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New features for tables in axesWord 25.0

Janne Brönner
  • Updated

Here you can find out more about the new table functions in axesWord 25.0.

Further information on tables can be found in the article Tables and in our detailed manual Creating accessible tables with axesWord.

1. Assigning header cells via the Word table style options "Header Row" and "First Column" (for simple tables)

Since axesWord 25.0, you can assign the table headers of simple data tables, where the table header is only the top-most row and/or the left-most column, using the Word table style options Header Row and First Column.

Requirements

The table itself must be assigned to the role Default or Table with axesWord and no paragraph styles with the role Header Cell (Simple Table) or Header Cell (Complex Table) must be used within the table.

If paragraph styles with the role Header Cell (Simple Table) or Header Cell (Complex Table) are used in the table, the Word functions Header Row and First Column are ignored during the PDF export in order to avoid incorrect assignment.

How to use the Word table style options “Header row” and “First column”

  1. Click in the table in your document so that the Table Design tab appears in the ribbon and select it.
  2. In the Table Style Options function group, you will find the Header Row and First Column check boxes.
    Screenshot: 'Table Design' tab with the highlighted options 'Header Row' and 'First Column'
  3. If the table header is in the top row of your table, activate the Header Row checkbox.
    If the table header is in the left-hand column of your table, activate the First Column checkbox. You can also activate both options if this applies to your table.Screenshot: Function group 'Table Style Options' with the highlighted options 'Header Row' and 'First Column'

2. Assigning the header cells via paragraph styles (for complex tables)

You can find out how to assign the header cells using paragraph styles in the article Tables and in our detailed manual Creating accessible tables with axesWord.

3. Prioritization of assignments during PDF export

The header cell assignments are prioritized as follows during PDF export:

  1. Paragraph styles with role assignment: If paragraph styles with the role Header Cell (Simple Table) or Header Cell (Complex Table) exist in the table, the TH tags are implemented in the PDF using these paragraph styles. For simple tables, the TH tags are assigned via the scope attribute during export, for complex tables via header IDs.
  2. Word functions: If there are no paragraph styles with the role Header Cell (Simple Table) or Header Cell (Complex Table) in the table, but the Word functions Header Row and/or First Column are activated, the TH tags are set using Header Row and/or First Column and assigned via the scope attribute.
  3. No header cells assigned: If there are no paragraph styles with the role Header Cell (Simple Table) or Header Cell (Complex Table) in the table and Header Row and First Column are deactivated, no TH tags are set.