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Thread: Equations, MS Word 2007, PDFs, and alt text
Number of posts in this thread: 6 (In chronological order)
From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Fri, Sep 24 2010 6:12PM
Subject: Equations, MS Word 2007, PDFs, and alt text
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Our agency has recently moved from MS Word 2003 to MS Word 2007. A few of our publications, produced in MS Word and published as PDFs created with Acrobat Professional 9.0, include equations that are complex enough to require the Equation Editor. Generally, the documents that include equations include *a lot* of equations.
In MS Word 2003, we were able to attach alt text to each of these equations so people who use screen readers could understand the content.
But in MS Word 2007, we find no way to attach alt text to an equation -- as well as absolutely no documentation as to whether we need to do anything to make these equations accessible!
It occurs to me that it's possible that the version of the Equation Editor in MS Word 2007 might produce equations that screen readers can read directly. (Perhaps MathML is embedded?) In other words, perhaps we don't have to do anything to make these equations accessible.
Does anyone know if that's the case? And, if not, how *do* we create accessible equations in MS Word 2007?
Oh, and if possible, let's not have a debate about what an accessible equation is -- at least, not in this thread. ;-)
Thanks!
- Cliff
Cliff Tyllick
Usability assessment and Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
From: Stephen L Noble
Date: Sun, Sep 26 2010 10:09PM
Subject: Re: Equations, MS Word 2007, PDFs, and alt text
← Previous message | Next message →
At the moment, there is no such thing as a natively accessible equation
format within a Word document. However, you can take a Word document
with either Equation Editor 3.0, MathType, or the 2007 Microsoft Word
Equation editor equations, and export the document (using MathType's
MathPage function) as XHTML+MathML, which is accessible to screen
readers when using IE plus the MathPlayer plugin. Here are some details
on that:
http://www.dessci.com/en/solutions/access/accessibilityfeatures.htm
One other alternative is that a blind user who knows TeX can use
MathType's TeX-toggle function. In other words, the sighted user can use
a WYSIWYG equation editor to insert the equation in a Word document, and
then the blind MathType user can hit the TeX-toggle command and all the
equations get converted to TeX, which being simple keyboard characters
can be read by any screen reader. Not all blind users know TeX, of
course, so it is not a perfect solution. Exporting to XHTML+MathML would
typically be considered the standard accessibility course for most
users.
Hope this helps,
--Steve Noble
------------------------------------
-- Steve Noble
Chair, National Technology Task Force
Learning Disabilities Association of America
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
502-969-3088
--------------
Disclaimer: The opinions and comments made in email are those of the
author, and do not necessarily represent the official position of any
organization unless explicitly stated.
>>> Cliff Tyllick < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 9/24/2010 8:07 PM >>>
Our agency has recently moved from MS Word 2003 to MS Word 2007. A few
of our publications, produced in MS Word and published as PDFs created
with Acrobat Professional 9.0, include equations that are complex enough
to require the Equation Editor. Generally, the documents that include
equations include *a lot* of equations.
In MS Word 2003, we were able to attach alt text to each of these
equations so people who use screen readers could understand the
content.
But in MS Word 2007, we find no way to attach alt text to an equation
-- as well as absolutely no documentation as to whether we need to do
anything to make these equations accessible!
It occurs to me that it's possible that the version of the Equation
Editor in MS Word 2007 might produce equations that screen readers can
read directly. (Perhaps MathML is embedded?) In other words, perhaps we
don't have to do anything to make these equations accessible.
Does anyone know if that's the case? And, if not, how *do* we create
accessible equations in MS Word 2007?
Oh, and if possible, let's not have a debate about what an accessible
equation is -- at least, not in this thread. ;-)
Thanks!
- Cliff
Cliff Tyllick
Usability assessment and Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
From: Duff Johnson
Date: Sun, Sep 26 2010 10:21PM
Subject: Re: Equations, MS Word 2007, PDFs, and alt text
← Previous message | Next message →
Since PDF was mentioned....
>>>> Cliff Tyllick < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 9/24/2010 8:07 PM >>>
> Our agency has recently moved from MS Word 2003 to MS Word 2007. A few
> of our publications, produced in MS Word and published as PDFs created
> with Acrobat Professional 9.0, include equations that are complex enough
> to require the Equation Editor. Generally, the documents that include
> equations include *a lot* of equations.
