Creating an Accessible Chart

When you create a new chart, by default the HasSelectionMarks and AllowPropertyToolBox properties are set to False. As a result, a user working with a chart using only a keyboard cannot see when an item in the chart is selected (HasSelectionMarks) and cannot display the Commands and Options dialog box for setting properties of the selected item (AllowPropertyToolBox). To enable these features to make a chart more accessible for keyboard users, you can set these properties manually at design time by using the following procedure.

Enable selection marks and the Commands and Options dialog box   

1. Right-click the click the chart control, and then click Commands and Options.
2. On the Show/Hide tab under Let users view, click Selection marks and Commands and Options dialog box.

Alternatively, you can set these properties programmatically as in the following example.

Sub Make_Accessible()

   'Show selection marks for individual chart elements.
   Chartspace1.HasSelectionMarks = True

   'Allow the user to display the Commands and Options dialog box.
   Chartspace1.AllowPropertyToolbox = True

End Sub