Creating alternative text for 508 compliant images

[rinpa35]

I'm trying to determine of RoboHelp 8 has capability to create alternative text for 508 compliant images?

In Word (2003) you do this by clicking/selecting image, going to Format, Picture, web tab, alternative text.

Is there a way to do this in RoboHelp?

thanks,

Rachel

[Captiv8r]

Hi there

Usually you double-click the image and add the text to the Screen Tip field. However, I think that actually results in a Title tag being added and not an ALT tag. So you may discover that you have to edit the HTML to add the ALT tag manually. I suppose if you had RoboHelp 8 and were comfortable with its scripting, you might create a script to scrub the topics and append ALT tags consisting of the Title content.

Cheers... Rick

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[Willam_van_Weelden]

Hi,

Robo8 automatically sets the filename of the image as the alternate text when you create the output. If you manually want to set the alternate text:

- Insert an image.

- Select the image and go to HTML mode.

- Add your alternate text in alt="", such as alt="alternate text".

Using the Screen tip field will create a title field for a tooltip, not an alternate text.

Note that images in XHTML always require an alternate text. Robo will set the alternate text, even if you don't have section 508 compliant output.

Greet,

Willam

[Captiv8r]

Hi Willam

I think your answer should be amended as follows:

Robo8 MAY automatically sets the filename of the image as the alternate text when you create the output. If you manually want to set the alternate text:

- Insert an image.

- Select the image and go to HTML mode.

- Add your alternate text in alt="", such as alt="alternate text".

I suggest being a bit inconclusive because this appears to be the case if you are creating a web based output. If you are creating CHM output it would appear that alt= is present, but is not populated with anything.

Cheers... Rick

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[Willam_van_Weelden]

Hi Rick,

You're correct, as always.

I was strictly talking about webhelp. The webhelp output uses xhtml and the alt text is mandatory, since this is the WebHelp forum, I didn't consider the HTML Help. - When it's about CHM, listen to Rick

Greet,

Willam

[Captiv8r]

LOL, I was just a bit puzzled as this seemed to have come up the other day. I recalled looking at it and my alt= text was blank so I wondered why my result was different than you reported. Then it dawned on me that perhaps it was output specific so I tested this morning and discovered it was.

Thanks for shaing your knowledge Willam!

Cheers... Rick

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[rinpa35]

Hi Willam,

Do you know if there is a setting within Robo8 that will also automatically

set the filename as Alt Text

for *Word *document output?

I tried generating a Word document output in Robo8 and noticed it didn't

have the Alt Text for the images....

thanks,

Rachel

[Willam_van_Weelden]

Hi,

Your test indicates that Robo doesn't add the alternative text for Word documents.

I can't say for sure, but is seems that you'll have to add the alternative text yourself, if you output HTML Help or a Word/PDF document.

Greet,

Willam

[RoboColum_n_]

Hi Rachel.

Just to add to what Willam has already offered, you may want to submit a wish list request for this. The Adobe RH team are very keen to hear from users about improvements that will make all our lives easier. What is more, they do listen and act on them. You'll find a link on each forum category page.

---

Read the RoboColum(n).

Message was edited by: Captiv8r - Corrected Willam's name. 😉

[rinpa35]

Thanks Colum - I will post a request. That would be a nice feature to have!

However, it is still easy to go in and create the Alt-Text in the Word

output RH generates.

Having the ability to add the text to images in RH would be nice though.

thanks,

Rachel