Set accessibility properties for an image

Alternate text is set by the alt attribute and makes an image in a web page accessible to screen readers. Alternate text is also visible in some browsers when the image is downloading, when the image can't be found, or when a site visitor moves the pointer over it.

After you select an image to insert into a web page, by default Microsoft Expression Web automatically displays the Accessibility Properties dialog box, which lets you set the alternate text for an image. You can set Expression Web to automatically show or not show that dialog box.

To set Expression Web to show or not show the Accessibility Properties dialog box

1. On the Tools menu, click Page Editor Options.

2. In the Page Editor Options dialog box, click the General tab.

3. Select or clear Prompt for accessibility properties when inserting images.

4. Click OK.

To set the alternate text of an image that is already in a web page

Do one of the following:

• In your web page, select the image. In the Tag Properties panel, in the box next to the alt attribute, type the text you want.

• In Design view, right-click the image and click Picture Properties. In the Picture Properties dialog box, on the General tab, select the Alternate Text check box, enter the text you want in the text box, and click OK.

To add a picture and alternate text to a web page

1. In your web page, place your cursor where you want to add a picture, and then do one of the following:

   • Drag the picture from the Folder List panel or Site View into the Design view of your page.

   • On the Common, Standard, or Pictures toolbar, click Insert Picture From File. In the Picture dialog box, in the File Name box, specify the file you want to add, and then click Insert.

   • On the Insert menu, point to Picture, and then click From File. In the Picture dialog box, in the File Name box, specify the file you want to add, and then click Insert.

2. In the Accessibility Properties dialog box, in the Alternate text box, type the alternate text you want. Alternate text makes your image accessible to screen readers. It also is visible in some browsers when the graphic is downloading, when it can't be found, or when a site visitor moves the pointer over it.

3. To add a long description, click Browse and select an HTML file, and then click OK.

   Note

   A long description provides image information for more elaborate descriptions than are possible in the Alternate text box. Long description files are especially useful for image maps or other cases where images are inside link tags that have their own alt tags.

See also

Tasks

Using images in a website

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