Dear friends,

I have implemented Google custom search engine in http://www.tutorialsroom.com, now my site generate 4 warnings in W3C validation

All with the same error: " NET-enabling start-tag requires SHORTTAG YES." and pointing to a slash like this:
<input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:11" />

I didn't really understand the error and why it's there!
I use DOCTYPE HMTL 4.01 Traditional.

I have learned from this form years ago that validation is important so I emailed Google asking them for a permission to remove this slash but I wanted to learn more about this error and how to fix it without removing the slash if they didn't allow me.

You don't need self-closing tags in HTML, they are used in XHTML.

      <!-- Google CSE Search Box Begins  -->
      <form action="http://www.tutorialsroom.com/search.html" id="cse-search-box">
        <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="015920113099017421260:rbumrqn-d-8" >
        <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:11" >
        <input type="text" name="q" size="25" >
        <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search" >
      </form>
      <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.google.com/coop/cse/brand?form=cse-search-box&lang=en"></script>
      <!-- Google CSE Search Box Ends -->

Also, you may want to eventually consider changing to XHTML/CSS. I believe DOCTYPE HMTL 4.01 Traditional is a bit outdated.

Matt

Originally Posted by A Monkey Typing

You don't need self-closing tags in HTML, they are used in XHTML.

I know this would fix it, but wouldn't that be a violation to Goggle TOS about modifying the code?

Originally Posted by 170 Designs

Also, you may want to eventually consider changing to XHTML/CSS. I believe DOCTYPE HMTL 4.01 Traditional is a bit outdated.

I'm already using css, I do not use any html for formatting, please tell my what I need to modify in order to move to XHTML, I only use standard usual HTML tags

Well you would of course need a different DOCTYPe. See here for more info regarding this:
http://htmlhelp.com/tools/validator/doctype.html

And then your HTML code would of course change as well. It would basically be replacing/editing, not so much adding, your existing HTML. Here's a reference guide with the proper XHTML tags. Just click on the ones you "need" for more info:
http://www.w3schools.com/tags/default.asp

Matt

Originally Posted by AHelpingHand

I know this would fix it, but wouldn't that be a violation to Goggle TOS about modifying the code?

Do you really think Google cares if you do or don't have the trailing slashes? I don't. With or without the warnings, your page is still valid HTML Transitional.

Originally Posted by AHelpingHand

I'm already using css, I do not use any html for formatting, please tell my what I need to modify in order to move to XHTML, I only use standard usual HTML tags

You will have to fix 101 errors if you want to switch to XHTML Strict. Most of them are because XHTML requires the self-closing tags, and you simply need a slash. You'll also have to remove your target attribute from your anchor tags. It also seems to be giving an error with your google form.

# Error  Line 47, Column 58: document type does not allow element "input" here; missing one of "p", "h1", "h2", "h3", "h4", "h5", "h6", "div", "pre", "address", "fieldset", "ins", "del" start-tag .

        <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:11" />

✉

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>").
# Error Line 48, Column 47: document type does not allow element "input" here; missing one of "p", "h1", "h2", "h3", "h4", "h5", "h6", "div", "pre", "address", "fieldset", "ins", "del" start-tag .

        <input type="text" name="q" size="25" />

✉

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>").

I don't think it's worth it

Yes, I agree with you, changing to XHTML seems a lot of work for nothing in return (at least for my site). So I only have three choices left, take the risk and remove the slashes, live with those 4 warnings for the rest of my life or change the search completely with another free one!

Take the risk and live dangerously

You know, the worst thing about Google search is that your visitors could only search what Google has indexed which is not good. I was searching for a free search engine script and found many on the web (ie Sphider, mnoGoSearch...etc) I'm just worried about security, I don't know which one is the most secure!

What is HTML 4.01 Traditional? I've never heard of that...

Originally Posted by wayfarer07

What is HTML 4.01 Traditional? I've never heard of that...

It's a typo I meant
HTML 4.01 Transitional

lol, tranditional

Originally Posted by AHelpingHand

It's a typo I meant
HTML 4.01 Transitional

Lol, this is too traditional......( get it)

OK, I am out.