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Re: MS Word Text Box Work Around

for

From: Karen McCall
Date: Mar 17, 2023 9:55AM

Text boxes are objects that float above the text layer of the document. JAWS has a keyboard command to list objects and text boxes are included in the list. It is Ctrl + Shift +letter O. It will list graphics and other objects. Not sure of the similar keyboard command for NVDA.

However, because text boxes float above the text layer of the document, those of us using adaptive technology can't rely on any association with surrounding content. It is like reading two different "documents" the text layer and the text boxes.

I teach people to use paragraph styles instead of text boxes because you can create the same effects with a paragraph style (borders, fill, centering and other effects) and have the content be more accessible.

If you can create a paragraph style and remove the text from the text box and use the paragraph style, it would be more accessible.

If you want to have the effect of the content being side by side, use Columns in Word to create the effect.

If you want to e-mail me off list for assistance, please do.

Cheers, Karen

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Jim Homme
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2023 11:48 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: [WebAIM] MS Word Text Box Work Around

Hi,
This comes from me, totally blind, with a visual question. I have a document with a text box that the screen reader cannot read. The text box is on the right with text on the left. Would it work visually if I put the part of the document with the text box and other text in its own section, make a left column with the text the screen reader can read, and a right column with extracted text from the text box, and a border around the right column? I can't send the document. It's confidential. Just asking for visual reasons for the future.

Also, I don't understand how text boxes usually act visually and trying to learn.

Thanks.

Jim

=========Jim Homme: He, Him, His
Senior Digital Accessibility Consultant
Bender Consulting Services
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