according to that site.
Look here: W3C Validator run for Cotonti.com
aiwass
#2 22. Dezember 2009, 23:05
I've almost rewritten all plugins that I use, including Search that I use on my website, due to low quality XHTML.

I'm about to submit a review of all code to TRAC that needs to be changed in order to validate.

I agree with you, Ross!

Ps. Most of the forms such as inputs etc need to be change in cotonti, in my opinion.
Take all that money that we spend on weapons and defences each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace. - Bill Hicks

https://evlear.com
Ross
#3 23. Dezember 2009, 07:25
Thank you, Aiwass. I didn't mean to criticize Cotonti - which I love. However, your comment makes me feel better since now I know it is not my fault! (I have to admit, I am not much of a programmer)
aiwass
#4 23. Dezember 2009, 13:35
Well, I'm not really criticizing either, I know that most programmers see function in what they do and maybe not always see the output as to be valid in a validator.

I Love Cotonti as well, don't get me wrong, but since more and more are put forward by the internet industry to be valid xhtml as far as content and structure goes, I feel that if, Cotonti is going be a good choice for CFM and CMS it needs to have valid outputs. Especially in forms, inputs etc. that are a part of the core, which users of cotonti not need edit or should edit.

I've seen much debate about valid XHTML code in various topics before and believe that the Cotonti team are doing as much as they can to achieve this. If help is needed, I will surely help out with my knowledge. I've been building websites for the past 13 years, mush longer then most of the guys behind Cotonti, but I'm no programmer of PHP, just an editor of PHP with some knowledge :)
Take all that money that we spend on weapons and defences each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace. - Bill Hicks

https://evlear.com
Ross
#5 24. Dezember 2009, 19:52
I'll make my skin without validation for the moment ;)
Thank you Aiwass for your answer and Happy Holidays!