Word table with Alt Text in Description field Screen reader compatibility
Word
Dec 12, 2023
Expected Result: works in a screen reader
Actual Result: causes problems in 1 screen reader / browser combinations
Code used for this test:
<a href='Office/word-365.docx'>word-365.docx</a>
Change History
Last updated: December 12, 2023
- VoiceOver macOS OK in VoiceOver macOS 10.13
Screen reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
---|---|---|---|---|
Narrator | Office 365 - Word 16.18 | Reading | Table with 2 rows 2 columns, this is the table description. | |
NVDA 2017.3 | Office 365 - Word 16.18 | Reading | Requires additional keystrokes to read description | Table has long description with 2 rows and 2 columns, level 1 row 1 column 1, morning. |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | Office 365 - Word 16.18 | Reading | Description not voiced | Table 1, uniform table, morning, row 1 of 2 column 1 of 2, morning. |
VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Office 365 - Word 16.18 | Reading | Description only read after table meta data and a long pause | Table 2 rows, 2 columns, no selection... This is the table description, to enter this table press control-option-shift-down arrow |
Test notes
All tests were carried out with screen reader factory settings. JAWS in particular has a wide variety of settings controlling exactly what gets spoken.
Screen readers allow users to interact in different modes, and can produce very different results in each mode. The modes used in these tests are:
- Reading Content read using the “read next” command in a screen reader
- Tabbing Content read using the “tab” key in a screen reader
- Heading Content read using the “next heading” key in a screen reader
- Touch Content read when touching an area of screen on a mobile device
In the “What the user hears” column:
- Commas represent short pauses in screen reader voicing
- Full Stops represent places where voicing stops, and the “read next” or “tab” or “next heading” command is pressed again
- Ellipsis … represent a long pause in voicing
- (Brackets) represent voicing that requires a keystroke to hear