In Module 4 of the How to Author and Test Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations for Accessibility video series, understand when modifying a slide’s layout, it may be necessary to structure content into columns. Learn how to ensure that content is read in the proper reading order by using the column tool.
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Voice Over (VO): Accessible Electronic Document Community of Practice, AED-COP.
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VO: You are watching how to author and test Microsoft PowerPoint presentations for accessibility.
VO: This is module four, formatting columns correctly. This video is one in a series showing how to make a PowerPoint presentation section 508 conformant.
VO: When modifying a slides layout, it may be necessary to structure content into columns.
VO: To ensure that the content is read in the proper logical reading order, the column tool must be used.
VO: Assistive technology cannot read information in the correct reading order when tabs or spaces have been used to create the look of content being divided into columns.
VO: To create columns, select the Home tab and in the Paragraph group, select the Add or Remove Columns option and choose a number of columns desired when creating columnar text.
VO: To determine whether columns have been formatted correctly, place a cursor on columnar text, select the Home tab, and in the Paragraph group, select the Add or Remove Columns option to determine if columnar formatting is enabled.
VO: Are the correct number of columns highlighted? If not, the document fails this test.
VO: In this example, the columns appear normal, but when we inspect the Add or Remove Columns option, we can see that the columns were not created using this tool.
VO: This example is not accessible because the columns were created using tabs and spaces instead of the column tool.
VO: When we select this example and inspect the Add or Remove Columns feature, we can see that the correct number of columns is highlighted.
VO: This example is considered accessible. Thank you for watching Module 4.
VO: You are encouraged to watch the other modules in this video series and revisit modules to gain a mastery of the information provided.
VO: To learn more about Section 508, visit www.section508.gov. This video is a product of the Accessible Electronic Document Community of Practice, Chief Information Officers Council, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Related Presentation Video Series Modules
- Module 0: Introduction & Background
- Module 1: Creating the Presentation’s Layout Design and Establishing the Logical Reading Order
- Module 2: Ensuring the Contrast Ratio Between Text and Background is Sufficient
- Module 3: Ensuring Color and Other Visual Characteristics that Convey Information are Also Described in Text
- Module 4: Formatting Columns Correctly
- Module 5: Formatting Lists Properly
- Module 6: Using Built-In Features to Create Data Tables
- Module 7: Adding Alternative Text to Images and Other Objects
- Module 8: Creating Links with Unique and Descriptive Names
- Module 9: Making Vital Background Information Accessible
- Module 10: Formatting Text for the Intended Language
- Module 11: Ensuring Descriptions of Embedded Audio, Video and Multimedia Files are Accurate
- Module 12: Excluding Flashing Objects
- Module 13: Saving in the .pptx Format with a Descriptive Filename
