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Re: Accessible Excel files -- two questions

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From: Dona Patrick
Date: Apr 9, 2017 5:37AM

Hi Jonathan,

Yep, you caught me. I was using the accessibility checker in Excel since,
other than the HHS guidance, I could find little other guidance online.
Also, I have never really learned how to use Excel.

Thanks for the information about screen readers and alt text with tables.
It was very useful and I will keep it in mind for future Excel files. The
client is rethinking the document and might use something else.

Dona

On Apr 7, 2017 9:54 PM, "Jonathan Avila" < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Donna, it appears you are using the accessibility checker in Excel.
> Sometimes the advice it provides isn't always the most clear in regards to
> tables. It generally suggest alt text be added to all tables in MS
> products. This can actually be problematic for some screen readers -- in
> particular in PowerPoint. From an Excel standpoint it could be useful to
> label them in order to use commands (insert+f5) that allow the user to move
> to different objects on the screen -- especially if you have multiple
> tables.
>
> If you do want to turn off the dropdown filter after converting them to a
> table you can go to the data ribbon and unselect "filter".
>
> Other than labeling and navigation purposes there is no benefit within
> Excel for AT that I am aware off. If you were to convert to another format
> I'd assume the TH might come through into PDF output, etc.
>
> Regarding the issue with applying alt text to tables in PPT -- I've found
> with some screen readers the alt text is read instead of the content in the
> table -- with other screen readers the alt text isn't read at all.
>
> Jonathan
>
> Jonathan Avila
> Chief Accessibility Officer
> SSB BART Group
> <EMAIL REMOVED>
> 703.637.8957 (Office)
>
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On
> Behalf Of Dona Patrick
> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2017 4:51 PM
> To: WebAIM Discussion List
> Subject: [WebAIM] Accessible Excel files -- two questions
>
> I am supposed to make two Excel files accessible and explain to the client
> what they need to do to make this easier. These files are going to be used
> as templates so must remain in Excel format. I know the basics, but have
> conflicting answers for a question and I have another question.
>
> The files have several tables. The first tab has a table that can be given
> alt text and has header cells set (this table has headers). The other
> tables cannot be given alt text and header cells cannot be designated. My
> assumption is (and I am not at all comfortable with Excel as it is) that
> the tables that cannot be given alt text and the header cells cannot be
> designated are not true tables, but the first table is. I think that what I
> need to suggest is that they highlight the content that is a table, select
> the checkbox that says "my table has headers" and that will make it a true
> table.
>
> Am I anywhere near correct about this? Someone I asked at work suggested
> that tables in an Excel spreadsheet are always tables.
>
> My second question is less accessibility related and more just an Excel
> question...
>
> When I do make the tables true tables and say the tables have headers (if
> that is the right thing to do) the tables end up with a header row with
> icons for sorting. Is there any way to get rid of those icons?
>
> I hope I was clear.
>
> Thank you for any help and let me know if I can be more clear.
>
> Dona
> > > at http://webaim.org/discussion/archives
> > > > > >