FYI: MathML will be included in the next version of PDF (ISO 32000-2), which we hope to publish in 2011 (maybe 2012, I hope not). Once it's in PDF, I expect that ISO 14289 (PDF/Universal Accessibility) will require it.
Duff Johnson
Appligent Document Solutions, CEO
US Committee for ISO/CD 14289 (PDF/UA), Chair
US Committee for ISO 32000 (PDF/Reference), Vice Chair
US Committee for ISO 19005 (PDF/A), Member
22 E. Baltimore Ave
Lansdowne, PA 19050
+1 610 284 4006
+1 617 553 1934 (direct)
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
http://www.appligent.com
http://www.twitter.com/duffjohnson
From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Fri, Oct 01 2010 1:24PM
Subject: Re: Equations, MS Word 2007, PDFs, and alt text
← Previous message | Next message →
Thanks, Duff! Unfortunately, we're making PDFs to be distributed now, but it is good to know that better answers are not that far away.
Cliff
>>> On 9/26/2010 at 11:17 PM, in message < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >, Duff Johnson < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
Since PDF was mentioned....
>>>> Cliff Tyllick < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 9/24/2010 8:07 PM >>>
> Our agency has recently moved from MS Word 2003 to MS Word 2007. A few
> of our publications, produced in MS Word and published as PDFs created
> with Acrobat Professional 9.0, include equations that are complex enough
> to require the Equation Editor. Generally, the documents that include
> equations include *a lot* of equations.
FYI: MathML will be included in the next version of PDF (ISO 32000-2), which we hope to publish in 2011 (maybe 2012, I hope not). Once it's in PDF, I expect that ISO 14289 (PDF/Universal Accessibility) will require it.
Duff Johnson
Appligent Document Solutions, CEO
US Committee for ISO/CD 14289 (PDF/UA), Chair
US Committee for ISO 32000 (PDF/Reference), Vice Chair
US Committee for ISO 19005 (PDF/A), Member
22 E. Baltimore Ave
Lansdowne, PA 19050
+1 610 284 4006
+1 617 553 1934 (direct)
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
http://www.appligent.com
http://www.twitter.com/duffjohnson
From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Fri, Oct 01 2010 1:30PM
Subject: Re: Equations, MS Word 2007, PDFs, and alt text
← Previous message | Next message →
Steve, I appreciate the information. Unfortunately, the equations are part of much longer documents -- documents that our audience expects to download as PDFs or, if we made them available, Word files.
So html isn't a viable answer for us -- at least not for now.
Thanks!
Cliff
>>> On 9/26/2010 at 11:07 PM, in message < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >, Stephen L Noble < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
At the moment, there is no such thing as a natively accessible equation
format within a Word document. However, you can take a Word document
with either Equation Editor 3.0, MathType, or the 2007 Microsoft Word
Equation editor equations, and export the document (using MathType's
MathPage function) as XHTML+MathML, which is accessible to screen
readers when using IE plus the MathPlayer plugin. Here are some details
on that:
http://www.dessci.com/en/solutions/access/accessibilityfeatures.htm
One other alternative is that a blind user who knows TeX can use
MathType's TeX-toggle function. In other words, the sighted user can use
a WYSIWYG equation editor to insert the equation in a Word document, and
then the blind MathType user can hit the TeX-toggle command and all the
equations get converted to TeX, which being simple keyboard characters
can be read by any screen reader. Not all blind users know TeX, of
course, so it is not a perfect solution. Exporting to XHTML+MathML would
typically be considered the standard accessibility course for most
users.
Hope this helps,
--Steve Noble
------------------------------------
-- Steve Noble
Chair, National Technology Task Force
Learning Disabilities Association of America
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
502-969-3088
--------------
Disclaimer: The opinions and comments made in email are those of the
author, and do not necessarily represent the official position of any
organization unless explicitly stated.
>>> Cliff Tyllick < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 9/24/2010 8:07 PM >>>
Our agency has recently moved from MS Word 2003 to MS Word 2007. A few
of our publications, produced in MS Word and published as PDFs created
with Acrobat Professional 9.0, include equations that are complex enough
to require the Equation Editor. Generally, the documents that include
equations include *a lot* of equations.
In MS Word 2003, we were able to attach alt text to each of these
equations so people who use screen readers could understand the
content.
