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Thread: Help needed in making the Excel files accessible
Number of posts in this thread: 9 (In chronological order)
From: Mohith BP
Date: Mon, Sep 26 2016 5:02AM
Subject: Help needed in making the Excel files accessible
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Hi List,
I am in a project to make the Excel files compliant with the Section 508.
I am in confusion of the following:
1.15: If there are tables, are blank cells avoided?
2.1: Is the table free of merged cells? (If not, but the final format
will be PDF or HTML, then merged cells are okay)
The sheets are accounting files where the column titles go for 2 rows.
i.e., C1 is Trial Balance, D1 is blank and E1 is adjustment. Then in
the next row C2 is debit and D2 is Credit, E2 is Debit and F2 is
Credit.
1. In the above scenario what is the best method without merging C1 and D1?
2. The entry will be either for Debit or Credit. How to avoid blank cells?
3. Is there any specific tutorial to make the Excel files accessible?
Few Thoughts:
1. Can I make the column title only 1 row. i.e., C1: Trial Balance
Debit and D1 Trial Balance credit and so on.
2. Is it advisable to fill the blank cells something like (NA)?
Note: As per the accounting rules I don't think the above things can
be encorporated.
Thanks & Regards,
Mohith B. P.
From: Moore,Michael (Accessibility) (HHSC)
Date: Mon, Sep 26 2016 8:39AM
Subject: Re: Help needed in making the Excel files accessible
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Hi BP,
A couple of quick answers and a resource.
1. Can I make the column title only 1 row. i.e., C1: Trial Balance Debit and D1 Trial Balance credit and so on.
Yes, that method will work well
2. Is it advisable to fill the blank cells something like (NA)?
No, That is not necessary. The real issue is using blank rows and columns for formatting. A single blank data cells are fine. When you have blank rows and columns it is very difficult to determine the edges of a table in a worksheet.
For more information I recommend looking at the tutorials available from the Texas Governor's Office: http://gov.texas.gov/disabilities/accessibledocs#excel
Mike Moore
Accessibility Coordinator
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Civil Rights Office
(512) 438-3431 (Office)
From: Mohith BP
Date: Mon, Sep 26 2016 10:54PM
Subject: Re: Help needed in making the Excel files accessible
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Hi Moore,
Thank you for the response will look into the link.
Few more clarifications:
1. Is it mandatory to insert a table or reference data range is fine?
2. Even after checking the checkbox, "table has header" and defining
the Column and Row title in the name as mentioned in Freedomscientific
resource page, neither JAWS nor NVDA reads the column and row title.
Is there any method to set the row and column title where the user
need not to set the column and row title manually?
Thanks & Regards,
Mohith B. P.
On 9/26/16, Moore,Michael (Accessibility) (HHSC)
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Hi BP,
>
> A couple of quick answers and a resource.
>
> 1. Can I make the column title only 1 row. i.e., C1: Trial Balance Debit and
> D1 Trial Balance credit and so on.
>
> Yes, that method will work well
>
> 2. Is it advisable to fill the blank cells something like (NA)?
>
> No, That is not necessary. The real issue is using blank rows and columns
> for formatting. A single blank data cells are fine. When you have blank rows
> and columns it is very difficult to determine the edges of a table in a
> worksheet.
>
> For more information I recommend looking at the tutorials available from the
> Texas Governor's Office:
> http://gov.texas.gov/disabilities/accessibledocs#excel
>
>
> Mike Moore
> Accessibility Coordinator
> Texas Health and Human Services Commission
> Civil Rights Office
> (512) 438-3431 (Office)
>
>
From: Joy Relton
Date: Tue, Sep 27 2016 6:16AM
Subject: Re: Help needed in making the Excel files accessible
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Mohith,
JAWS and NVDA do read the column and rows but they need to adjust things in their settings. That's on them.
From: Wee, Kim (MNIT)
Date: Tue, Sep 27 2016 7:24AM
Subject: Re: Help needed in making the Excel files accessible
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1. We need to know three things about our table:
a. Is this the first (or only) table on this worksheet? (table#)
b. What are the addresses of the top left and bottom right cells in the table? (upperleft, lowerright)
c. Is this worksheet the first (or only) worksheet in this workbook? (worksheet#)
Example: TitleRegion#.upperleft.lowerright.worksheet#
2. Put your cursor in the top-left cell in the table. Don't count the table titles, but you do count all row and column headers as part of the table
3. Go to the Formulas tab in the Ribbon, and choose Name Manager in the Defined Names group. Choose New in the top left corner. A new dialog box opens
4. Type TitleRegion then add the (table#), then a period.
5. Next add the range of cells in your table from top left to bottom right, like this - (upperleft) 'period- (lowerright) 'period-
6. Then the worksheet number (worksheet#). Your Title code should look like this:
TitleRegion1.a2.g45.1
7. Select Ok and Close
If you create these titles and then make a simple change, such as moving your worksheet tabs around or adding or deleting rows, you will have to recode the titles to match your spreadsheet. It is best to save this step for when you are ready to publish.
Kim Wee
Webmaster and Accessibility Coordinator | Operations Team
Minnesota IT Services | Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113
651-582-8548
Information Technology for Minnesota Government | mn.gov/mnit
From: Joy Relton
Date: Tue, Sep 27 2016 7:37AM
Subject: Re: Help needed in making the Excel files accessible
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Kim, this is very clearly stated. Thank you. Since the Freedom Scientific page was quoted I assumed that these steps were already known. Is it good to be sure to state them clearly. However, if the settings are not correct for the screen reader this information will not be read.
From: Jonathan Whiting
Date: Tue, Sep 27 2016 10:06AM
Subject: Re: Help needed in making the Excel files accessible
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You can also use this technique to identify a table that only has column
headers (ColumnTitle) or row headers (RowTitle). This process is also
outlined on the http://ncdae.org/resources/cheatsheets/excel.php
It feels like a bit of a hack, but headers are reliably read in JAWS and
NVDA. I am not sure about other screen readers.
Jonathan
Jonathan Whiting
WebAIM.org
On Tue, Sep 27, 2016 at 7:37 AM, Joy Relton < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Kim, this is very clearly stated. Thank you. Since the Freedom Scientific
> page was quoted I assumed that these steps were already known. Is it good
> to be sure to state them clearly. However, if the settings are not correct
> for the screen reader this information will not be read.
>
>
From: Jim Homme
Date: Wed, Sep 28 2016 6:28AM
Subject: Re: Help needed in making the Excel files accessible
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Hi,
As far as I am aware, JAWS is capable of using multiple cells as row and column headers, but NVDA is not. I am unsure of how Window-eyes handles something like this.
Jim
=========Jim Homme,
Accessibility Consultant,
Bender HighTest Accessibility Team
Bender Consulting Services, Inc.,
412-787-8567,
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
http://www.benderconsult.com/our%20services/hightest-accessible-technology-solutions
E+R=O
From: Jim Homme
Date: Wed, Sep 28 2016 6:40AM
Subject: Re: Help needed in making the Excel files accessible
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Hi,
As far as I know, NVDA does not handle multiple regions. I'd be happy to know differently.
Thanks.
Jim
=========Jim Homme,
Accessibility Consultant,
Bender HighTest Accessibility Team
Bender Consulting Services, Inc.,
412-787-8567,
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
http://www.benderconsult.com/our%20services/hightest-accessible-technology-solutions
E+R=O