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Thread: Accessible Printing Alternatives?

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From: Hoffman, David
Date: Wed, Mar 05 2003 9:03AM
Subject: Accessible Printing Alternatives?
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I have been asked the following: A web application instructs the user to
print a copy of a page for his records. It even provides a print button on
the page for this purpose. Is anyone aware of any way of providing a print
alternative for screen reader users (who do not have Braille printers)?
Perhaps a button could be used to save the information in a text file? Is
the user expected to know to use File > Save As, to save a local copy of the
page? How can such a "print for your records" feature be made accessible?

Thanks,
David

David Hoffman
IT Accessibility Specialist
MILVETS Systems Technology, Inc.


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From: Jared Smith
Date: Wed, Mar 05 2003 1:13PM
Subject: Re: Accessible Printing Alternatives?
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David-

One option is to use the following JavaScript on your page:

<input type="button" value="save"
onclick="document.execCommand('SaveAs')">

This will open the Save As... dialog box.

This does use JavaScript, which you must already be doing to provide
the 'print' button. It also only works in IE, on which many screen readers
are based.

You can also specify the filename with
<a href="#"
onClick="document.execCommand('SaveAs',null,'filename.html')">Save
Document</A>ss


Jared Smith
WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind)
Center for Persons with Disabilities
Utah State University
435-797-7024


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On Wednesday, March 05, 2003 you sent:
HD> I have been asked the following: A web application instructs the user to
HD> print a copy of a page for his records. It even provides a print button on
HD> the page for this purpose. Is anyone aware of any way of providing a print
HD> alternative for screen reader users (who do not have Braille printers)?
HD> Perhaps a button could be used to save the information in a text file? Is
HD> the user expected to know to use File > Save As, to save a local copy of the
HD> page? How can such a "print for your records" feature be made accessible?

HD> Thanks,
HD> David

HD> David Hoffman
HD> IT Accessibility Specialist
HD> MILVETS Systems Technology, Inc.


HD> ----
HD> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
HD> visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/


***************


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