Frontpage 2000 Conformance review

Apologies for the delay.

Front Page 2000 (win98) AU Review
9 April 2000
Jim Allan
Summary
Front Page 2000 does not comply to the AU Guidelines. For example, it fails
for Priority 1 checkpoints 6.1 and 7.4. It was accessible to a screen
reader, with exceptions noted. 
Priority 1 checkpoints
Checkpoint 1.1 Ensure that the author can produce accessible content in the
markup language(s) supported by the tool. [Priority 1]
Yes. Allows direct source editing, alternative content input options are
available within dialog boxes (e.g. for ALT), some TABLE tags (THEAD, TBODY)
must be manually entered, TABLE SUMMARY must be added manually. Allows
author to turn off proprietary tags, and advanced technologies (DHTML,
JavaScript). 
Checkpoint 1.2 Ensure that the tool preserves all accessibility information
during authoring, transformations, and conversions. [Priority 1]
No. Conversion of table to text loses, header, caption, and summary
information. When converting from a word-processor format to HTML, headings
are transformed to plain text with font formatting. Must turn on "preserve
existing HTML" or symbol insertion (§, é, etc.) generate system font
symbols, and if entered manually (é) in HTML view they are converted
back to system font symbols.
Checkpoint 2.2 Ensure that the tool automatically generates valid markup.
[Priority 1]
Yes.
Checkpoint 3.4 Do not automatically generate equivalent alternatives. Do not
reuse previously authored alternatives without author confirmation, except
when the function is known with certainty. [Priority 1]
Yes.
Checkpoint 6.1 Document all features that promote the production of
accessible content. [Priority 1]
No. None found in search of help file.
Checkpoint 7.2 Allow the author to change the presentation within editing
views without affecting the document markup. [Priority 1]
Yes. In WYSIWYG (normal) view - can only use OS system tools to change
default font-size and font-color. User is allowed to configure font-face.
In HTML view user can control font-face and tag/attribute color.  Using an
Intellipoint mouse (wheel), user can change font size.
Checkpoint 7.3 Allow the author to edit all properties of each element and
object in an accessible fashion. [Priority 1]
Yes.
Checkpoint 7.4 Ensure that the editing view allows navigation via the
structure of the document in an accessible fashion. [Priority 1]
No. No outline view, no movement between like elements.
Relative Priority checkpoints
Note: These should be assessed by reference to the checkpoints of the Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines [WCAG10], and may be met at three different
levels.
Checkpoint 1.3 Ensure that when the tool automatically generates markup it
conforms to the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10].
[Relative Priority]   
No. When inserting images there is no prompt for alternative content (P1 in
WCAG10). It does not include DOCTYPE at the beginning of your pages unless
you manually build it in to the default page template (P2 in WCAG10).
However, dependent upon the author's knowledge of accessibility requirements
and abilities of the tool; it is capable of producing conforming content.
Tools  provide NOFRAMES placeholder and generic text . When inserting a
plug-in (EMBED) dialog box has text entry field for alternative content.
("Message for browsers without plug-in support"). Menu options are available
to insert  table CAPTION, THEAD, TBODY, and SUMMARY must be added manually.
Manually looking at properties for IMG (after insertion) shows a  text entry
field for alternative content. Menu selection for applying LABEL for form
element and associated text label. Checkpoint 1.4 Ensure that templates
provided by the tool conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
[WCAG10]. [Relative Priority]  
Yes. Generally, fairly good. Navigation generated by using Themes and Shared
Borders include ALT for buttons. However, there is abundant use of font size
rather than structural tags for headings. Form templates do not use LABEL.
Checkpoint 3.1 Prompt the author to provide equivalent alternative
information (e.g., captions, auditory descriptions, and collated text
transcripts for video). [Relative Priority]  
No. When inserting images there is no prompt for alternative content (P1 in
WCAG10).
Checkpoint 3.2 Help the author create structured content and separate
information from its presentation. [Relative Priority]
Yes. CSS implemented.
Checkpoint 3.3 Ensure that prepackaged content conforms to the Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10]. [Relative Priority]  
No.
Checkpoint 4.1 Check for and inform the author of accessibility problems.
[Relative Priority]  
No.
Checkpoint 4.2 Assist authors in correcting accessibility problems.
[Relative Priority]  
No. No help available, no validity checking.
Checkpoint 7.1 Use all applicable operating system and accessibility
standards and conventions (Priority 1 for standards and conventions that are
essential to accessibility; Priority 2 for those that are important to
accessibility; Priority 3 for those that are beneficial to accessibility). 
Yes, when using JAWS 3.5. A few problems were noted. In WYSIWYG (normal
view), default H1 and H2 text is not spoken (font size is too large for
JAWS, this is a JAWS problem not FrontPage). With "view tags" on the UL and
OL tags are not spoken. The tags for IMG and HR are not displayed. When
creating a new image, in the Image Properties dialog box user cannot tab
"Image Type" controls. When setting styles, in the Styles dialog box,
Borders and Shading property sheet, the Border type images are not labeled
(there is a  visual label), Border Location images are not labeled (there is
no visual or OS supplied label). All buttons are available from menu
selections. Keyboard short-cuts are available for most functions. 
Priority 2 checkpoints
Checkpoint 2.1 Use the latest versions of W3C Recommendations when they are
available and appropriate for a task. [Priority 2]  
For the most part, does use W3C, but also allows proprietary tags (EMBED,
BLINK, etc.) based on browser version selection. I could not find any
information about the default or minimum DTD being used. There are also a
number active elements that can be inserted into a page that I am not as
familiar with (different types of scripting, ActiveX, ASP, etc.)
Checkpoint 4.3 Allow the author to preserve markup not recognized by the
tool. [Priority 2]  
Yes.
Checkpoint 5.1 Ensure that functionality related to accessible authoring
practices is naturally integrated into the overall look and feel of the
tool. [Priority 2]  
No.
Checkpoint 5.2 Ensure that accessible authoring practices supporting Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10] Priority 1 checkpoints are
among the most obvious and easily initiated by the author. [Priority 2]  
No.
Checkpoint 6.2 Ensure that creating accessible content is a naturally
integrated part of the documentation, including examples. [Priority 2]  
No.
Checkpoint 7.5 Enable editing of the structure of the document in an
accessible fashion. [Priority 2]  
No.
Checkpoint 7.6 Allow the author to search within editing views. [Priority 2]
 
Yes.
Priority 3 checkpoints
Checkpoint 2.3 If markup produced by the tool does not conform to W3C
specifications, inform the author. [Priority 3]  No. No validity check
included.
Checkpoint 3.5 Provide functionality for managing, editing, and reusing
alternative equivalents for multimedia objects. [Priority 3]  
No.
Checkpoint 4.4 Provide the author with a summary of the document's
accessibility status. [Priority 3]  
No.
Checkpoint 4.5 Allow the author to transform presentation markup that is
misused to convey structure into structural markup, and to transform
presentation markup used for style into style sheets. [Priority 3]  
No.
Checkpoint 6.3 In a dedicated section, document all features of the tool
that promote the production of accessible content. [Priority 3]  
No.

Jim Allan, Statewide Technical Support Specialist
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
1100 W. 45th St., Austin, Texas 78756
voice 512.206.9315    fax: 512.206.9453  http://www.tsbvi.edu/
"Be BOLD and mighty forces will come to your aid." Basil King