Re: Accessible labels

[Billy Biggs <vektor dumbterm net>]

padraig o'briain (Padraig Obriain Sun COM):

> I do not think that this is the best list to ask this question on. Try
> gtk-app-devel-list.

  Thanks, I'll ask it there.

  -Billy

> Billy Biggs wrote:
> > 
> >   I'm working on an application which sometimes uses non-editable
> > GtkTextView widgets in place of GtkLabel to better accomodate screen
> > readers.  Unfortunately, this breaks on themes with a background pixmap,
> > as you end up with "labels" that have a flat colour background.
> > 
> >   I am wondering where the bug is.  Is it a Gtk+ bug that GtkTextView
> > cannot render with a pixmap background, or is this an invalid or
> > unnecessary trick for the application to use?
> > 
> >   To motivate using a GtkTextView, I offer this example dialog:
> > 
> >     http://vektor.ca/bugs/accessible-label.png
> > 
> >   The dialog is for renaming a file, and has a label pointing at an
> > entry asking for input.  Below the entry is a read-only GtkTextView,
> > with a background colour set to match the theme.  The text widget
> > displays an error message on an invalid file name.  The OK button is
> > disabled until a valid string is input.
> > 
> >   Use case for the visually impaired:
> > 
> >   1. User makes a typo, hits tab to go to the OK button.
> >   2. Keyboard focus enters the read-only text input.
> >   3. The screen reader reads the error message.
> >   4. User returns to the entry and fixes the error.
> > 
> >   Use case for a sighted user:
> > 
> >   1. User makes a typo.
> >   2. User sees the error message pop up below the entry.
> > 
> >   On themes with a background pixmap, there is a (usually gray) box
> > below the entry.  Another disadvantage of this technique is that the
> > entry can get keyboard focus, which sometimes seems strange.
> > 
> >   -Billy