Version
Date of Current Version: 16 February 2011
Latest Version (HTML): http://inclusivedesign.ca/accessible-office-documents/excel2010-review
Contents
Usage Notes
Review Results
Screen Reader Test 1. Accessing an Existing Test Document
Screen Reader Test 2. Creating a New Document
Acknowledgments
At the time of testing (February, 2011), Excel 2010 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.
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.
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.
This table summarizes the result of our reviews using the “ADOD Assessment Framework: Success criteria for assessing the accessibility of office application user interfaces”
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 2010”. 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 |
Yes. The image was found with the JAWS object list (control + shift + o). |
No. NVDA did not recognize an image. |
Data table |
Yes. |
Yes. |
Bar chart with “alt” text |
Yes. The chart was found using the JAWS object list (control + shift + o). |
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. |
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. It did not appear possible to set alternative text. |
Yes. Using Insert > Picture. It did not appear possible to add Alternative text. Once focus was moved from the picture, pressing escape, it was not possible to get it back. |
Insert a 3-by-3 table and fill it with content |
Yes. |
Yes. |
Create a chart from a data table |
Yes. Using Insert > (chart type). |
Yes. Using Insert > (chart type). |
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. Although the training is for Office 2007, it would be useful to an Office 2010 user as well. Some documents open in Office 2010 in “Protected view”. From within the document press F6 to get to the Protected view toolbar and tab to get to the “Enable editing” button. |
Using the ribbon is very non-intuitive, as it is a unique user interface component. |
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).
Copyright © 2011 Inclusive Design Research Centre, OCAD University
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(b) the reproduction must preserve the "Version" section; and
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