Datasheet

You can make a large table easier to understand and navigate by adding text objects that provide
information about each value in the table.
Include whatever information is necessary to establish the meaning and context of the value displayed.
When appropriate, include information that describes column headings or neighboring fields. For
example, if a report displays employee names and salaries, you can add a text object before the Salary
database field that reads "{Last Name}'s salary is ". The user can determine the context and meaning
of the value by reading the accompanying text object.
Ensure that your text objects use punctuation that will make the content easier to understand when
read aloud by a screen reader. Without accessibility-orientated punctuation, data tables may be read
as one long sentence, making navigation and interpretation very difficult. For example, you can add
periods after values so a screen reader will pause between columns and rows. For details, see Using
punctuation.
As with all objects in reports, the order in which you place text objects on the report can affect
accessibility. Screen readers read the objects in the order they were originally added. (For details, see
Placing objects in order.) The correct placement order is critical when you add a text object that identifies
the contents of a particular column in a data table. If you add the text objects at the end of the design
process, they may be read after the columns that they refer to. When you add text objects that describe
values in a report, ensure that you place them on the report in the order that you want them to be read.
Before you can create an accessible data table, you must plan your report in advance, determining
which objects and database fields you want to include. Because objects must be placed in the order
you want them to be read, planning your content for accessibility is essential. As part of this planning,
it is good practice to choose how you will use text objects to identify data table values. You can simply
add text objects before each database field. Or you can conditionally suppress text objects or use
formulas to combine text objects and values.
27.4.1.1 Labeling data tables with text objects
Before each field, add a text object that describes the field's position in the table. In the following
example, the text box provides information about the Employee ID number. When the report is read
with a screen reader, each number is preceded by the brief explanation in the text box.
2011-05-16683
Creating Accessible Reports