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Re: Bold Italics

for

From: Bevi Chagnon
Date: Sep 25, 2012 11:36PM

<< I wonder what 508 rules apply to Word documents. Usually "508" refers to
§ 1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet information and applications,
which more or less implies that the information is in HTML format. >>

That's an out-of-date view. A key facet of the proposed 508 Refresh is to
expand the regs to cover all ICT, information & communication technology.
See: http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/refresh/draft-rule.htm#_Toc310327562


E201.1 Scope. ICT that is procured, developed, maintained, or used by
agencies shall conform to these requirements.
And
E205.1 Official Agency Communications. Regardless of the medium or the
method of transmission and storage, electronic content that communicates
official agency business, as determined by the agency mission, to a federal
employee or a member of the public...

Granted, the current regs are murky on whether Word documents must be
accessible, however, most agencies now require accessible Word, PowerPoint,
spreadsheets, and PDFs, months before the new regs will come into force.
Wise strategy on their part.

<< The rules that apply to the converted result may be anticipated when
preparing the original document and when carrying out the conversion
process, but this does not mean that specific requirements on the original
document can be deduced. >>

I disagree. Not only can I deduce the specific requirements of the original
document, I MUST deduce and control them. How the source document is styled,
formatted, and structured is essential to convert it to XML and use it to
generate websites and other documents or have it stored in a central content
management system (CMS). It's also critical when either the Word or XML is
imported into an automated layout in desktop publishing software. And it
sure helps when it's converted directly to HTML, too.

Paragraph and character styles make all this conversion work as efficiently
as possible. Bold and italics in a Word document are often lost in the
conversion, but the Strong and Emphasis character styles make it through the
conversion just fine.

Hence, why we're looking for a solution on Strong+Emphasis character style.

--Bevi

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Bevi Chagnon, <EMAIL REMOVED>
PubCom — Trainers, consultants, designers, and developers
Print, Web, Acrobat, XML, eBooks, and Federal Section 508 Accessibility
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