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Re: Table Headers In Separate Table From Data

for

From: Jonathan Cohn
Date: May 2, 2018 11:32AM


Yes, we have several of these tables on our administration site, and are currently working on making them appear as one table. Unfortunately it isn't only the fact that the two tables need to be pseudo-merged, we also have a checkbox to select the row and a button to edit data on a row in the first column, and need to make sure items are labeled appropriately. Our plan right now is to have the table with only headers be marked with aria-hidden, and then to have the second table have column headers that are being masked visually by the first table but that will be available to the screen reader.

I have also fooled around with using aria-owns and role=presentation, but have had not been able to consistently have this provide a good rendering in all systems.

Jonathan Cohn
> On May 2, 2018, at 1:00 PM, Jonathan Avila < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
>> I am curious if list subscribers have an idea why web developers use a design that puts the column headers of a table in a separate table. What benefits does this achieve, independent of accessibility concerns, that have caused this to start happening?
>
> People do this so that the table body can scroll and the header can be fixed.
>
> Jonathan
>
> Jonathan Avila
> Chief Accessibility Officer
> Level Access
> <EMAIL REMOVED>
> 703.637.8957 office
>
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of KellyFord
> Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2018 12:47 PM
> To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
> Subject: [WebAIM] Table Headers In Separate Table From Data
>
> Hi,
>
>
>
> Although it doesn't happen too often, over the past couple years I have
> noticed an increase in web experiences where table column headers are put in
> a separate table from the data. One of the financial sites I use, that used
> to be a go to for easily demonstrating how proper table headers make reading
> tabular data easy with a screen reader, has now incorporated this sort of
> design.
>
>
>
> I am curious if list subscribers have an idea why web developers use a
> design that puts the column headers of a table in a separate table. What
> benefits does this achieve, independent of accessibility concerns, that have
> caused this to start happening?
>
>
>
> Again this is not entirely recent but several years ago I'd say I never
> encountered this. Now the times I encounter it is certainly greater than 0.
>
>
>
> Kelly
>
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