Tables and Spreadsheets

Tables

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">Category</th>

<th scope="col">Amount</th>

<th scope="col">Permitted</th>

</tr> <tr>

<th scope="row">October 10</td> ?? where is initial 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