Word table with Alt Text in Title and Description fields Screen reader compatibility

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		This is the table title, table with 2 rows 2 columns, this is the table description
NVDA 2017.3	Office 365 - Word 16.18	Reading		This is the table title, 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	Title and description not voiced	Table 3, uniform table, morning, row 1 of 2 column 1 of 2, morning.
VoiceOver macOS 10.13	Office 365 - Word 16.18	Reading		Table 2 rows, 2 columns, this is the table title, 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