Re: Accessible data table

Hi all -

I'd like an opinion on the accessibility of our data tables. I think I've
covered everything including:

1. Table caption elements.
2. Proper table structure including th, thead and tbody elements.
3. identifying relationships between columns and cells using scope, id and
headers attributes
4. A meaningful table summary attribute.

Is there anything I'm missing?

http://mit.edu/ocwhq/author/cmstable/100/6columns.html

Thanks in advance.

--
B.K. DeLong


Goodmorning everyone,
you have effectively covered all about table's accessibility.
Just few tips:

-- why using headers element in a simple table such as this?
   You can just artlessy use a accessible table structure (as you have
done) but you can omit headers that are generally used when a table
structure is  particurarly complicated (th in multi-level/multi-line with
colspan, etc...) to vehicle a read by a screen-reader or vocal browser.
Now you're developing a table with a linear structure, headers are a
plus...

-- classes allocated to a row (<tr>) to format a background or other
properties aren't perfectly "covered" crossbrowser.
   If I remember in a right way Netscape don't "feel" these properties, is
better use them allocated with a <td> (you can just define by css a general
background for all <td> in your contextualized table and a specifical class
to applicate alternatively one row yes and one row no using <td> elements).

-- and again: when you use a summary attribute it's better if you'll also
indicate something about data organization in table below (for example:
summary="Table container courses organized by lecture number, topics, key
dates and supporting files").
Obviously you have to do it when it's clear it will be an help to a blind
person that will probably "hear" your page by a vocal browser or a screen
reader.

Anyway...well done.

Have a good day



Sebastiano Nutarelli


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Received on Thursday, 23 December 2004 09:05:35 UTC