LIFT Text Transcoder

What is the LIFT Text Transcoder?

LIFT Text Transcoder is a web application that converts a web page into its text-only version on-the-fly by eliminating all page layout that is present in the original page and by hiding many accessibility defects.

The transcoder is useful for the website visitor, since it removes some accessibility issues and small defects like missing image ALTs or forms that are not properly linearized or flash objects. It also provides some navigation options that are not usually available on browsers and that enhance the user experience of disabled users or users of mobile technology.
 
LIFT Text Transcoder can be used also by the web developer to determine if the reading order of the information presented in the page makes sense when read in the order that would be followed by a screen reader or speech browser.
 
As a webmaster the main advantage of deploying LIFT Text Transcoder is that a "Text mode" link can be added to each page of the website and instantly web visitors can access a text-mode rendering of the content of the pages with no manual work (other than adding the link).
 
Browse the VCU Text Website

How do I add the LIFT Text Transcoder to my page?

To add the this text only functionality to your site you can add the following code to convert the current page to a text version:

    <a href="http://text.vcu.edu:8080/tt/referrer"
    title="view the text-only version of this page">Text only</a>

Example: View this page in text mode.

To add a link to the text version of a page that is not the current page:

    <a href="http://text.vcu.edu:8080/tt/
    http://www.vcu.edu/mydepartment/" title="view the text-only version of some page">Text only</a>

What if I don't want part of my page to appear in the text-only version?

Use the DIV element with the class attribute set to un_jtt_hide.

    <p>Introduction...</p>
    <div class="un_jtt_hide">
      <p>Offending Code</p>
    </div>
    <p>Conclusion...</p>

Will appear like this in the text-only version:

    <p>Introduction...</p>
    <p>Conclusion...</p>

How do I make text appear as a heading in the text version?

Use the DIV element with the class attribute set to texthead. If you try this and it doesn't work it might be that this feature hasn't been activated on your server or virtual host. Please e-mail me with the URL of you site and I will activate this feature for you.

    <div class="texthead">
      <p>Some Heading</p>
    </div>
    <p>Some Text...</p>

Will appear like this in the text-only version:

    Some Heading
    Some Text

OR

    <div class="texthead">
      <img src="someimage.gif" alt="My Heading">
    </div>
    <p>Some Text...</p>

Will appear like this in the text-only version:

    My Heading
    Some Text