Microsoft Frontpage 2000 evaluation
(Spanish version)

Introduction

This report evaluates Microsoft Frontpage 2000 localized to the Spanish language according to Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. It reproduces our findings in regard to the degree of support of ATAG 1.0 checkpoints.

Frontpage is one of the more popular WYSISWYG tools for web design, because its integration with the Microsoft Office product family. The support of the tool for accessibility guidelines in the version evaluated is small, although is expected an improvement in upcoming versions (Microsoft Frontpage 2002).

Priority 1 checkpoints

Checkpoints	Conformance
Checkpoint 1.1 Ensure that the author can produce accessible content in the markup language(s) supported by the tool. [Priority 1] (Techniques for 1.1)	[yes]
Checkpoint 1.2 Ensure that the tool preserves all accessibility information during authoring, transformations, and conversions. [Priority 1] (Techniques for 1.2)	[no]
Checkpoint 2.2 Ensure that the tool automatically generates valid markup. [Priority 1] (Techniques for 2.2)	[no]
Checkpoint 3.4 Do not automatically generate equivalent alternatives. Do not reuse previously authored alternatives without author confirmation, except when the function is known with certainty. [Priority 1] (Techniques for 3.4)	[no]
Checkpoint 6.1 Document all features that promote the production of accessible content. [Priority 1] (Techniques for 6.1)	[no]
Checkpoint 7.2 Allow the author to change the presentation within editing views without affecting the document markup. [Priority 1] (Techniques for 7.2)	[no]
Checkpoint 7.3 Allow the author to edit all properties of each element and object in an accessible fashion. [Priority 1] (Techniques for 7.3)	[yes]
Checkpoint 7.4 Ensure that the editing view allows navigation via the structure of the document in an accessible fashion. [Priority 1] (Techniques for 7.4)	[no]

Relative Priority checkpoints

Note: These should be assessed by reference to the checkpoints of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines [WCAG10], and may be met at three different levels.

Checkpoints	Conformance
Checkpoint 1.3 Ensure that when the tool automatically generates markup it conforms to the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10]. [Relative Priority] (Techniques for 1.3)	[no]
Checkpoint 1.4 Ensure that templates provided by the tool conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10]. [Relative Priority] (Techniques for 1.4)	[no]
Checkpoint 3.1 Prompt the author to provide equivalent alternative information (e.g., captions, auditory descriptions, and collated text transcripts for video). [Relative Priority] (Techniques for 3.1)	[no]
Checkpoint 3.2 Help the author create structured content and separate information from its presentation. [Relative Priority] (Techniques for 3.2)	[no]
Checkpoint 3.3 Ensure that prepackaged content conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10]. [Relative Priority] (Techniques for 3.3)	[no]
Checkpoint 4.1 Check for and inform the author of accessibility problems. [Relative Priority] (Techniques for 4.1)	[no]
Checkpoint 4.2 Assist authors in correcting accessibility problems. [Relative Priority] (Techniques for 4.2)	[no]
Checkpoint 7.1 Use all applicable operating system and accessibility standards and conventions (Priority 1 for standards and conventions that are essential to accessibility; Priority 2 for those that are important to accessibility; Priority 3 for those that are beneficial to accessibility). (Techniques for 7.1)	[n/a]

Priority 2 checkpoints

Checkpoints	Conformance
Checkpoint 2.1 Use the latest versions of W3C Recommendations when they are available and appropriate for a task. [Priority 2] (Techniques for 2.1)	[no]
Checkpoint 4.3 Allow the author to preserve markup not recognized by the tool. [Priority 2] (Techniques for 4.3)	[yes]
Checkpoint 5.1 Ensure that functionality related to accessible authoring practices is naturally integrated into the overall look and feel of the tool. [Priority 2] (Techniques for 5.1)	[no]
Checkpoint 5.2 Ensure that accessible authoring practices supporting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10] Priority 1 checkpoints are among the most obvious and easily initiated by the author. [Priority 2] (Techniques for 5.2)	[no]
Checkpoint 6.2 Ensure that creating accessible content is a naturally integrated part of the documentation, including examples. [Priority 2] (Techniques for 6.2)	[no]
Checkpoint 7.5 Enable editing of the structure of the document in an accessible fashion. [Priority 2] (Techniques for 7.5)	[no]
Checkpoint 7.6 Allow the author to search within editing views. [Priority 2] (Techniques for 7.6)	[yes]

Priority 3 checkpoints

Checkpoints	Conformance
Checkpoint 2.3 If markup produced by the tool does not conform to W3C specifications, inform the author. [Priority 3] (Techniques for 2.3)	[no]
Checkpoint 3.5 Provide functionality for managing, editing, and reusing alternative equivalents for multimedia objects. [Priority 3] (Techniques for 3.5)	[no]
Checkpoint 4.4 Provide the author with a summary of the document's accessibility status. [Priority 3] (Techniques for 4.4)	[no]
Checkpoint 4.5 Allow the author to transform presentation markup that is misused to convey structure into structural markup, and to transform presentation markup used for style into style sheets. [Priority 3] (Techniques for 4.5)	[no]
Checkpoint 6.3 In a dedicated section, document all features of the tool that promote the production of accessible content. [Priority 3] (Techniques for 6.3)	[no]

Comments

When converting or authoring documents, the tool does not maintain P1 information elements. As an example, empty ALT tags are deleted.
For example, when creating images, an alternative consistent of image name and size is created, which is a P1 violation.
Not all the techniques to create accessible content are documented.
Not tested.
Although the author is not informed of some markup changes, it is possible to maintain some markup outside these automatic changes.

Acknowledgements

We thank Emmanuelle Gutiérrez y Restrepo (SIDAR) for her help when preparing this document.

Microsoft Frontpage 2000 evaluation (Spanish version)