What Needs to be Considered?
All content-relevant visual objects (this includes images, graphics, shapes, icons, 3D models, SmartArt, charts, cameos, groups of several elements, and embedded objects) require a short, meaningful alternative text (alt text). People who cannot perceive visual information cannot access the information without alt texts. They can read the alt text with Assistive Technologies. It is therefore important that all relevant information is included in the alt text.
You can find out how to insert alt text below in the section Add Alt Text. You can find instructions on writing alternative texts in the axesWord article How do I create suitable alternative texts for figures?.
All content-relevant visual objects mentioned above are output as a figure (<Figure> tag) in the Logical Document Structure during PDF export with axesSlide. This means that the texts within a visual object or group cannot be read by assistive technologies. People who cannot perceive visual information therefore have no access to the information in a chart or SmartArt, for example. It is therefore important to add a descriptive alt text to objects and groups that contains all relevant text and visual information.
Do not insert plain text as an image but as normal text. If a graphic contains text, it must be entered in the alt text.
Elements with very complex content should be described in detail with additional text (on a slide or in an external link).
All objects that are not relevant to the content and should not be read by assistive technologies, such as backgrounds and decorative graphics, should be marked as decorative. You can find out how to do this in the section Mark as Decorative below.
Add Alt Text
Right-click on the object and select View Alt Text in the context menu. In the Alt Text pane, enter the alt text for the selected object.
Note: If you want to edit the alt text of a group or an entire diagram, click on the edge of the group or diagram and not on individual elements of it.
Tip: You can also easily edit the alt texts in the Reading Order pane. You can find out how to do this in Set Reading Order.
Mark as Decorative
Right-click on the object and select View Alt Text in the context menu. In the Alt Text pane, tick the checkbox next to Mark as decorative.
Tip: You can also mark elements as decorative in the Reading Order pane. You can find out how to do this in Set Reading Order.