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Thread: Displaying links with same content in a Table
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From: Langum, Michael J
Date: Fri, Feb 26 2010 11:06AM
Subject: Displaying links with same content in a Table
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Here is a variation on the issue of repeated "more", or "click here" links.
Our agency is creating a page which will provide access to various raw datasets produced by our agency.
Each dataset is listed in in a separate row, and the columns for each row provide the title for that dataset, a link to the raw data file, and a link to the documentation for that dataset.
As currently designed the content for these links are simply icons representing the format of the target file of that link (e.g. CSV, Zip, PDF, HTML, or text).
It is my understanding that an AT user who chooses to simply list links, will not be able to determine which dataset corresponds to any link. He or she would only hear something like . . .
link: CSV Format, link: PDF Format, link: Zipped files in CSV Format, link: Web Page, etc.
On the other hand, AT users who use normal or table mode should understand which dataset corresponds to which link.
Would folks with AT expertise please look at the page, and respond?
-- Mike
From: Langum, Michael J
Date: Fri, Feb 26 2010 11:09AM
Subject: Displaying links with same content in a Table
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Sorry.... I forgot the URL - http://www.opm.gov/_Mike/test/Dataset-test.htm
Here is a variation on the issue of repeated "more", or "click here" links.
Our agency is creating a page which will provide access to various raw datasets produced by our agency.
Each dataset is listed in in a separate row, and the columns for each row provide the title for that dataset, a link to the raw data file, and a link to the documentation for that dataset.
As currently designed the content for these links are simply icons representing the format of the target file of that link (e.g. CSV, Zip, PDF, HTML, or text).
It is my understanding that an AT user who chooses to simply list links, will not be able to determine which dataset corresponds to any link. He or she would only hear something like . . .
link: CSV Format, link: PDF Format, link: Zipped files in CSV Format, link: Web Page, etc.
On the other hand, AT users who use normal or table mode should understand which dataset corresponds to which link.
Would folks with AT expertise please look at the page<http://www.opm.gov/_Mike/test/Dataset-test.htm>;, and respond?
-- Mike
From: Jared Smith
Date: Fri, Feb 26 2010 11:24AM
Subject: Re: Displaying links with same content in a Table
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I think you've pretty well identified all of the issues. The question
is whether the potential problems are worth the effort of implementing
a solution.
Under WCAG 2.0, there are two success criteria that address this.
2.4.4 (Level A) requires that the links make sense by them self or in
their context. In this case, the table headers provide the necessary
context. Of course in most cases, the context is virtually worthless
for screen reader users navigating by links, which is a primary method
of navigation (http://webaim.org/projects/screenreadersurvey2/#finding
and http://webaim.org/projects/screenreadersurvey/#homepage).
Under 2.4.9 (Level AAA) the links must make sense all by themselves.
These links clearly do not.
So you can leave it as it is and screen reader users must explore or
navigate the context to determine the link purpose, or you can modify
the links so they make sense by themselves. Because you're using
images, this is very easy - just expand the alt text to include all of
the necessary information (e.g., "Dataset 1 Raw Data in CSV Format" or
similar).
Jared Smith
WebAIM.org
From: Geof Collis
Date: Fri, Feb 26 2010 12:18PM
Subject: Re: Displaying links with same content in a Table
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I found it a bit confusing because some columns did not have the same
format, I would have preferred a N/A if it wasn't available in that
particular documentation/format.
cheers
Geof
At 12:05 PM 2/26/2010, you wrote:
>Sorry.... I forgot the URL - http://www.opm.gov/_Mike/test/Dataset-test.htm
>
>Here is a variation on the issue of repeated "more", or "click here" links.
>
>Our agency is creating a page which will provide access to various
>raw datasets produced by our agency.
>
>Each dataset is listed in in a separate row, and the columns for
>each row provide the title for that dataset, a link to the raw data
>file, and a link to the documentation for that dataset.
>
>As currently designed the content for these links are simply icons
>representing the format of the target file of that link (e.g. CSV,
>Zip, PDF, HTML, or text).
>
>It is my understanding that an AT user who chooses to simply list
>links, will not be able to determine which dataset corresponds to
>any link. He or she would only hear something like . . .
>
>link: CSV Format, link: PDF Format, link: Zipped files in CSV
>Format, link: Web Page, etc.
>
>On the other hand, AT users who use normal or table mode should
>understand which dataset corresponds to which link.
>
>Would folks with AT expertise please look at the
>page<http://www.opm.gov/_Mike/test/Dataset-test.htm>;, and respond?
>
>-- Mike
>
>