Skip to main content
University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
    • Admitted Students
    • Current Students
    • Families of Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Email
    • Blackboard
    • Campus Connection
    • Employee Self-Service
    • Starfish
    • Degree Map
    • Zoom
  • Directory
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Student Life
  • Research
  • Athletics
  • Majors & Programs
  • About
University of North Dakota
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Student Life
  • Research
  • Athletics
  • Majors & Programs
  • About
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Home
  • Academics
  • TTaDA
  • Academic Technologies
  • Accessible Content
  • Excel
Skip Section Navigation
  • TTaDA
  • General Resources Show/hide children
    • Accessibility Resources
    • Testing for Accessibility
  • Tutorials - Content Show/hide children
    • Alternative Text
    • Audio Description
    • Color Contrast
    • Descriptive Links
    • Headings
    • PDF's
    • Reading Order
    • Table Header Row
    • Video and Audio Transcripts
    • Video Captions
  • Specific Document Types Show/hide children
    • Microsoft Word
    • Microsoft PowerPoint

Excel

Setting Document Language

To make your Excel documents accessible, you’ll need to first set the correct language for a screen reader to use. To do so, navigate to the File tab.

Excel applications showing the File option

From the menu, select Options.

Excel menu showing Options

On the Options Menu, select Language.

Language option within Excel options menu

On the Language Menu, select the appropriate language. If needed, you can also select Set as Default. Screen readers and other assistive technologies should now read your document in the correct language.

Language menu showing where to select the Set as Default language

Headings

To enable screen readers to read your Excel files correctly, you will need to create headings that identify titles and major sections of your worksheets.

To create a heading, first create or select a cell with heading information in it. In this example, I have a series of charts, so I need a heading called Charts.

create headings in Excel by adding the name within the cell

Once you have selected the cell with the heading information in it, go to the Home tab and select Cell Styles. Select the appropriate heading.

Excel home tab and select cell styles to select the appropriate heading

If you have information that needs to be presented as a table, you will also need to format your data as a table and set an additional set of headings.  Once you’ve formatted correctly, screen readers will be able to identify your data as a table and read your information accurately.

To set table headings, first select a cell with a table heading in it. In this example, I have two table headings: Pet Type and Population.

select Pet Type cell

The table information now needs to be formatted as a table. To create this formatting, select Format as Table.

select the Format as Table option on the menu

In the dialogue box that appears, check the box beside My table has headers and select OK.

select the My table has headers option in the dialogue box

Naming Sheets

In addition to creating headings, you will also need to make sure you name your sheets, so screen readers can help users navigate your files. To do so, navigate to the bottom of the Excel file. The default name will be Sheet 1, Sheet 2, etc.

navigate to the bottom of the Excel file to rename sheets

Right-click on the sheet you want to rename. From the menu, choose Rename.

right click sheet and choose Rename

The cursor in front of the sheet name should animate, and you can edit the name.

edit the name of the sheet

Alt-Text

When screen readers encounter charts and graphs, they read them as images. Unless alternative text (alt-text) describing what is in the image, chart, or graph is provided, a screen reader will simply announce “Image” and move on. To set the alt-text of an image, chart, or graph in Excel, start by selecting the image, chart of graph.

Set alt-text on image, chart or graph by selecting the item

Right click on the image. From the menu, select Edit Alt Text.

right click the image and select Edit Alt Text

The Alt Text Pane will open on the right hand side of the screen. Fill in your alt-text and X out of the pane.

fill in alt-text and close pane

TTaDA Academic Technologies
O'Kelly 320, Stop 7104
221 Centennial Drive
Grand Forks, ND 58202-7104
P 701.777.2129
und.academic.technology@und.edu
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.

By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies, Privacy Information.

Ready to Enroll?

  • Request Information
  • Schedule a Visit
  • Apply Now
  • UND.info@UND.edu
  • 701.777.3000
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Contact UND
  • Campus Map
  • Events Calendar
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Explore Programs
  • Employment
  • Make a Gift
University of North Dakota

© 2023 University of North Dakota - Grand Forks, ND - Member of ND University System

  • Accessibility & Website Feedback
  • Terms of Use & Privacy
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination
  • Student Disclosure Information
  • Title IX
©