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Re: Scope attributes vs ID and Headers attributes

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From: Jonathan Avila
Date: Jun 1, 2017 9:20AM

> We have over 200 complex tables to remediate (for a US Government agency).
Some have two levels of column headers and one level of row headers

The two level ones can use scope. The key with using scope is that every cell within the scope of that header has that header applied. So if you have a row that acts like a column header for one group of rows and another row that acts like a column header for another group of rows then you have to use ids and headers. Obviously there are other choices such as splitting up the table, etc. -- but my assumption is that the table can't be changed. Scope works for many assistive technologies with spanned cells -- but again its scope applies to all cells within the scope row, column, etc.

Your 4 and 5 level example would need ids/headers.

Another question that some people have asked is can you mix headers/id and scope attributes. From reading the HTML specification it seems to indicate that the header for a data cell is calculated on a per cell basis. So for any given cell you can't mix them -- but in theory within a table it might be theoretically possible although I would not recommend mixing them.

Jonathan

Jonathan Avila
Chief Accessibility Officer
SSB BART Group 
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703.637.8957 (Office)
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-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Dona Patrick
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2017 11:04 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: [WebAIM] Scope attributes vs ID and Headers attributes

Dear Webaim List,

I was asked to research scope vs id and headers attributes for HTML tables.
I know what they are and I know how to use them, but I need backup responses from experts like you to satisfy the client.

We have over 200 complex tables to remediate (for a US Government agency).
Some have two levels of column headers and one level of row headers <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx8AFXyl5hgRaWJQRXFRaFFlZG8/view?usp=sharing>,
some have 4 levels of column headers and one level of row headers <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx8AFXyl5hgRWHptd2VoR0VfMDA/view?usp=sharing>
and some have 5 levels of column headers and one level of row headers <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx8AFXyl5hgRZjE4Y2dKeGpSSzg/view>. (I have linked each of the types to images of examples of the tables on Google Drive because I am assuming I cannot attach files here).

When I first saw the tables I said that they all needed ID and headers attributes, but now I wonder if only the tables with 4 and 5 levels of column headers need ID and headers attributes and the tables with only two levels of column headers (with merged cells in the first level).

This is for HHS if that matters. I suggested that the folks ask the HHS Section 508 coordinator, but they wanted your opinion first.

I am also going to suggest that some of these tables are broken into simpler tables.

Thanks,

Dona Patrick