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Titles for frames

Lotus Notes checkpoint 1.3

Provide a title for each frame.

Rationale

Techniques

Testing

 

Rationale

A sighted user can scan a Web page to look for the information they want on the page. However, because screen readers read the page sequentially, a blind user cannot skip over information unless the application has been coded to provide this support. Screen readers provide the capability to list frames on the Web page. When the frames have meaningful titles, the user can select the frame they want to visit and skip over the information that is redundant or irrelevant. This same function is used in Notes client applications to quickly move between frames. When a blind user moves to a new frame, the frame title is used to provide context for where they are in the application.

If the frame does not have a title, someone using a screen reader will hear "Untitled" and they will not know where they are in the application unless they start reading the frame. If the frame has a title, but it is not meaningful, the frameset cannot be used to efficiently navigate the application. For example, if the frame title is "Left", this provides no information about the purpose of the frame.

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Development techniques

One or more of the following techniques are required to meet Checkpoint 1.3 from the Lotus Notes Application Accessibility Checklist:

  • Provide a meaningful name for each frame within the frameset.
    • Select the frame and open the Frame Properties Box.
    • Go to the Basics tab and enter a title in the name field. Examples of meaningful frame names include "Navigation" or "Main" for the main content of the page. Names like "top" or "Red" are not meaningful and do not meet the requirement of the checkpoint. Do not add the word "frame" to each frame title since the screen reader will identify the object as a frame. If the title is "Navigation frame", the user will hear "Navigation frame frame." when they navigate to the frame. Screen shot of Frame Properties Box with frame title entered in the name field
  • Even if you have specified that the frame does not receive focus using the "No focus on F6" option, you must still provide a useful frame name. Otherwise, the frame will display as "Untitled" when it is displayed in the Frames List using assistive technology.
  • When the frame includes a page, provide a meaningful name for the page.
    • Select the page and open the Page Properties Box.
    • Go to the Basics tab and enter the page name in the name field. The page name should briefly describe the purpose of the page.
  • Do not use abbreviations in frame or page names. Frame names like "navfr" cannot be understood when spoken by a screen reader.

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Testing techniques

Test the Web site to ensure that it complies with accessibility requirements.

Install the following tools to test this checkpoint:

  • A screen reader for testing with the Notes Client user interface or the Domino Web interface.
  • A Web accessibility checking tool.

Techniques

The following techniques are required to verify this checkpoint:
  Action Result
1. This step applies only if the application uses the Web interface.
Test each page of the application with a Web checking tool to verify that a title is provided for all frames.
 Pass/Fail:

  • See the instructions provided with your Web checking tool for identifying accessible frames.
2.
This step applies only if the application uses the Web interface.

After you have tested with a Web checking tool, test the Web application with a screen reader. Verify that the screen reader announces the frame title for all frames, and that the frame titles are meaningful.
Pass:
  • All frames have titles.
  • The screen reader announces the FRAME title
  • All frame titles are meaningful so they can be used to navigate the Web site. Frame titles such as "Navigation" or " Main" clearly identify the purpose of the frame.

Fail:
  • One or more frames do not have a title, or the screen reader cannot announce the frame title.
  • All frames have titles, but they are not meaningful. For example, the frame title "Left" does not provide information about the purpose of the frame. Abbreviations such as "navfr1" are also not accessible.
3. Test the Notes client application with a screen reader to verify frame titles are meaningful.

  • Start the screen reader and press F6 to move to each frame.
  • On the Notes client, the page title is spoken if the frame contains a page. Verify the page name is meaningful and useful.
Lotus Notes does not allow untitled pages. All pages will have a title, but they may not be useful. 		Pass:

  • All frames and pages have titles. The screen reader speaks the title when you F6 to the frame.
  • All frame and page titles are meaningful so they can be used to navigate the Web site. Frame titles such as "Navigation" or " Main" clearly identify the purpose of the frame.

Fail:
  • All frames and pages have titles, but they are not meaningful. For example, the title "r1" does not provide information about the purpose of the frame.

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©2001, 2008 IBM Corporation

Last updated February 08, 2008.

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