Making layout objects accessible to screen readers
To increase accessibility for customers with special needs, you can add accessibility labels to layout objects. Adding these labels makes your database accessible to assistive applications, such as screen readers. FileMaker documentation can be used with screen readers such as JAWS for Windows and VoiceOver for Mac OS X.
Any object can be connected to another object as an accessibility label. For example, a field label can be connected to its field and a screen reader will speak the text in the field label. Spoken text can come from an object on the layout, custom text you specify, or the result of a calculation.
To add accessibility labels to layout objects:
1.
In Layout mode, choose View menu > Accessibility Inspector.
2.
3.
 •
To specify another object as the accessibility label, in the Accessibility inspector, for Label, click Click to select, then select another object on the layout. Text from the object that you select second appears as the label in the Accessibility inspector. This text will be spoken when the first object selected is active.
 •
To specify custom text as the accessibility label for an object, for Title, type the text you want spoken for the object or click Specify Calculation button to specify a calculation to provide the spoken text. See Specify Calculation dialog box.
Tip  If you specify an object as an accessibility label and also specify text in the Title text box, a screen reader will speak the text in the Title text box after it speaks text from the object on the layout.
4.
For Help, type an instruction for using the object or click Specify Calculation button to specify a calculation for the instruction.
For example, if the object is a text field that stores customer number data in a specific format, you might enter:
 •
Title: Customer number.
 •
Help: Unique five-digit ID for tracking customers.
To delete an accessibility label:
1.
In Layout mode, choose View menu > Accessibility Inspector.
2.
3.
 •
 •
If text exists in the Title or Help text boxes, delete it.
Notes
 •
 •
Ensure the content you write is alternate yet equivalent to text on the layout. Imagine you are describing the layout object over the telephone. For example, consider what information the user would need to successfully complete a form.
 •
 •
 •
 •
 •
 •
Don’t label decorative objects (visual enhancements, decorations, or embellishments) that provide no function or information beyond aesthetics.
 •
 •
 •
Mac OS: You can specify keyboard access in the Keyboard System Preference.