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Thread: Microsoft Word Forms
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From: Kathryn.Frederick
Date: Wed, Jun 26 2019 11:42AM
Subject: Microsoft Word Forms
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Hello,
Is anyone familiar with creating and/or editing forms in Microsoft Word 2016/Office 365? I'm using JAWS 2019.1904.60 on my Windows 10 machine. I know Freedom Scientific Published This Documentation<https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoccenter.freedomscientific.com%2Fdoccenter%2Fdoccenter%2Frs25c51746a0cc%2F2013-10-02_WordForms%2F02_WordForms.htm&data=02%7C01%7Ckathryn.frederick%40ood.ohio.gov%7Cc1514888704a43863dc208d6fa5c2daa%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C1%7C636971671144656957&sdata=aE2PJbUcM1YGnIVrFaMVTrUpXXOVXKUCaHDpnMYvsSM%3D&reserved=0>, that references creating forms in Word 2007-2013, but wondering if anyone has more up-to-date material on this topic?
Thank you in advance for your feedback.
Sincerely,
Katie Frederick
From: Karlen Communications
Date: Wed, Jun 26 2019 1:08PM
Subject: Re: Microsoft Word Forms
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I just took a really quick look at Microsoft Forms which apparently I have access to with my Office 365 subscription. It wants to open in Edge by default so some of the functionality still isn't working with JAWS. However, once I copied the URL into IE 11, I was able to access the tools in much the same way as Sway works. I was able to create a form, add an image to it and create a series of radio buttons with a question and make the question required. The down side is that submissions will be sent to my Microsoft Account e-mail.
I've tried using the ActiveX form controls to create a form but can't find them again using JAWS to tell which parts of the form should be protected and which ones shouldn't. I also, in recent months, don't seem to have access to the ToolTips that are supposed to be in the Status bar and only hear the word "edit" in a text based AdctiveX form control or "checkbox" which isn't helpful.
I don't use the Content Controls because they still aren't accessible and any improvements to them (which I have seen in terms of accessibility) are not backward compatible. They still are, to some extent, keyboard traps or what happens is that I am not told I am entering one and then aren't often able to use standard reading and navigation keyboard commands in them without knowing why. I still have to force my screen reader to exit them and often land somewhere else in the document and have to find my way back to where I was...getting snagged in the Content Control again...so you see the problem. ð
I tend to create a form template in Word and then create a PDF form but I have some functional vision and forms in Acrobat are a visual mouse driven activity.
For those of us who use screen readers, forms are still difficult to create.
Cheers, Karen
From: Kathryn.Frederick
Date: Wed, Jun 26 2019 1:33PM
Subject: Re: Microsoft Word Forms
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Karen,
Thank you for your reply. Just to clarify, I'm trying to helm improve the accessibility of a form that's been created in Word. My agency chooses to try to make forms in Word, rather than using something web-based such as Microsoft or Google Forms.
I know I can improve the help text and bookmarks in the form, but the state of the checkboxes (checked or unchecked) doesn't change when activated consistently. I know there are likely some issues with JAWS in all of this, I'm just trying to make what I have to work with the most accessible as I can for screen reader users, including me. Smile.
Thanks,
Katie Frederick