[uf-discuss] Microformats and forms

[Scott Reynen]

On Jan 25, 2007, at 8:02 AM, Chris Newell wrote:

> At 13:35 25/01/2007, you wrote:
>>> Hi Chris, that's an interesting application idea but I think the  
>>> idea
>>> behind a microformat is to describe content in the HTML document  
>>> in a
>>> standardized format (based on common usage elsewhere such as vCard)
>>> rather than store it externally (for use by the browser to  
>>> populate a
>>> form).
>
>> I don't think this is the point, Chris wanted to focus on.
>> If there would be a standarized format how to describe form elements
>> it would help developers of extentions, plugins and useragents to
>> automatically prefill it. (Instead of just guessing if its possibly a
>> login-field).
>
> Right - so as well as being able to use microformats to signal  
> "this block of HTML is an hCard" it might be possible to signal  
> "this HTML form will accept an hCard".

This has been discussed previously:

On Sep 28, 2006, at 5:58 AM, Ben Ward wrote:

> Lets say you have a personal registration form in your web app, for  
> entering contact data which will later be output as an hCard in  
> various places.
>
> What if I was to mark up the form (and fields) with hCard classes?  
> Good idea? Bad idea? I strikes me that it could be useful for auto- 
> complete applications, but not sure if it would ‘pollute’ the web  
> with effectively a useless/empty hCard when the form is published.

<http://microformats.org/discuss/mail/microformats-discuss/2006- 
September/005951.html>

I don't see any clear conclusion in that thread, but it was a lengthy  
discussion that we'd save ourselves some time by reviewing before we  
repeat ourselves.

Peace,
Scott