Technical Support - Detail
Short Description
Problem
By default, an MS Word 2010/2013/2016 table, as defined in the table design, has row one and column one set as headers. Starting with version 18.0.2530, JAWS now automatically identifies these table headers, speaking the headers for each navigated cell. This can be an annoyance, especially if the table's author did not intend for the first row and/or column to be table headers.
If the rows and/or columns are not supposed to be headers, the best solution is to uncheck the “Header Row” and/or “First Column” check boxes located in the MS Word ribbon area. This way, anyone that accesses the table in the same file will benefit from the correction.
Alternatively, the automatic identification of the first row and column as headers (as defined by the above check boxes) can be turned off within JAWS Quick Settings for MS Word. This workaround can be used until a future JAWS update or version addresses the issue.
Solution
To toggle the row or column header check boxes in MS Word:
- Place focus inside the MS Word table.
- Press ALT+JT to move to the Table Tools / Design tab on the MS Word ribbon.
- Press TAB to move to the lower ribbon and the “Header Row” check box. If there are headers in the first row of the table, leave it checked. If not, uncheck it.
- Note that toggling the state of these check boxes causes focus to return to the table in the document area.
- If you did not change the state of a check box, continue to TAB to the “First Column” check box.
- Otherwise, press ALT+JT, then TAB several times to move to the “First Column” check box. If the first column contains row headers, leave it checked. If not, uncheck it.
- Focus returns to the table after toggling the check box.
Alternatively, how to use JAWS Quick Settings to eliminate automatic row and column header detection:
- Open MS Word.
- INSERT+V to open JAWS Quick Settings for MS Word.
- Navigate to Document-Specific Settings > Tables > Defined Bookmark Table Column and Row Titles Override.
- Select “On For All Files” or “On For The Current File” (see Note below).
- Select OK.
NOTE: If you choose "On For All Files", this affects JAWS header detection for all Word documents and any table headers defined using the bookmarked method will not be detected. If this is a concern, you should choose "On for the Current File" and apply this setting to individual files as needed.
Date Posted: 04/25/2017
Applies to: JAWS, Fusion and Enhanced Vision