Design and build
accessible PDF tables
12 March 2012
Kindle format
Design and build accessible PDF tables is now available in Kindle format from the Amazon bookstore (ISBN 9781620955260).
EPUB format
The book is also available in EPUB format from Kobo,
Barnes & Noble the Sony bookstore, eBookPie and the Apple iBookstore.
Accessibility
Design and build accessible PDF tables has been built to be as accessible as possible, including an appropriate heading structure throughout, a table of contents, properly marked up lists, and alt text for all images. However, given the current technical limitations of the various ebook formats it was necessary to convert all of the book's 29 example tables to images. Versions in various states of completion (as appropriate to the text) are provided below in both PDF and HTML formats.
Sample tables
Sample tables from the book, PDF (141KB)
Chapter 1
Table 1: a simple 3 column, 3 row layout
| Column header (TH) |
Column header (TH) |
Column header (TH) |
| Row header (TH) |
Data cell (TD) |
Data cell (TD) |
| Row header (TH) |
Data cell (TD) |
Data cell (TD) |
Top
Chapter 2
Table 2: example of footnotes referenced from within
a table
| Expenditure by function, £ million |
2009/10 |
2010/11 [1] |
| Policy functions |
Financial |
22.50 |
30.57 |
| Information [2] |
10.20 |
14.80 |
| Contingency |
2.60 |
1.20 |
| Remunerated functions |
Agency services [3] |
44.70 |
35.91 |
| Payments |
22.41 |
19.88 |
| Banking |
22.90 |
44.23 |
| Other |
12.69 |
10.32 |
Top
Table 3: "film credits" style layout
| Main character |
Daniel Radcliffe |
| Sidekick 1 |
Rupert Grint |
| Sidekick 2 |
Emma Watson |
| Lovable ogre |
Robbie Coltrane |
| Professor |
Maggie Smith |
| Headmaster |
Richard Harris |
Top
Table 4: table 3 with column headers added
| Role |
Actor |
| Main character |
Daniel Radcliffe |
| Sidekick 1 |
Rupert Grint |
| Sidekick 2 |
Emma Watson |
| Lovable ogre |
Robbie Coltrane |
| Professor |
Maggie Smith |
| Headmaster |
Richard Harris |
Top
Table 5: year-end financial statement (£, thousands)
| |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
| Non-current assets |
| Property |
345 |
445 |
222 |
| Investment |
567 |
654 |
423 |
| Intangibles |
423 |
123 |
453 |
| Current assets |
| Trade and other receivables |
435 |
634 |
231 |
| Cash and cash equivalents |
524 |
123 |
482 |
| Other |
223 |
211 |
254 |
Top
Table 6: rainfall by continent (table
with a more serious headings problem)
| Rainfall (inches) |
Americas |
Asia |
Europe |
Africa |
| 2010 |
| Average |
104 |
201 |
193 |
144 |
| 24 hour high |
15 |
26 |
27 |
18 |
| 12 hour high |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
| 2009 |
| Average |
133 |
244 |
155 |
166 |
| 24 hour high |
27 |
28 |
29 |
20 |
| 12 hour high |
11 |
12 |
13 |
16 |
Top
Table 7: year-end statement, non-current assets (£,
thousands)
| Non-current assets |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
| Property |
345 |
445 |
222 |
| Investment |
567 |
654 |
423 |
| Intangibles |
423 |
123 |
453 |
Top
Table 8:
year-end statement, current assets
(£, thousands)
| Current assets |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
| Trade and other receivables |
435 |
634 |
231 |
| Cash and cash equivalents |
524 |
123 |
482 |
| Other |
223 |
211 |
254 |
Top
Table 9: rainfall by continent, 2009
| Rainfall (inches) |
Americas |
Asia |
Europe |
Africa |
| Average |
133 |
244 |
155 |
166 |
| 24 hour high |
27 |
28 |
29 |
20 |
| 12 hour high |
11 |
12 |
13 |
16 |
Top
Table 10: self-contained year-end statement
(£, thousands) (multiple layout problems)
| |
2011 |
2010
restated |
| General
income |
|
250,000 |
|
200,000 |
| Increase
in value |
|
15,000 |
|
30,000 |
| |
|
265,000 |
|
230,000 |
| Administrative
costs |
| Staff
costs |
(200,000) |
|
(150,000) |
|
| Early
departures |
(10,000) |
|
(20,000) |
|
| Other
operating costs |
(25,000) |
