Accessible Excel (implementation guide)

7.1. Table generation

A chart is generated from Excel on the basis of a table (data).

What is meant by this?

Excel is a programme designed for the preparation and presentation of data. This also includes the creation of diagrams based on data. Diagrams are therefore not copied into Excel, but created there.

Why is it important?

It is important to generate charts in Excel based on tabular data as they contain more information than simple image copies. Staff, people with visual impairments who rely on screen readers cannot access visual information directly, so an alternative form of presentation is necessary. Although alternative texts are limited to a maximum of 125 characters and cannot contain all details, they should make reference to the underlying table. Screen readers can read out the information from the table, making the data accessible to people with visual impairments.

How can I implement/check it?

To create a chart from a table in Excel, you can follow the steps below:

1. Make sure your data in the Excel spreadsheet is correct and complete, with clearly labelled columns and rows to prepare it for the chart.
2. Select the area you want to display in the diagram, including the corresponding columns and rows.
3. Go to the "Insert" tab in Excel.
4. Select the chart type that best suits your data. Excel offers various chart types such as column, line, pie, bar and pie charts.
5. Customise the chart as needed by using axis labels, titles, legends and other formatting options to make the chart meaningful and clear.
6. Position the diagram at the desired location in your Excel worksheet.