Accessible Word (implementation guide)
The implementation aid Word barrier-free serves as support for the Word barrier-free checklist. The order of the aspects and the structure according to categories are the same.
Each aspect is divided into three sections in the implementation guide:
Under the heading "What is meant by this? " you will find a detailed description of the aspect to be ticked off. The section "Why is it important?" describes which barriers you are removing with the respective aspect and for which groups of people this is essential. Finally, under the heading "How can I implement/check this?" you will find detailed instructions on how to implement or check the respective aspect.
7. Table
7.4. Connected cells
Cells are not connected to each other.
What is meant by this?
Each row should have the same number of columns to ensure that the content can be assigned to the correct column heading. If the cells in a table are linked together, this can lead to confusion and ambiguity, as readers cannot be sure which column heading the content must be assigned to.
Why is it important?
If table cells are merged, this can lead to problems as the information can no longer be assigned to the corresponding column headings. This can lead to the information being interpreted incorrectly or incompletely, which can lead to errors or misunderstandings. This can happen in particular when the table is viewed enlarged. Users of screen readers and speech output devices also face challenges in correctly assigning and interpreting the cells when they are connected. To avoid such problems, tables should be formatted in such a way that each cell can be assigned to a specific column and the information is easy to interpret.
How can I implement/check it?
To ensure that the cells in a table are not connected to each other, table cells should not be merged. If it is necessary to place additional information in a cell, new rows or columns can be added for this purpose. However, it is important to ensure that each row has the same number of columns so that the content can be assigned to the correct column headings. If too much information is placed in a table, either the table should be split into several tables or an alternative display format should be selected.
You can check whether the cells in a table are connected to each other by checking the table for cell overlaps. In Microsoft Word, you can check the table structure and detect cell overlaps by manually inspecting the table visually or by using accessibility checking tools such as screen readers.