Accessible Excel (implementation guide)

3.6. Saving

When saving for the last time, the worksheet with which the users are to start is selected. In all spreadsheets, the cell with which the users are to start is also selected (usually A1).

What is meant by this?

The saving behaviour in Excel differs from Word and PowerPoint. It remembers the last active cell where the focus was when the file is reopened. This information is saved directly in the file and not locally on your own PC.

Why is it important?

Visual orientation in Excel is limited for non-sighted staff, people. When opening an Excel file, they lack information about the current worksheet position, the number of previous worksheets and possible content before the selected cell if they are in the middle of the worksheet. To get this information, they have to manually explore the entire spreadsheet using the keyboard. By clearly labelling the first cell (A1) of the first spreadsheet, screen reader users can find their way around more quickly and easily.

How can I implement/check it?

These steps ensure that the focus is on cell A1 when the Excel file is reopened:

1. Click in the A1 field to select it. Alternatively, you can use the key combination "Ctrl" + "Pos1" to jump directly to cell A1.
2. Select "Save as" or "Save" from the menu to save your file.
3. Close the file and open it again to check whether the selection has been saved in cell A1.