There are special techniques for creating accessible tables.
Table Concepts [W3C Web Accessibility Tutorials] https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/tables/
AccessMOOC) Tools for Tables
Accessible data tables must have the following features:
- Row and column headers
- Association between data cells and header cells (i.e. scope attribute)
For complex data tables, it is also helpful to do the following:
-Add a Table Caption
-Add a Summary Attribute
-Use a Simple Layout
-Avoid Blank and Merged Cells
--
Accessibilty Basics Series: Data Tables
Eric Lyons [SSB Bart Group] May 12, 2106
Recording: http://go.ssbbartgroup.com/Ar0O00BK30ix26a00w030EF
Types of tables
Simple - 1 header row and/or header column
Complex - more than one row or column header
Layout - used for presentation purposes only - table elements can create confusion to screen reader
Without proper markup, data is not available to screen reader users.
Best practices:
1. Use table elements (table, tr, th, td) - can also use summary, caption, thread, and tfoot
- make sure headers are in the same table as the data
2. Table headers must be properly identified
- th for table header row or column
- distinguish data from layout table
- announces headers during navigation
--- some AT may look for 'scope' attributes are row, col, rowgroup, colgroup --- or just use th (his best practice)
- scope associates header with everything in a row or column
EXAMPLE of simple table
<table>
<tr>
<th scope="col">Date</th>
<th scope="col">Category</th>
<th scope="col">Amount</th>
<th scope="col">Permitted</th>
</tr> <tr>
<th scope="row">October 10</td> ?? where is initial td?
<td> Meal</td>
<td> $70</td>
<td> OK</td>
</tr> ... (next row data)
</table>
COMPLEX Tables
---(complex tables use 'id' and 'headers' attributes...)
- Flip table on other axis to create a simple table
- Break complex tables into multiple simple tables
3. complete data table headers are associated with data
Excel Tips [Accessibility at Penn State] http://accessibility.psu.edu/microsoftoffice/excel/
Make your Excel spreadsheets accessible (using the Accessibility Checker) https://support.office.com/en-ie/article/Make-your-Excel-spreadsheets-accessible-6cc05fc5-1314-48b5-8eb3-683e49b3e593