Data or Header Cells Must Not Be Used to Give Caption to a Data Table

Issue/Question

When I run a Page Check I get the following Serious Problem: 

Data or header cells must not be used to give caption to a data table

Environment

  • Web CMS

Cause

Final Checks evaluate all code on a page and detect accessibility issues not meeting WCAG 2.0 (Level AA) standards. 

It detected the page contains a table where multiple merged cells are being used to provide text functioning as a table caption. Screen readers have a specific way of announcing tables. When tables are not properly marked up, this creates opportunity for confusing or inaccurate screen reader output. When tables are not marked up with an actual caption element screen reader, users cannot correctly perceive the purpose of the table visually.

Resolution

Remove the old caption and add an accessible caption using table properties.

  1. Click  Yellow Light Bulb to check out page.
  2. Click  Edit tab.
  3. Click Edit button on content area where table is located.
  4. Right click in the combined cells identified in Source Code portion of the error.
    Note: If you plan to use the same text for a new caption, remember to copy it to your clipboard.
  5. Hover over Row in the pop-up menu.
  6. Select Delete Row to remove it.
  7. Right click anywhere in table.
  8. Select Table Properties.
  9. In Table Properties window, check Show Caption check box.
  10. Add or paste your text to empty caption row created at bottom of table.
    Note: This should be the title of the table or a brief description of what data is in the table.
  11. Repeat for all table header cells.
  12. Save page.
  13. Click Publish button to run accessibility final check again. When the issue is resolved it will no longer display in the accessibility check.
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