Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: When given, yes.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Advanced search boxes for Company, Location, NAICS code are to the left of the boxes (rather than above) They are clearly associated with the boxes.
Other labels are above, when present.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Create an account: There are red asterisks next to required fields. There is a Text cue that says "Required*", which is supposed to make clear that any field with an asterisk must be filled.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Create an account: There are red asterisks next to required fields. There is a Text cue that says "Required*", which is supposed to make clear that any field with an asterisk must be filled.
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Errors such as messed up passwords generate an error message. Missing fields on longer forms generate an error list.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Errors such as messed up passwords generate a specific error message. Missing fields on longer forms generate an error list.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Before a page is submitted, always. The only field where this is not the case is the email field, after it has been submitted for setting up an account. This situation does not generate an error message and it is not possible to fix this through the profile while still logged in.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The only field where this is not the case is the email field, after it has been submitted for setting up an account. This situation does not generate an error message and it is not possible to fix this through the profile while still logged in.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: "My research and language selection"...I would call that "Login" or "Preferences" or "Settings"
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Some links open pop up windows, which do not have the same icons across the top.
The search fields are not located in the same places across the pages.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Basic search bar is across the middle of the page from one edge to another.
Advanced search bar is left adjusted, across the middle of the page.
Thesaurus is slightly to the right of the pane, rather than centred or anchored on the left.
Field codes page is at very top of the page, anchored to the right of the pane.
Support center search bar is centered on the page at the very top.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Recent searches, Selected items, My research and language selection, and help appear at the top right of most pages. Other features such as "cite" show up in lots of different locations: the result page has an option to cite next to the box to select the page of results but also after each article, at the far right of each entry. On the article full text page, there is an option to cite at the top right of the page.
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Pop up windows open after a click on:
Thesaurus
Search tips
Display selected items
Updates
Guided Tours
Suggestions and feedback
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: You can't postpone popups. You can x them shut, but you can't avoid them.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Thesaurus has "help" at top right, but not other buttons such as "My research and language selection" [login].
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are headings in use, but not consistently across the site for organizational purpose. I think they are a formatting tool rather than a structural tool, when applied.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: The "headings" are not used for organizational purposes.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Advanced: Publication date options list is good, but the list items do not receive focus, even when arrow keys are used, and so the options are not read out.
Look up Companies: The A to Z icons receive focus (get ringed in magenta), but the screen reader doesn't say what these are.
NAICs codes: in order by digits with additional nested menus and submenus. Not sure if this is the best strategy or not. It makes sense to me, a sighted person, familiar with NAICs, but I'm not sure about whether this works for persons with a visual impairment. The plus buttons are also very small, and almost look like bullets.
Filters under source type: 13
Filters under document type: 62 [too many]
Filters for document feature: [more than 50 and much repetition with semi colons...awful]
Simple search: no issues
Results filters: lists can get long
Sign in: NA
Help: NA
Item 1
Item 2
Item 3
Thesaurus: Has an A to Z icon list after the search bar, so browsing doesn't have to start at "A". This is good.
Command line search>Search fields drop down has way too many things in it. Though it is alphabetical, I think dividing it by letter might make it faster to get to the right search field [There are 15 A topics, 4 B topics, 28 C topics...you get the idea]
Publications list: has an A to Z icon list,
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: When reviewing results and applying filters from the left menu, changing filters automatically re-generates the list of results.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Simple search page: Good
Advanced search page: drop down lists seem to drop focus while in that drop down list. For example, the publication date drop down list, one can tab through the options but they are not ringed in magenta, and they do not get read out by the screen reader.
Thesaurus: Good for ringing each area that receives focus, but none of the items are read out by the screen reader
Companies: Each area received focus, but none are read out.
Locations: ibid
Naics codes: Each area received focus, but none are read out. There is nesting of codes. When user selects to open a plus sign, the cursor for the screen reader jumps back to the top of the page, outside of the Naics number codes box, so they have to re-scroll to return to where they were.
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Naics codes: Each area received focus, but none are read out. There is nesting of codes. When user selects to open a plus sign, the cursor for the screen reader jumps back to the top of the page, outside of the Naics number codes box, so they have to re-scroll to return to where they were.
