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

Version
Date of Current Version: 16 February 2011
Latest Version (HTML): http://inclusivedesign.ca/accessible-office-documents/word2007-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), Word 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.	Yes. Via the “Show Level” feature in the “Outline” view.
[ADOD-Office-Applications-UI 7.5] Enable editing of the structure of the document in an accessible fashion.	Yes. Via the “Outline” view.
[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 Word 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
Headings	Yes.	No.
Table of contents	Yes.	Yes. Links were not identified as such.
Image with “alt” text	Yes.	No. NVDA did not recognize an image. NVDA recognized a “/” where the image should be.
Table	Yes.	Yes. It was possible to navigate the table using standard NVDA table navigation commands.
Formatted text	Yes. Using the JAWS text attributes command (JAWS key + f) it was possible to access both color and formatting.	Yes. Using the NVDA text attributes command (NVDA key + f) it was possible to access the formatting, but not the color of the text.
Change tracking	Yes. Enabling change tracking from the Review tab of the ribbon. It was very difficult to identify which parts of the sentences were added and deleted in this mode. This is a very common complaint about Change Tracking on JAWS user mailing lists.	No. The text was available, but no changes were indicated.
Numbered pages	Yes. By editing the footer using alt, n, o, e.	Yes. By editing the footer using alt, n, o, e.
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
Create a new document	Yes.	Yes.
Create two levels of headings	Yes. By selecting the text and using the keyboard command (alt + control + <n>) where <n> is the heading level.	Yes. By selecting the text and using the keyboard command (alt + control + <n>) where <n> is the heading level.
Add and then edit paragraph text (e.g. do a select-cut-paste)	Yes.	Yes.
Insert an image	Yes. Using Insert > Picture. You must use the Picture Size dialog to add alternative text.	Yes. Using Insert > Picture. You must use the Picture Size dialog to add alternative text.
Insert a 3-by-3 table and fill it with content	Yes. Using Insert > Table.	Yes. Using Insert > Table.
Create a bullet list	Yes. By starting the first line with an . Word automatically converts the into a bullet when you press enter and adds a bullet to each subsequent line until you press enter on an empty line.	Yes.
Use text formatting (bold, text colour)	Yes.	Yes. Color confirmed with JAWS.
Add page numbering	Yes. Using Insert > Page Number.	Yes. Using Insert > Page Number.
Insert a table of contents	Yes. Using References > Table of Contents.	Yes. Using References > Table of Contents.
Save document	Yes.	Yes.
Other Comments by the Screen Reader Tester:	JAWS provides good support for the Office 2007 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.	The ribbon is not very intuitive as it is a unique user interface control.

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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