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public:nnels:etext:tables [2023/07/27 07:23] rachel.osolen [Other tips] |
public:nnels:etext:tables [2023/07/27 15:57] (current) rachel.osolen [Insert Caption (if present)] |
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- | ===== Tables ===== | + | =======Creating Accessible |
- | 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. | + | This section will take you through the main steps for creating an accessible table. |
+ | |||
+ | When tables are not accessible, 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 '' | 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 '' | ||
- | Tables have a logical reading order from left to right and top to bottom. | + | Tables have a logical reading order from left to right and top to bottom. |
- | 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). | + | < |
- | < | + | < |
- | ====How to insert | + | <note important> |
- | [[https:// | + | =====Insert a Table===== |
+ | To create | ||
+ | * Go to the '' | ||
+ | * Go to '' | ||
+ | * Choose the number of boxes you want across to create columns, and then choose the number of boxes you want down to create rows for your table. | ||
- | Keep your tables simple without any extra modifications. | + | When you add a table to your document, two new tabs appear in the ribbon: |
- | ====Descriptions, Titles and Captions for Tables==== | + | - Design |
+ | - Layout | ||
- | Captions come with the table (they’re provided by the publisher.) Descriptions, | + | These are the '' |
- | < | + | < |
- | < | + | Here is a quick demo for [[https:// |
- | ===Descriptions (Alt-Text)=== | + | =====Create Header Row===== |
+ | Table cells should be marked as table headers or header rows when they serve as labels to help interpret the other cells in the table. Correctly identified headers provide metadata that the screenreader user can call up as needed as they navigate the data points. | ||
- | A description should always be included | + | To set the Header Row: |
+ | * Navigate | ||
+ | * Select '' | ||
+ | * Enter the text into the top row of the table for each column | ||
+ | * Your table now has a header row! | ||
- | Descriptions should answer | + | Having a Header Row will make it easier to understand |
- | <WRAP center round box 80%> | + | Next, ensure '' |
- | **Example:** | + | To enable '' |
+ | | ||
+ | | ||
+ | * This will open the '' | ||
+ | * Select the '' | ||
+ | | ||
+ | | ||
- | "A sample order form with separate columns for the item name, price and quantity." | + | Here is a quick demo on [[https:// |
- | </ | + | =====Create Table Description and Title===== |
- | Remember | + | The last step is to enter a description and a title for the table. These should always be included to give context |
- | < | + | For example: '' |
+ | Remember to keep the description short and direct. A good guideline is to keep it around 140 words. | ||
- | ==Create | + | < |
- | * Right click on the table and choose '' | + | |
- | * Under the Alt text tab, insert your description | + | |
- | * Insert | + | |
- | ===Captions=== | + | To add a Description and Title: |
+ | * Select the Table | ||
+ | * Right click to open the menu and select '' | ||
+ | * This will open the Table Properties dialog box | ||
+ | * Select the Alt-Text Tab in the Properties dialog box | ||
+ | * Enter the title into the title textbox | ||
+ | * Enter the description into the description textbox | ||
+ | * Select Ok. | ||
- | Captions are provided by the publisher, and are treated the same way as we would a caption | + | Here is a quick demo on [[https:// |
+ | =====Insert Caption (if present)===== | ||
- | ==Add a caption | + | Captions are provided by the publisher, and are treated the same way as we would a caption |
- | * Select the entire table or right click near the edge of the chart, graph or table, and choose | + | |
- | * In the Caption dialog box, type in a short description. | + | |
- | * For tables, | + | |
- | For more information on Captions in general go to [[public:nnels: | + | To Insert a Caption: |
+ | * Select the entire table or right click near the edge table to open the menu | ||
+ | * Select '' | ||
+ | * In the Caption dialog box, type in a short description | ||
+ | * Remove the label (i.e. Figure, Equation, Photo) by selecting '' | ||
+ | * Type or copy and paste the book's caption in the caption field | ||
- | ====Table Headers==== | + | < |
- | Table cells should be marked as table headers or header rows when they serve as labels to help interpret | + | |
- | ===Identify | + | Here is a quick demo on [[https:// |
- | * 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. | + | |
- | < | + | Congratulations! |
- | ===Ensure '' | + | =====How to Convert a Table to Normal Text===== |
- | This ensures | + | If a table is used as layout, you will have to remove |
- | * Place the cursor anywhere in the first row of the table. | + | |
- | * Select the Row tab in the Properties dialog box. | + | |
- | * Check '' | + | |
- | < | + | To convert a Table to Text |
+ | * First you highlight | ||
+ | * This will open the '' | ||
+ | * Select the '' | ||
+ | * On this menu select the '' | ||
+ | * This will open a pop up, you then choose | ||
- | ===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 '' | + | <note tip>If you have any questions, check the archive below, |
- | This ensures | + | </note> |
- | * 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 '' | + | |
- | * Do not use split or merged cells in a Table. Screenreaders can’t handle it. | + | |
- | * In Table Properties, under the Row tab, ensure '' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ====Avoid blank cells==== | + | |
- | * Do not use blank rows or columns in a table for formatting. Blank cells, rows, or columns could mislead someone using a screenreader into thinking that there is nothing more in the table. You can fix this by: * | + | |
- | * removing unnecessary blank cells, rows, or columns. | + | |
- | * adding some text indicating the cell is intentionally blank, i.e. N/A, “No data” or a hyphen. | + | |
=====Further Help===== | =====Further Help===== | ||
- | [[https:// | + | * [[https:// |
- | + | * [[https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ | |
- | =====Other tips===== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **Formatting Tip** | + | |
- | * Use Word tools to create desired format, i.e. borders, line spacing, and other cell styles. | + | |
- | * You can add more spacing by going to Table properties > Table > Options > Set the Top, Bottom, Left and Right margins to add more spaces around the text | + | |
- | * If you have multiple tables, you can create a Table style and apply this style to all new tables. | + | |
- | * [[http://www.karlencommunications.com/adobe/TablesAndColumnsOptimizeWordDocuments.pdf|Handout on creating | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **How to Convert a Table to Normal Text** | + | |
- | * Sometimes you will need to convert a table to normal text: | + | |
- | * First you highlight the table | + | |
- | * This will create the 'Table Tools' section | + | |
- | * Select the ' | + | |
- | * On this menu select the ' | + | |
- | * This will open a pop up, you then choose the paragraph break option to separate the text and hit okay | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | <note tip>If you have any questions, check the archive below, if still not clear, post your question on the [[public: | + | |
- | </ | + | |
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