Office Application Accessibility Review: MS Excel 2007 | Accessible Digital Office Document (ADOD) Project

Version
Date of Current Version: 16 February 2011
Latest Version (HTML): http://inclusivedesign.ca/accessible-office-documents/excel2007-review

Contents
Usage Notes
Review Results
Screen Reader Test 1. Accessing an Existing Test Document
Screen Reader Test 2. Creating a New Document
Acknowledgments

Usage Notes

Overview

At the time of testing (February, 2011), Excel 2007 was found to be relatively accessible using keyboard navigation. In addition, screen reader testing appeared to show that use is possible with JAWS 11 and NVDA 2010.2 with some limitations.

Testing Details

Screen reader testing was performed using two popular screen readers for Windows 7, JAWS 11 and NVDA 2010.2.
Keyboard navigation testing was performed on Windows 7.

Disclaimer

This document is provided for information purposes only and is neither a recommendation nor a guarantee of results.
If errors are found, please report them to: adod-comments@idrc.ocad.ca.

Review Results

This table summarizes the result of our reviews using the “ADOD Assessment Framework: Success criteria for assessing the accessibility of office application user interfaces”

ADOD Assessment Framework: Success criteria for assessing the accessibility of office application user interfaces	Result
[ADOD-Office-Applications-UI 7.1] Use all applicable operating system and accessibility standards and conventions that are important or essential to accessibility. The techniques for this checkpoint include references to checklists and guidelines for a number of platforms and to general guidelines for accessible applications. ADOD Note: The Checkpoint is very general, and includes: Supporting relevant accessibility API(s); Web-based tools conforming to WCAG; Keyboard access; Providing keyboard shortcuts where recommended for a platform; Respecting platform settings (such as “high contrast” modes); and Providing documentation.	Yes. Screen reader support is confirmed by testing (see below). Most features are keyboard accessible. Provides keyboard shortcuts and when “alt” is pressed, the keyboard shortcuts appear displayed adjacent to the controls they will activate. Respects platform settings including Windows “high contrast” mode.
[ADOD-Office-Applications-UI 7.2] Allow the author to change the presentation within editing views without affecting the [office document]. This allows the author to edit the document according to personal requirements, without changing the way the document is rendered when published.	Yes. “Zoom” feature and support for Windows platform high contrast settings.
[ADOD-Office-Applications-UI 7.3] Allow the author to edit all properties of each element and object in an accessible fashion.	Mostly. Some inserted graphical objects (e.g., shapes) appear to require the mouse be used for editing.
[ADOD-Office-Applications-UI 7.4] Ensure that the editing view allows navigation via the structure of the document in an accessible fashion.	No. Does not allow navigation via the structure alone. Shortcut keys moves to edge of data region or cell by cell. Shortcut keys allow chart navigation via the structure of the chart.
[ADOD-Office-Applications-UI 7.5] Enable editing of the structure of the document in an accessible fashion.	No. Document can be edited cell by cell, not by document structure alone.
[ADOD-Office-Applications-UI 7.6] Allow the author to search within editing views.	Yes. Via the “Find and Replace” feature.

Screen Reader Test 1. Accessing an Existing Test Document

In this test, the evaluator used a screen reader to explore a pre-existing test document that had been created by a sighted colleague, following the “Authoring Techniques for Accessible Office Documents: Microsoft Excel 2007”. The test document included the elements in the left-hand column (i.e., heading, table of contents, etc.).

Able to Access?	JAWS 11	NVDA 2010.2
Image with “alt” text	No. The image was found with the JAWS object list (control + shift + o), but its “alt” text was not read.	No. NVDA did not recognize an image.
Data table	Yes.	Yes. It was possible to navigate the table using standard NVDA table navigation commands.
Bar chart with “alt” text	Yes. The chart was found using the JAWS object list (control + shift + o) and its title was read.	No. NVDA did not recognize a chart.
Formatted text	Yes. Using the JAWS text attributes command (JAWS key + f).	Yes. Using the NVDA text attributes command (NVDAS key + f). Font color was not recognized.
Cell with a note on it	Yes. JAWS announced the presence of the note, and it was discoverable using the JAWS comments list (control + shift + ‘).	No. The text was available, but NVDA did not announce or provide access to the comment.
Search function	Yes.	Yes.

Screen Reader Test 2. Creating a New Document

In this test, the evaluator used a screen reader to create a new test document which was to include the elements in the left-hand column (i.e., two levels of heading, an image, etc.).

Able to accomplish?	JAWS 11	NVDA 2010.2
Add and then edit regular text (e.g. do a select-cut-paste)	Yes. To cut and paste an entire cell of text it is necessary to select the cell, cut, move to the new cell, and then to paste. To cut a segment of text from the currently selected cell it is necessary to press F2 to focus on the cell edit control, to select the desired text, to cut, to find the new cell, and to paste.	Yes. To cut and paste an entire cell of text it is necessary to select the cell, cut, move to the new cell, and then to paste. To cut a segment of text from the currently selected cell it is necessary to press F2 to focus on the cell edit control, to select the desired text, to cut, to find the new cell, and to paste.
Insert an image	Yes. Using Insert > Picture. Alternative text was set using the Size and Properties dialog for the picture.	Yes. Using Insert > Picture. Alternative text was set using the Size and Properties dialog for the picture. Once focus was moved from the picture, pressing escape, it was not possible to get it back.
Create a 3-by-3 data table and fill it with content	Yes.	Yes. Using Insert > Table.
Create a chart from a data table	Yes. Using Insert > (chart type).	Yes.
Use text formatting (bold, text colour)	Yes.	Yes.
Save document	Yes.	Yes.
Other Comments by the Screen Reader Tester:	JAWS provides good support for the ribbon. However, using the ribbon is very non-intuitive, as it is a unique user interface component. JAWS does provide help training for Office 2007 in the JAWS menu > Help > Training.	Using the ribbon is very non-intuitive, as it is a unique user interface component.

Acknowledgments

This document was produced as part of the Accessible Digital Office Document (ADOD) Project (http://inclusivedesign.ca/accessible-office-documents).
This project has been developed by the Inclusive Design Research Centre, OCAD University as part of an EnAbling Change Partnership project with the Government of Ontario and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

Partner logos: UNESCO-United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Government of Ontario and the Inclusive Design Research Centre (OCAD University)

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