Option explicit error

SteveH · 04-26-2012, 09:59 PM

Hello

If I do not insert a doctype (strict or loose are the types I have tried), my Web form page seems to work fine. But when I do, I get the following error:

Quote:

Microsoft VBScript compilation error '800a0400'

Expected statement

/contact_us.asp, line 9

option explicit

I would be happy to leave out the doctype, but I am trying to use the CSS 'focus' snippet

Code:

input:focus
{
background-color:yellow;

and for it to work,

Quote:

:focus to work in IE8, a DOCTYPE must be declared

according to the W3 Schools site:

http://www.w3schools.com/cssref/sel_focus.asp

How would I get round that problem, please?

Old Pedant · 04-26-2012, 11:52 PM

ASP requires the OPTION EXPLICIT to be first on the page, excepting for <%@ xxx %> declarations.

So you really do need to put it before the DOCTYPE.

And it really is perfectly okay to do so.

Remember *NO* code in <%...%> tags is seen directly by the browser. Only if you Response.Write something from within <%...%> is it sent to the browser.

So if you write

Code:

<%@ Language="VBScript" %>
<% OPTION EXPLICIT %>
<!DOCTYPE html ... >

or even if you prefer for some reason to do

Code:

<%@ Language="VBScript" %>
<% OPTION EXPLICIT %>
<% Response.Write "<!DOCTYPE html ... >" %>

the browser will never see anything prior to the <!DOCTYPE...>.

And it is only what the browser sees that matters for any HTML tags, including <!DOCTYPE ...>

SteveH · 04-27-2012, 12:33 AM

Hello Old Pedant

Quote:

ASP requires the OPTION EXPLICIT to be first on the page, excepting for <%@ xxx %> declarations.

So you really do need to put it before the DOCTYPE.

I think that needs emphasising sometimes - I have seen a few Web sites that state the DOCTYPE goes first.

My page is fine after your suggestion.

Many thanks.

Steve

Old Pedant · 04-27-2012, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveH

I have seen a few Web sites that state the DOCTYPE goes first.

If you don't use <%@ page %> directives and you don't use <% option explicit %>, which many many many sites do not, then yes, it goes first.

But, again, all that really matters is that it goes first in what the browser sees, not necessarily what the ASP (or PHP or JSP or ASP.NET) processor sees.