
Use VoiceOver to work with tables, graphs, and charts on Mac
Typically, you use VO-Right Arrow or VO-Left Arrow to navigate VoiceOver; however, you navigate tables differently. With VoiceOver, you can navigate tables in several ways by row and column. You can also sort and reorder columns.
Note: VO represents the VoiceOver modifier that you press with additional keys to enter VoiceOver commands. By default, you can press Control and Option together or just press Caps Lock.
Navigate rows
Hear a row header: Press VO-R.
Hear a row from the VoiceOver cursor to the end of the row: Press VO-R-R.
When VoiceOver navigates a table row, you can have it read the header text. This can help you identify the type of content in each cell of a row. To set this option, open VoiceOver Utility (press VO-Fn-F8 when VoiceOver is on), click the Verbosity category, then click Announcements.
Navigate columns
Hear a column header: Press VO-C.
Hear a column from the VoiceOver cursor to the bottom of the column: Press VO-C-C.
Move up or down in a column: Press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key.
VoiceOver doesn’t announce blank columns as you navigate using the arrow keys unless you have the verbosity level for tables set to High. See Customize verbosity in VoiceOver.
Sort columns
Press VO-Vertical Line to jump to the sort button in a column header, then press VO-Space bar.
If the table also contains a row header, pressing VO-Vertical Line displays a menu where you choose a column or row header. Press VO-Right Arrow until you hear the header you want, then press the Space bar to jump to the sort button in that header.
You can navigate to other columns and sort them.
When you’re done sorting columns, press VO-Vertical Line.
Note: Many tables can’t be sorted.
Reorder columns
Navigate to the column you want to move, then press VO-Vertical Line to jump to the column header.
Press VO-Comma to mark the column for reordering.
Navigate to the header of the column that you want the marked column to precede, then press VO-Less Than to insert the marked column in front of it.
When you’re done reordering, press VO-Vertical Line.
Note: Many tables can’t be reordered.
Navigate graphs and charts
Graphs and charts displayed on websites may include audio graphs to make the data they present more accessible. An audio graph uses tones and pitch to create an audible representation of the data and trends shown in a graph or chart. VoiceOver can indicate when an audio graph is available to play, and read a summary (if available) of the graph or chart and its axes.
To access available audio graphs, press VO-U to open the VoiceOver rotor, then navigate the rotor until you hear “Audio Graphs.”
In an outline view, to jump to the parent level of the current cell, press VO-Command-Backslash.
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