|
(10,000) |
|
| Depreciation |
(10,000) |
|
(10,000) |
|
| Programme
costs |
| Impairment
loss |
(10,000) |
|
(5,000) |
|
| Other |
(5,000) |
|
(5,000) |
|
| |
(260,000) |
|
(200,000) |
|
| Surplus |
|
5,000 |
|
30,000 |
Top
Table 11: self-contained year-end statement (£, thousands) (multiple layout problems resolved)
| |
2011 |
2010 restated |
| Income |
General income |
250,000 |
200,000 |
| Increase in value |
15,000 |
30,000 |
| Total income |
265,000 |
230,000 |
| Administrative costs |
Staff costs |
(200,000) |
(150,000) |
| Early departures |
(10,000) |
(20,000) |
| Other operating costs |
(25,000) |
(10,000) |
| Depreciation |
(10,000) |
(10,000) |
| Programme costs |
Impairment loss |
(10,000) |
(5,000) |
| Other |
(5,000) |
(5,000) |
| Total costs |
(260,000) |
(200,000) |
| Surplus |
5,000 |
30,000 |
Top
Table 12: merged data cells are not recommended
| |
2008 |
2009 |
| Name |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Bob |
2 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
| Sue |
3 |
8 |
4 |
7 |
| Sam |
[data relating to both columns in a single cell spanning both]
|
[data relating to both columns in a single cell spanning both]
|
Top
Chapter 3
Table 13: use of graphic symbols
| Question |
Respondent A |
Respondent B |
Respondent C |
| Are you a UK citizen? |
 |
 |
|
| Are you currently employed? |
|
|
|
| Do you have a driving licence? |
|
|
|
Top
Table 14: graphics replaced by real text
| Question |
Respondent A |
Respondent B |
Respondent C |
| Are you a
UK citizen? |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Are you currently employed? |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Do you have a driving licence? |
No |
No |
Yes |
Table 15: courses offered by institution
X. A = Bachelor of Science, B = Bachelor of Arts, C
= Masters, D = Doctorate, E = Diploma
| |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| Economics |
A, B |
A, C |
A, B |
A, C |
| International relations |
A, E |
A, E |
A, B |
A, E |
| Philosophy |
A |
A |
A |
A, D |
| Politics |
A, D |
A, D |
A, D |
A |
| Mathematics |
B, C |
B |
A, E |
A, B |
| English |
A, C |
A, B |
A, B |
C |
Top
Table 16: Masters courses offered by institution X
| |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| Economics |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| International relations |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Philosophy |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Politics |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Mathematics |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
| English |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Top
Table 17: accounts, 2011 (£, thousands)
(inappropriate use of colour)
| Accounting item |
2011 |
| Income |
General income |
200,000 |
| Increase in value |
30,000 |
| Income subtotal |
230,000 |
| Administrative costs |
Staff |
150,000 |
| Early departures |
20,000 |
| Other operating costs |
10,000 |
| Depreciation |
10,000 |
| Programme costs |
Impairment loss |
10,000 |
| Costs subtotal |
200,000 |
| Balance |
30,000 |
Top
Table 18: accounts, 2011 (£, thousands)
| Accounting item |
2011 |
| Income |
General income |
200,000 |
| Increase in value |
30,000 |
| Income subtotal |
230,000 |
| Administrative costs |
Staff |
(150,000) |
| Early departures |
(20,000) |
| Other operating costs |
(10,000) |
| Depreciation |
(10,000) |
| Programme costs |
Impairment loss |
(10,000) |
| Costs subtotal |
(200,000) |
| Balance |
30,000 |
Top
Table 19: Human Development Index (HDI) trends, 1980
to 2010. Source: Barro-Lee March, 2010
| Country |
1980 |
1990 |
2000 |
2010 |
| Afghanistan |
0.78 |
1.48 |
2.16 |
3.33 |
| Albania |
8.89 |
9.67 |
9.89 |
10.38 |
| Algeria |
4.74 |
3.33 |
5.50 |
7.24 |
| Andorra |
4.98 |
5.63 |
9.09 |
10.35 |
| Angola |
- |
- |
4.42 |
4.42 |
Top
Table 20: footnotes referenced from within a table
