[Athen] feedback on alt text language for Word table

[Karlen Communications]

Are we talking Word or HTML? 

In Word, a caption above the table would provide the description, for example, "Ranking of research manufacturers." Alt Text for Word tables is used to provide information on any structural oddities or issues with the table...things like merged or split cells.

I agree, it should be concise. Keep in mind too that columns are letters and Rowan are numbers just as with Excel. Those are the coordinates we hear.

Cheers, Karen

Sent from my iPad


> On Aug 21, 2015, at 1:41 PM, Lisa Brandt <lisa.brandt1 at pcc.edu> wrote:

> 

> For this kind of thing, I usually try to make it a little less wordy (ha ha). I think you can relay the same information but make it more compact, like so:

> 

> Alt text: "Table with 4 columns, 2 header rows, and 7 data rows. First header row: first two columns blank; header 'Data Source' spans last two columns. Second data row: Rank, Manufacturer, Data Source - Gartner, Data Source - International Data Corporation (IDC)."

> 

> I try to make things as compact as possible and get the meat of it up front, since anyone using a screen reader would likely be skipping to the next thing as soon as they hear enough to know if it's something they want to read in detail. But people who actually have to read the stuff might have a different opinion than I do (smiley face).

> 

> If I were doing this as a description rather than alt text, I might present it in more of a hierarchical outline rather than adhering to the format of the table.

> 

> Lisa

> 

> 

> On Fri, 21 Aug 2015 09:36:45 -0700, Howard Kramer <hkramer at ahead.org> wrote:

> 

> Hello All:

> 

> I'm developing a MOOC with a couple of colleagues on Inclusive eLearning and I have a section on alt text for Word Tables. I've noticed some examples of alt text for tables which are very minimal in the information provided - basically just the structure of the table and if there were merged cells. Do you think this example provides too much information in the alt text? 

> 

> Alt text: “This is a 4 column by 9 row table with 2 header rows and 7 data rows. The first row has one header for Data Source which spans column 3 and 4 above the names of the two research firms in row 2. The second row headers are Rank, Manufacturer and the names of the two research firms: Gartner and International Data Corporation.”

> 

> I will also recommend that the first 2 rows be designated as repeating header rows in Word and will add a "true" caption on top.

> 

> 

>  

> 

>  

> 

> Data Source

> 

> Rank

> 

> Manufacturer

> 

> Gartner

> International Data Corporation (IDC)

> 

> 1

> Samsung

> 24.6%

> 24.5%

> 2

> Nokia

> 13.9%

> 13.8%

> 3

> Apple Inc.

> 8.3%

> 8.4%

> 4

> LG

> 3.8%

> 3.8%

> 5

> ZTE

> 3.3%

> -

> 5

> Huawei

> -

> 3.0%

>  

> Others

> 34.0%

> 46.4%

>       Top Five Worldwide Total Mobile Phone Vendors, 2013

> 

> 

> 

> Thanks in advance.

> -Howard

> 

> 

> -- 

> Howard Kramer

> Conference Coordinator

> Accessing Higher Ground

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> 

> AHEAD Association of Higher Education and Disability

> 

> 

> 

> 

> --

> Lisa Brandt, PCC Disability Services

> Accessibility Technician

> Alternate Media Formats Technician

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