This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision Next revision Both sides next revision | ||
public:nnels:etext:tables [2020/02/11 21:28] rachel.osolen [Descriptions and Captions] |
public:nnels:etext:tables [2020/05/08 21:03] rachel.osolen [Q&A] |
||
---|---|---|---|
Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
When tables are not structured accessibly, the data they contain can quickly become a meaningless sea of numbers, facts and figures to someone moving through them a cell at a time. Readers who cannot see the table cannot use visual cheats like checking the alignment and scanning back to the top headings to orient themselves as they go. Equivalent information needs to be encoded into the table to facilitate comprehension. | When tables are not structured accessibly, the data they contain can quickly become a meaningless sea of numbers, facts and figures to someone moving through them a cell at a time. Readers who cannot see the table cannot use visual cheats like checking the alignment and scanning back to the top headings to orient themselves as they go. Equivalent information needs to be encoded into the table to facilitate comprehension. | ||
- | Tables are meant to be used for tabular information (data). Tables should never be used to lay out documents. When editing a book, recreate charts and tables using the default functionality of the software, i.e. the Insert Table tool. | + | Tables are meant to be used for tabular information (data). Tables should never be used to lay out documents. When editing a book, recreate charts and tables using the default functionality of the software |
Tables have a logical reading order from left to right and top to bottom. Screenreader users can easily navigate to and examine data in tables. There are specific keyboard controls for reading tables that differ to the controls for reading regular text. When non-tabular text is rendered with tables, the reading controls are incorrect. This can make it confusing and difficult to read the document with a screenreader. | Tables have a logical reading order from left to right and top to bottom. Screenreader users can easily navigate to and examine data in tables. There are specific keyboard controls for reading tables that differ to the controls for reading regular text. When non-tabular text is rendered with tables, the reading controls are incorrect. This can make it confusing and difficult to read the document with a screenreader. | ||
- | Do not present non-tabular information in a table format even if it presented as such in a book, i.e. a grocery list with two columns. | + | Do not present non-tabular information in a table format even if it presented as such in a book (i.e. a grocery list with two columns). Present such information as a list in two columns (see [[public: |
+ | |||
+ | <note> | ||
====How to insert a table==== | ====How to insert a table==== | ||
Line 16: | Line 18: | ||
Captions come with the table (they’re provided by the publisher.) Descriptions, | Captions come with the table (they’re provided by the publisher.) Descriptions, | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
===Descriptions (Alt-Text)=== | ===Descriptions (Alt-Text)=== | ||
Line 65: | Line 69: | ||
* Select the Row tab in the Properties dialog box. | * Select the Row tab in the Properties dialog box. | ||
* Check '' | * Check '' | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Identify a " | ||
+ | * Click anywhere in the table. | ||
+ | * Go to the Table Tools Design tab at the top of the page. Check the '' | ||
+ | * Type (or retype) your column headings. | ||
+ | * Press the Enter key. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Apply '' | ||
+ | This ensures the header row is repeated across pages. Do this even if the table does not go over multiple pages so the screen reader can identify the header row from the rest of the table: | ||
+ | * Click anywhere in the table | ||
+ | * Go to the Table Tools Layout tab at the top of the page | ||
+ | * select the '' | ||
+ | * Note: It the Header Row does not automatically repeat on each page, then do the next step. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Ensure '' | ||
+ | * Place the cursor anywhere in the first row of the table. Right click and select Table Properties from the pop-up menu. | ||
+ | * Select the Row tab in the Properties dialog box. | ||
+ | * Check '' | ||
====Ensure '' | ====Ensure '' | ||
Line 102: | Line 126: | ||
===== Q&A ===== | ===== Q&A ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Q: I am editing a book that has very long tables that are images. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{: | ||
+ | {{: | ||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | A: In this case you can break the sub-sections down into their own tables with each disorder its own table. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
**Q: In Theomatics, instead of creating tables the author has used images. | **Q: In Theomatics, instead of creating tables the author has used images. | ||
Line 108: | Line 145: | ||
A: Images of tables need to be presented as tables, just as images of text should be presented as text. You can see how to make accessible tables here: | A: Images of tables need to be presented as tables, just as images of text should be presented as text. You can see how to make accessible tables here: | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||