| Expenditure by function, £ million |
2009/10 |
2010/11[1] |
| Policy functions |
Financial |
22.5 |
30.57 |
| Information [2]
|
10.2 |
14.8 |
| Contingency |
2.6 |
1.2 |
| Remunerated functions |
Agency services [3]
|
44.7 |
35.91 |
| Payments |
22.41 |
19.88 |
| Banking |
22.90 |
44.23 |
| Other |
12.69 |
10.32 |
Top
Table 21: footnotes replaced by additional table summary
text
| Expenditure by function, £million
|
2009/10 |
2010/11 |
| Policy functions |
Financial |
22.5 |
30.57 |
| Information |
10.2 |
14.8 |
| Contingency |
2.6 |
1.2 |
| Remunerated functions |
Agency services |
44.7 |
35.91 |
| Payments |
22.41 |
19.88 |
| Banking |
22.90 |
44.23 |
| Other |
12.69 |
10.32 |
Top
Table 22: referencing endnotes from within a table
| Expenditure £million |
Notes
(see page [n]) |
2010 |
2011 |
| Information |
[1] |
10.2 |
14.8 |
| Contingency |
|
2.6 |
1.2 |
| Payments |
[3] |
22.41 |
19.88 |
| Banking services |
[4] |
22.90 |
44.23 |
| Interest |
|
0.23 |
0.10 |
| Dividends |
[23] |
2.5 |
3.68 |
| Other |
[9] |
12.69 |
10.32 |
Top
Chapter 4
Table 23: simulated table created using
tabs and containing no structure
| |
2008 |
2009 |
| Name |
Entered |
Completed |
Entered |
Completed |
| Bob |
22 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
| Sue |
44 |
12 |
12 |
10 |
| Sam |
16 |
4 |
45 |
30 |
Top
Table 24: year-end financial statement (£, thousands)
| |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
| Non-current assets |
| Buildings |
345 |
445 |
222 |
| Investment |
567 |
654 |
423 |
| Intangibles |
423 |
123 |
453 |
| Current assets |
| Trade |
435 |
634 |
231 |
| Cash |
524 |
123 |
482 |
| Other |
223 |
211 |
254 |
| Current liabilities |
| Trade liabilities |
154 |
125 |
421 |
| Financial debt |
231 |
474 |
572 |
| Provisions |
111 |
312 |
347 |
Top
Table 25: setting column and row header scope via the
tags panel
| |
2008 |
2009 |
| Name |
Entered |
Won |
Entered |
Won |
| Bob |
22 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
| Sue |
44 |
12 |
12 |
10 |
| Sam |
16 |
4 |
45 |
30 |
Table 26: Table 15: courses offered
by institution X. A = Bachelor of Science, B = Bachelor
of Arts, C = Masters, D = Doctorate, E = Diploma
| |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| Economics |
A, B |
A, C |
A, C |
A, C |
| International relations |
A, E |
A, E |
A, B |
A, B |
| Philosophy |
A |
A |
A |
A |
| Politics |
A, D |
A, D |
A, B |
A |
| Mathematics |
B, C |
B |
A, B |
A, B |
| English |
A, C |
A, B |
A, B |
A, C |
Top
Table 27: "table" with columns simulated via tab stops
| Name |
Apples |
Pears |
| Bob Scott |
20 |
25 |
| Susan. P. Arnold-Jones, BA, FRSA, MD |
24 |
15 |
| Sam Holder-Dickinson |
14 |
10 |
Top
Table 28: year-end financial statement
(£, thousands) – headings problem revisited
| |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
| Non-current assets |
| Buildings |
345 |
445 |
222 |
| Investment |
567 |
654 |
423 |
| Intangibles |
423 |
123 |
453 |
| Current assets |
| Trade |
435 |
634 |
231 |
| Cash |
524 |
123 |
482 |
| Other |
223 |
211 |
254 |
| Current liabilities |
| Trade liabilities |
154 |
125 |
421 |
| Financial debt |
231 |
474 |
572 |
| Provisions |
111 |
312 |
347 |
Top
Table 29: multiple headers attributes required for
each data cell
| |
South America |
Asia |
Africa |
Australia |
| 2010 |
| Highest average |
523.6 |
467.4 |
405.0 |
340.5 |
| Highest in 24 hours |
73.1 |
54.1 |
27.2 |
66.3 |
| Highest in 12 hours |
42.4 |
30.1 |
15.9 |
40.3 |
| 2009 |
| Highest average |
487.7 |
453.6 |
398.7 |
356 |
| Highest in 24 hours |
67.2 |
53.2 |
44.3 |
53.8 |
| Highest in 12 hours |
34.7 |
34.1 |
29.8 |
31.0 |
| 2008 |
| Highest average |
496.7 |
444.3 |
502.1 |
399.6 |
| Highest in 24 hours |
44.2 |
56.7 |
32.1 |
63.2 |
| Highest in 12 hours |
30.1 |
32.7 |
21.9 |
40.2 |
Top
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