Checklist for testing ebooks

Test your book on a representative range of reading systems, including a range of screen sizes and ones which have accessibility features. Some of the tests below depend on the reading system(s) having the relevant capability.

Checklist

1. Does the eBook use real text?

• Does the reading system's search feature work with your eBook?
• Are any dropped capitals real text rather than graphic's based?
• Does any image based text have an alternative text description provided?

2. Can the text be personalised in reflowable eBooks?

• Can the font size be changed?
• Does text reflow properly at minimum and maximum font sizes?
• Can the typeface be changed?
• Can line or character spacing be altered?
• Can text alignment / justification be changed?
• Can the text and / or background colours be changed?

3. Is the text easy to read?

• Have you avoided blocks of text set in italics, underlined or all in caps which can be difficult to read?
• Have you used bold sparingly to apply appropriate emphasis?

4. Is the text clearly readable in fixed layout eBooks?

• In fixed layout eBooks the font size can only be changed by enlarging the whole page. On the intended reading system does the text match RNIB Clear Print guidelines and is no less that the equivalent of 12 point in a clear font such as Arial?
• Is there a good contrast between the fonts used and any background colours?
• Is any of the text obscured by being placed over background images?
• Have you chosen fonts which are easy and comfortable to read?

5. Does the layout and formatting work at different font sizes in reflowable eBooks?

• Does standard body text reflow properly and remain readable at the minimum and maximum font sizes available?
• Are any tables displayed properly?
• Can the user read and interpret any tables at different font sizes?
• Are bulleted and numbered lists displayed properly?
• Have you avoided right aligned text?
• Do all text styles display properly at the full range of font sizes?

6. Is text to speech enabled?

• Is the book read out loud if the reading system has text to speech switched on?

7. Does text-to-speech read in the correct order?

• Does text to speech read the text in the correct order, particularly columns, tables, non uniform text and especially fixed layout eBooks?
• If the book has an audio soundtrack does this synchronise properly with the visual layout?

8. Can the eBook be easily navigated?

• Does the table of contents contain links taking the user directly to the required location?
• Can reading systems with the ability to recognise headings locate the headings in your eBook?
• Does all navigation function correctly?
• Have you avoided navigational information using purely visual references?

9. Is alternative text provided for images?

• Do all images which convey information have a caption which summarises the key information briefly if it is not included in the text?
• Do all images which convey information have an alternative text description?
• If images have important text within them is this included within the caption and alternative text description?

10. Are multimedia clips accessible?

• Do any multimedia clips have links or access to the transcripts or descriptions for people with hearing or sight loss?
• Where video captions are supported are these included?
• Can video clips be sufficiently understood from the accompanying soundtrack for people who cannot see the screen?
• Where audio description is supported is this available?