Accessibility Features in SAS Data Integration Studio

Overview

SAS Data Integration Studio includes features that improve usability of the product for users with disabilities. These features are related to accessibility standards for electronic information technology that were adopted by the U.S. Government under Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
If you have questions or concerns about the accessibility of SAS products, send email to accessibility@sas.com.

Enabling Assistive Technologies

For instructions about how to configure SAS Data Integration Studio software so that assistive technologies work with the application, see the information about downloading the Java Access Bridge in the section about accessibility features in the SAS Intelligence Platform: Desktop Application Administration Guide

Accessibility Standards

SAS Data Integration Studio follows the standards that are recommended in the Java Look and Feel Design Guidelines, Second Edition (available at java.sun.com). All known exceptions are documented in the following table. SAS is committed to improving the accessibility and usability of our products. Many of the issues will be addressed within future releases of the application.
Accessibility Exceptions
Accessibility Issue
Support Status
Explanation
Keyboard equivalents for user actions.
Supported with exceptions
The software supports keyboard equivalents for all user actions. Tree controls in the user interface can be individually managed and navigated through using the keyboard. However, some exceptions exist. Some ALT key shortcuts are not functional. Also, some more advanced manipulations require a mouse. Still, the basic functionality for displaying trees in the product is accessible from the keyboard.
Based on guidance from the Access Board, keyboard access to drawing tasks does not appear to be required for compliance with Section 508 standards.  Accordingly, keyboard access does not appear to be required for the Diagram tab in the Job Editor window, or the Designer tab in the SQL Join properties window.
Specifically, use of the Diagram tab in the Job Editor and the Designer tab in the SQL Join Properties window are functions that cannot be discerned textually. Both involve choosing a drawing piece, dragging it into the workspace, and designing a flow. These tasks require a level of control that is provided by a pointing device. Moreover, the same result can be achieved by editing the source code for flows.
Example: Use of the Diagram tab in the Job Editor is designed for visual rather than textual manipulation. Therefore, it cannot be operated via keyboard. If you have difficulty using a mouse, then you can create process flows with user-written source code.
The software supports keyboard equivalents to navigating between different prompts in a window. If the TAB key does not move focus to the next prompt, press CTRL+TAB to access the next prompt.
When you are defining or editing a static list in a prompt, if pressing SPACEBAR once does not select or clear the check box or radio button, then press SPACEBAR twice to select or clear a default value selection.
If focus is transferred to another prompt after you finish editing a row, use the TAB key or SHIFT+TAB until focus is back on the prompt you want, and then you can use the TAB key or the arrow keys to navigate through the rows of values.
Keyboard equivalents for user actions.
Supported with exceptions
In a window with multiple tabs, sometimes pressing CTRL+TAB can switch to another tab instead of moving to the next prompt in the current tab. If the current prompt exhibits this behavior, press TAB instead of CTRL+TAB to move focus to the next prompt in the current tab. In general, press TAB to move to the next prompt in the current tab, and press only CTRL+TAB if TAB by itself adds space to the current prompt.
Identity, operation, and state of interface elements.
Supported with exceptions
In some wizards, identity, operation, and state of some interface elements is ambiguous. SAS plans to address these issues in a future release.
Example: When you select a library in the Register Tables wizard, you must use the SAS Library combo box. If you are using the JAWS screen reader, the reader immediately reads not only the library name but also all of its details. If you want to know the libref, you must know that the label exists and that its shortcut is ALT+F. Then, you must press ALT+F so that the JAWS screen reader reads the label and its read-only text. You can move among the items in Library Details only after you use a shortcut to get to one of them.
Application override of user-selected contrast and color selections and other individual display attributes.
Supported with exceptions
SAS Data Integration Studio inherits the color and contrast settings of the operating system with the following exception:
As with most other Java applications, system font settings are not inherited in the main application window. If you need larger fonts, then consider using a screen magnifier.
Color alone as the only significant difference in controls or displays.
Supported with exceptions
In the Authorization dialog box. and on the Authorization tab in the properties windows for some objects, the background colors of the check boxes in the permissions table indicate how a permission is assigned. For information about the meaning of each color, see the Help for the Authorization tab or dialog box.
Electronic forms and displays.
Supported with exceptions
When navigating with a keyboard to choose a path in the Browse dialog box, the focus disappears. To work around the problem, either (1) count the number of times that you press the TAB key and listen closely to the items, or (2) type the path explicitly.
When the user sets the operating system settings to high contrast, some attributes of that setting are not inherited. Example: In some wizards such as the Register Tables wizard, the visual focus can disappear sometimes when you operate the software with only a keyboard. If so, continue to press the TAB key until an interface element regains focus.
F1 key
SAS plans to address this issue in a future release.
The F1 key does not open the Help for the New Prompt and Edit Prompt dialog boxes. The workaround is to click the Help button at the bottom of dialog boxes.
JAWS reader
SAS plans to address this issue in a future release.
For any window or dialog box that contains a table, JAWS cannot read the column and row headings. JAWS can read the contents of the table cells, but not the headings, so the context might be confusing.
JAWS focus on a list box
SAS plans to address this issue in a future release.
For any Open, Save, or Select dialog box that does not display items in a tree, when the focus is on the list box, JAWS can read the name of the selected item only. If you use the arrow keys to navigate through the list of items, JAWS does not read the names of any of the items that are not selected.
To enable JAWS to read the name of an item, select the item in the list box, and then use the TAB key to move back into the list box. After you move back into the list box, JAWS can read the name of the selected item.