Accessible Information

Testing with Internet Explorer version 6 - Web access centre

Summary: Techniques for testing web pages using Internet Explorer version 6.

• Testing using "Internet Options"
• Testing table and font scalability
• Implementing accessibility links

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Browser testing:

• Testing with Internet Explorer
• Testing with Navigator
• Testing with Opera

Try viewing your pages with these different options in effect. They can all be undone simply by reversing the instructions below.

Testing using "Internet Options"

The main bulk of testing can be accessed using the "Internet options" dialogue box. This allows you to quickly switch on and off various options in three separate categories as seen in the picture below.

The three accessibility checking features are:

• General – the "Accessibility" button allows you to switch off style sheets, once done then the page colours can be changed from the colour button. This is good for testing if pages work with style sheets switched off, clarity of images of text and clarity of text in drop down menus.
• Security – contains options to switch off scripts. This enables you to see if page content and functionality can be accessed with no JavaScript. This is useful for testing form submission and validation, drop down menus, search functionality and pop-up window links.
• Advanced – this section allows you to switch off images, animations and sound. This is good for checking if there is alternative content such as "alt" text for images.

Testing table and font scalability

Testing to see if font sizes and tables are flexible (coded with "%", "em" or signed numbers such as size "-2") can be done by selecting "View", "Text size" and then the size you want. Fonts on the page will scale if they are relative.

Be aware however that in later versions of Internet Explorer that the browser can still scale text even if it is absolute ("px", "pt" or unsigned number such as "2"). It is always advisable to check the font sizes in the HTML as well as linked style sheets where relevant.

Scaling font sizes is also a useful way of testing tables to see if they are flexible and coded with relevant sizing. If they are not they will not enlarge and if the text is relative it will. This results in text enlarging but becoming squashed within the table and unreadable. Drop down menus often experience this problem.

Implementing accessibility links

• Planning
• Intranets
• Checklists
• Testing
• Evaluation and monitoring
• Return to testing for accessibility

For Web access centre updates email webaccess@rnib.org.uk

Content author: webaccess@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 06/03/2008 15:41