◇◆

Introduction to Elements

Each element in the Balisage Conference Paper tag set and the XHTML-inspired table model is described in this Tag Library. The elements in this Tag Library are described in alphabetical order by their tag names (i.e., element type names). The tag name is the shorter machine-readable name used in XML tagged documents, models, and (typically) by software; for example, the tag name <xref> is used for the element named Cross-Reference.

Content of an Element Page

Each element is described in a single page that displays:
  • The element’s tag name followed by its longer descriptive name (all on one line), and
  • Sections describing aspects of the element and its usage. Not all elements will show all sections.
The sections within the page always appear in the following order (if present):
Description (untitled)
Provides a narrative description of the element, that is, it “defines” the element and may provide information on its usage. This is not intended to be a formal dictionary definition, but more to provide information about the rationale for an element and how the element may be used.
Usage/Remarks
Provides additional information about the element, explanations of similar or contrasting elements, or instructions for element usage. (See also Related Elements described below.)
Best Practice notes are identified with a heading such as “Best Practice” or “Common Practice” and have a colored background for emphasis.
Authoring Notes are usage instructions aimed at persons writing or editing conference papers according to this Tag Set. These notes may identify distinctions between the authoring model available to authors and the production model used during the editorial process, or they may provide information about an element’s display in output, including any generated text.
More complex “Usage/Remarks” sections may contain folded (collapsed) subsections. Instructions on navigating in this document, including opening and closing collapsed sections, appear in Navigation.
Related Elements
Contains information about elements associated with or confused with the current element. For some complex structures, such as two-part definition lists (<variablelist>), this section may describe all the elements that may make up such a list. Similarly, a discussion about <alt> may compare its usage with the other accessibility element, <textobject>.
Attributes
All of the attributes, if any, available on an element are listed alphabetically. Each line contains the attribute name as it appears in this Tag Set. If you hover over the name, a more descriptive name appears. If the attribute is required, has a default value, or has a fixed value, then that is noted after the name. Each attribute is linked to its description in the Attribute Section of the Tag Library.
Models and Context
The “Models and Context” section provides information on what is allowed inside this element and where the element may be used.
May be contained in
A list of the elements that can contain this element (as a direct child). This is the inverse of the model description, which lists what can be inside this element.
Description
The description is an English-language explanation of the “content” of the element, that is, what is allowed to be inside the element. This content description contains the same information in plain English that the Expanded Content Model provide in XML syntax.
Expanded Content Model
Contains a copy of the element’s declaration in DTD syntax, i.e., the “content” of the element with all parameter entities expanded to their ultimate values. This shows directly all the elements that the described element can contain, and in what combination.
Tagged Sample(s)
Provides excerpts of tagged XML documents, showing use of the current element. Usually an element is shown in context, with its surrounding elements, and the current element is highlighted in bold.
Related Resources
Provides pointers both to external information sources and to other parts of the Tag Library that contain information relevant to this structure.