WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Best way to set up links to documents

for

From: mike.osborne@accease.com
Date: Oct 4, 2008 4:40PM

Doesn't this approach now give the AT user "Word Version - File 1 ... PDF
File 1 - Print Only Version ... Word Version - File 2 ... PDF File 2 -
Print Only Version ..." which still doesn't provide context?

Here's my approach:

Near top of the page explicitly state that ALL documents are available for
download in both Word and PDF formats. (This way we can split into two
lists and allay users fears that they need to check both lists to ensure
they can get any available document.)
Hide a skip link from visual browsers but still available to screen readers.

<H1>Documents for Download</H1>

<P><STRONG>All</STRONG> documents are available for download in <A
HREF="#word">Word format</A> or <A HREF="#PDF">PDF format</A>.</P>

<A NAME="word"></A>
<H2>Documents in Word format</H2>
<UL>
<LI><A HREF="reportdocumenta.doc">Report Document A (Word 2003
125kB)</A></LI>
<LI><A HREF="reportdocumentb.doc">Report Document B (Word 2003
260kB)</A></LI>
<LI><A HREF="reportdocumentc.doc">Report Document C (Word 2003
1.2MB)</A></LI>

.... as many items as you need ....

<LI><A HREF="reportdocumentz.doc">Report Document Z (Word 2003
1.8MB)</A></LI>
</UL>

<span style="display:none;"><A HREF="#endofpdf">Skip list of PDF
documents</A>

<A NAME="PDF"></A>
<H2>Documents in PDF format</H2>
<UL>
<LI><A HREF="reportdocumenta.pdf">Report Document A (PDF 8.0
165kB)</A></LI>
<LI><A HREF="reportdocumentb.pdf">Report Document B (PDF 8.0
420kB)</A></LI>
<LI><A HREF="reportdocumentc.pdf">Report Document C (PDF 8.0
2.1MB)</A></LI>

.... as many items as you need ....

<LI><A HREF="reportdocumentz.pdf">Report Document Z (PDF 8.0
2.7MB)</A></LI>
</UL>

<A NAME="endofpdf"></A>

This makes each document link retain full context but hopefully minimises
having to listen to links for a format you're not interested in.

Cheers
Mike

AccEase Ltd
www.accease.com


> Shouldn't the links be semantically correct to assist AT users with
> information about the link? I think having links that all say the same
> thing
> "MS Word file... MS Word file... MS Word file..." is confusing to the AT
> user.
>
> The items below have hyperlinks in the parts that are [bracketed]
>
> Training Forms
> File 1: AT Training Presenter Form (cover sheet) [Word Version - File 1]
> [PDF File 1 - Print Only Version]
>
> File 2: AT Training Participant Evaluation Form [Word Version - File 2]
> [PDF
> File 2 - Print Only Version]
>
>
> ~j
>
> John E. Brandt
> Augusta, Maine USA
> www.jebswebs.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Keith Parks
> Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 2:22 PM
> To: WebAIM Discussion List
> Subject: [WebAIM] Best way to set up links to documents
>
> Hi folks.
>
> I looking for recommendations/best practices for handling a list of
> links to downloadable forms. Currently I have a page of links to Word
> files, set up like this...
>
>
> Disability Verification Form (MS Word file)
>
> Disability Questionnaire (MS Word file)
>
> Application for Services (MS Word file)
>
>
> ...where the name of the document is the hyperlinked text. The client
> wants to add PDF version of the documents linked up.
>
> One way I've seen would be something like...
>
> Disability Verification Form (MS Word file, PDF file)
>
> Disability Questionnaire (MS Word file, PDF file)
>
> Application for Services (MS Word file, PDF file)
>
> where the words "MS Word file" and "PDF file" were the links to the
> documents. But then you have both non-descriptive link text plus
> identical words on the page that link to different things. A real no-
> no, yes?
>
> What seems theoretically the most "correct" way would be...
>
> Disability Verification Form (MS Word file)
> Disability Verification Form (PDF file)
>
> Disability Questionnaire (MS Word file)
> Disability Questionnaire (PDF file)
>
> Application for Services (MS Word file)
> Application for Services (PDF file)
>
> ... where the entire text is the link. But some of the forms have
> fairly long names, and the repetition of the names ends up confusing
> to my eye, especially when they wrap.
>
> Authorization for Release of Information from Student Disability
> Services [MS Word file]
> Authorization for Release of Information from Student Disability
> Services [PDF file]
>
> Authorization for Release of Information from Outside Agency [MS Word
> file]
> Authorization for Release of Information from Outside Agency [PDF file]
>
> Has anyone tackled this sort of thing from a different angle that I'm
> not thinking of?
>
> TIA,
> Keith
>
> ******************************
> Keith Parks
> Graphic Designer/Web Designer
> Student Affairs Communications Services
> San Diego State University
> San Diego, CA 92182-7444
> (619) 594-1046
> mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED>
> http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/communications
>
> http://kparks.deviantart.com/gallery
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, served with a side of
> slaw.
>
>
>
>
>
>