No header row specified
Requirements for 508 compliance
Identify column and row header cells programmatically.
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Data in Columns:
Are data column header cells identified in the first row?
To check the identification on the first row:
To look for the presence of a marked Header Row, Run the accessibility checker: "No Header Row Specified" will show if it is not set correctly.
Note: The data tables must be formatted with Table Grid style for this check to work. To inspect a table to determine its' style, select the table, then open the Reveal Formatting Pane: CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + F.
Note: The data tables must be formatted with Table Grid style for this check to work. To inspect a table to determine its' style, select the table, then open the Reveal Formatting Pane: SHIFT + F1.
Data in Rows:
Are data row header cells used in the first column? If used, convert to a an accessible format.
To check row headers in data tables:
Inspect the table headers and data to determine if row headers have been employed in the first column.
If the first column must contain row headers, convert the document to an accessible format for distribution.
Data in Columns:
To identify the first row as column data headers:
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Select the first row of the table
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On the Layout Sub-Tab (of the Table Tools Tab), in the Data Group, select Repeat Header Rows.
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The Repeat Header Rows button remains highlighted when set (and the cursor is placed in the header row).
Note: In addition to identifying the header row, this function also makes header appear on each new page (where a table spans more than one page).
Data in Rows:
To identify the first column as row data headers:
This cannot be done in MS Word. If the first column must contain row headers:
Fix any other accessibility issues with this MS Word document.
Convert the document to an accessible format for distribution.
Identify column and row header cells programmatically.
Correct:
(Select the image to download example file in MS Word format)
Incorrect:
(Select the image to download example file in MS Word format)
Identify column and row header cells programmatically.
Sighted users can visually scan up and across a data table to find row and column headers. Correctly labeling rows and columns headers allows non-sighted users can make this association.
Legal References
508 references:
1194.22(g); 1194.22(h); 1194.31(a); 1194.31(b).
WCAG references:
1.3.1-H51.
All Microsoft Word Requirements