Using auto labeling to associate text labels with form controls

ID: FLASH32

Technology: flash

Type: Technique

When to Use

Description

Except for the CheckBox and RadioButton component, the built in Flash components are not automatically provided an associated label. For these components, label text has to be placed adjacent to their control manually, using the Label component. If the 'auto-label' feature is enabled in the Accessibility panel, then the Flash Player will automatically associate the label text for the TextInput and TextArea components. This means that for these components, it is not necessary to duplicate the label text for the control using the Accessibility panel. The auto label feature is enabled by default.

Additionally, the auto label feature will enable the Flash Player to automatically add text contained by Button symbols as the symbol's accessible name. This will only work if the Button symbol only consists of one layer, containing the text label.

Since auto-labeling associates labels without human intervention the accuracy of the association should be verified. For more predictable results authors are encouraged to explicitly add labels to all controls.

To auto labeling, perform the following steps:

  1. Ensure that the textual descriptions for each form control within the flash application are placed adjacent to the control itself. Text eligible to be used for auto-labeling must not be set to be hidden from assistive technology.
  2. Select the movie stage, and open the Accessibility panel.
  3. Ensure that the 'Auto Label' option is checked. This will automatically associate labels with their TextInput and TextArea controls, and add text inside custom button symbols as their accessible name.
  4. If the auto label behavior is inappropriate to your Flash content, uncheck the 'Auto label' option, and ensure that each control receives a meaningful 'name' value in the Accessibility panel.
  5. To disable auto labeling for a particular object but not the whole movie, convert the text to the 'dynamic text' type using the 'Property inspector'. Then select it, and uncheck its 'Make object accessible' option in the Accessibility panel.

As an alternative to using the Accessibility panel, the auto label feature can also be turned off by setting the AccessibilityProperties.noAutoLabel to true for the stage object.

Examples

Using the "Auto Label" option in the Accessibility panel

This example shows two TextInput components, a TextArea component and a custom button symbol instance. For the TextInput components, a separate label element has been placed to the left of the control. For the TextArea component, the label has been placed above the control. For the custom button, the label text is placed inside the button symbol. Because the "Auto Label" option is enabled in the Accessibility panel, all these controls will be provided an accessible name based on their label.

The screenshot below illustrates the example:

Using the Auto Label feature in the Flash Authoring Environment

The results of this technique can be viewed in the working version of Using the "Auto Label" option in the Accessibility panel. The source of Using the "Auto Label" option in the Accessibility panel is available.

Tests

Procedure

If a Flash form contains TextInput or TextArea components, or custom button symbols with text labels, confirm that:

  1. The Auto Label option is enabled in the movie's Accessibility panel
  2. Use a screen reader or MSAA checker to ensure that the label text is indeed exposed as the control's accessible name

Expected Results