Office Application Accessibility Review: OpenOffice Writer 3.2 (for Windows) | Accessible Digital Office Document (ADOD) Project

Version
Date of Current Version: 16 February 2011
Latest Version (HTML): http://inclusivedesign.ca/accessible-office-documents/oowriter-win-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), OpenOffice Writer 3.2 (for Windows) was found to be relatively accessible using keyboard navigation. In addition, screen reader testing appeared to show that use is possible with NVDA 2010.2, but with important limitations, including the need for assistance during installation.

Testing Details

Screen reader testing was performed on Windows 7 using NVDA 2010.2. Our tester was not able to access the application with JAWS 11.
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. Shortcut keys are common across all OpenOffice applications. Can assign or edit shortcut keys for certain function categories. 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. “Scaling” 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.	Yes.
[ADOD-Office-Applications-UI 7.4] Ensure that the editing view allows navigation via the structure of the document in an accessible fashion.	Yes. Via the “Navigator” feature.
[ADOD-Office-Applications-UI 7.5] Enable editing of the structure of the document in an accessible fashion.	Yes. Via the “Navigator” feature.
[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: OpenOffice Writer 3.2”. The test document included the elements in the left-hand column (i.e., heading, table of contents, etc.).

Able to Access?	NVDA 2010.2
Headings	No.
Table of contents	Yes. Links were not identified as such.
Image with “alt” text	No. NVDA did not recognize an image.
Table	Yes. NVDA would navigate by cell by using control + arrow keys.
Formatted text	Yes. The NVDA text attributes command (NVDA key + f) identified formatting, but not text color.
Change tracking	No. NVDA recognized the text, but not the changes.
Numbered pages	No.
Search function	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?	NVDA 2010.2
Create a new document	Yes.
Create two levels of headings	Yes. Select the text, press F6 to cycle to the Formatting toolbar, press control + enter on the Styles button and select the appropriate heading style.
Add and then edit paragraph text (e.g. do a select-cut-paste)	Yes.
Insert an image	Yes. Using Insert > Picture > From file… After the image was inserted it was possible to use Format > Picture to add alternative text. Once I pressed escape the image object lost focus and it was not possible to bring it back or to find it in the document with NVDA.
Insert a 3-by-3 table and fill it with content	Yes. Using Table > Insert. It was not possible to navigate empty table cells with control + arrows. I entered content and pressed the tab key to get to the next cell. NVDA did not announce cell coordinates when using this method.
Create a bullet list	Yes. Selecting the text and selecting the Bulleted list button from the Formatting toolbar with control + enter.
Use text formatting (bold, text colour)	Yes. By selecting the text and selecting the appropriate option from the Formatting toolbar with control + enter.
Add page numbering	Yes. See “Other Comments”, below.
Insert a table of contents	Yes. Links were not identified as such.
Save document	Yes.
Other Comments by the Screen Reader Tester:	It was not possible to install OpenOffice without sighted assistance since the wizard which appeared when starting the application for the first time was not accessible with JAWS or NVDA. To install OpenOffice so that it is accessible to AT on Windows you must. Install OpenOffice Install the Java Access Bridge for Windows (v. 2.0.1). Open OpenOffice and enable AT support from Tools > Options > Accessibility See also page numbering in OpenOffice - http://en.kioskea.net/faq/3104-page-numbering-in-open-office

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)

(a) the reproduction is offered at no cost to the recipients; and
(b) the reproduction must preserve the "Version" section; and
(c) the reproduction must preserve the "Acknowledgments" section; and
(d) the reproduction must preserve this copyright notice.