Accessible Excel (implementation guide)

A table has no empty rows or columns.

What is meant by this?

There should be no empty rows or columns in a well-structured Excel spreadsheet, as they can impair readability and lead to misinterpretations. If table areas are to be separated from each other, it is advisable to create a second table.

Why is it important?

For staff, people who use screen readers, it is important to note that in Excel, empty cells are read out as "empty" or similar. If cells are empty, screen reader users are informed that this cell no longer belongs to the table. This can make the use of Excel tables confusing for screen reader users and make navigation in the table more difficult. Avoiding empty cells in Excel spreadsheets improves approval and makes them easier to read.

How can I implement/check it?

To remove superfluous empty rows or columns from your Excel spreadsheet, proceed as follows:

1. Identify the empty rows or columns that you want to remove. Pay attention to the row numbers and column letters.
2. Select the empty row by clicking on the row number on the left or select the empty column by clicking on the letter at the top of the table.
3. Right-click on the selected row or column and select "Delete" from the context menu.
4. Confirm the deletion of the empty row or column when you are prompted to do so.
5. Check the table to ensure that there are no further superfluous empty rows or columns.