But in MS Word 2007, we find no way to attach alt text to an equation
-- as well as absolutely no documentation as to whether we need to do
anything to make these equations accessible!
It occurs to me that it's possible that the version of the Equation
Editor in MS Word 2007 might produce equations that screen readers can
read directly. (Perhaps MathML is embedded?) In other words, perhaps we
don't have to do anything to make these equations accessible.
Does anyone know if that's the case? And, if not, how *do* we create
accessible equations in MS Word 2007?
Oh, and if possible, let's not have a debate about what an accessible
equation is -- at least, not in this thread. ;-)
Thanks!
- Cliff
Cliff Tyllick
Usability assessment and Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
From: Stephen L Noble
Date: Fri, Oct 01 2010 3:51PM
Subject: Re: Equations, MS Word 2007, PDFs, and alt text
← Previous message | No next message
It is possible to put accessible equations in PDF documents. The process
essentially embeds MathML, and Design Science had a proof of concept
over two years ago showing that the MathPlayer plug-in could read it.
The primary stumbling block at the moment is that the software used to
create PDF files needs to provide better utility for doing this. Andrew
Kirkpatrick from Adobe, who is also on this list, can explain more, as
he is aware of this need.
Best regards,
--Steve
------------------------------------
-- Steve Noble
Chair, National Technology Task Force
Learning Disabilities Association of America
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
502-969-3088
--------------
Disclaimer: The opinions and comments made in email are those of the
author, and do not necessarily represent the official position of any
organization unless explicitly stated.
>>> Cliff Tyllick < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 10/1/2010 3:24 PM >>>
Steve, I appreciate the information. Unfortunately, the equations are
part of much longer documents -- documents that our audience expects to
download as PDFs or, if we made them available, Word files.
So html isn't a viable answer for us -- at least not for now.
Thanks!
Cliff
>>> On 9/26/2010 at 11:07 PM, in message
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >, Stephen L Noble
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
At the moment, there is no such thing as a natively accessible
equation
format within a Word document. However, you can take a Word document
with either Equation Editor 3.0, MathType, or the 2007 Microsoft Word
Equation editor equations, and export the document (using MathType's
MathPage function) as XHTML+MathML, which is accessible to screen
readers when using IE plus the MathPlayer plugin. Here are some
details
on that:
http://www.dessci.com/en/solutions/access/accessibilityfeatures.htm
One other alternative is that a blind user who knows TeX can use
MathType's TeX-toggle function. In other words, the sighted user can
use
a WYSIWYG equation editor to insert the equation in a Word document,
and
then the blind MathType user can hit the TeX-toggle command and all
the
equations get converted to TeX, which being simple keyboard characters
can be read by any screen reader. Not all blind users know TeX, of
course, so it is not a perfect solution. Exporting to XHTML+MathML
would
typically be considered the standard accessibility course for most
users.
Hope this helps,
--Steve Noble
------------------------------------
-- Steve Noble
Chair, National Technology Task Force
Learning Disabilities Association of America
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
502-969-3088
--------------
Disclaimer: The opinions and comments made in email are those of the
author, and do not necessarily represent the official position of any
organization unless explicitly stated.
>>> Cliff Tyllick < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 9/24/2010 8:07 PM >>>
Our agency has recently moved from MS Word 2003 to MS Word 2007. A few
of our publications, produced in MS Word and published as PDFs created
with Acrobat Professional 9.0, include equations that are complex
enough
to require the Equation Editor. Generally, the documents that include
equations include *a lot* of equations.
In MS Word 2003, we were able to attach alt text to each of these
equations so people who use screen readers could understand the
content.
But in MS Word 2007, we find no way to attach alt text to an equation
-- as well as absolutely no documentation as to whether we need to do
anything to make these equations accessible!
It occurs to me that it's possible that the version of the Equation
Editor in MS Word 2007 might produce equations that screen readers can
read directly. (Perhaps MathML is embedded?) In other words, perhaps
we
don't have to do anything to make these equations accessible.
Does anyone know if that's the case? And, if not, how *do* we create
accessible equations in MS Word 2007?
Oh, and if possible, let's not have a debate about what an accessible
equation is -- at least, not in this thread. ;-)
Thanks!
- Cliff
Cliff Tyllick
Usability assessment and Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =