September 2025 Update Changes

  • Updated

Applies to: PastPerfect Online add-on for Version 5.0

Please contact pposupport@museumsoftware.com if you have any questions.

General Changes

  • Updated default styling
    • Removed fixed-width layout on windows between 640px and 960px for increased responsive design
    • More obvious focus states
    • Improved color contrast
    • Larger hitboxes for small clickable elements, including Advanced Search checkboxes, links within pagination on search results, and Browse by Term letter links
  • Replaced incorrect and added new semantic HTML elements where appropriate
  • Added hamburger menu to navigation when viewing on smaller screens so all options continue to be available
  • Mobile menu breakpoint is now 768px instead of 640px
  • Added the ability to set additional styling for navigation links if they are the current page
  • Updated the data used for image alt text in search results, Random Images, and on individual record pages
    • People and Creator records
      • Caption field from Image Metadata
      • If Caption is not available, use the Name field from the Person or Creator record instead
    • Object, Photo, Archive, Library records
      • Caption field from Image Metadata
      • If Caption is not available, use the Title field from the catalog record
      • If Title is not available, use the Object Name field from the catalog record
      • If Object Name is not available, use the text "Collection Item"
    • Removed redundant title attribute on image thumbnails
  • Built a new image viewer to replace the previous third-party plugin
    • Previous image viewer was missing essential functionality for users relying on keyboard navigation or Assistive Technology
    • New image viewer is integrated directly into the Random Images and individual record pages instead of opening in a modal
    • Images are emphasized more and easier for web visitors to view
  • Updated cookie notice
    • Moved in DOM to top of page for more visibility to screen readers
    • Removed "Cookie Notice" h4 heading

All Search Results

  • Removed redundant/repetitive links, where the image thumbnail and first line of search result text were previously separate links going to the same page
  • Changed HTML from generic <div> elements to a more semantically appropriate list
  • Added CSS so that clicking anywhere on the search result "card" will activate clicking the record link
  • Added <nav> element around the pagination for easier navigation by landmark, e.g., screen reader shortcut
  • Added text to search result title to indicate results are sorted by relevance, when applicable
  • Auto-set focus on the results page to the first record in the results list after a search is performed

Keyword Search and Catalog Search (Objects / Photos / Archives / Library)

  • Updated the default Help Text to be more detailed
  • Updated search box placeholder and aria-label to simpler text, "What are you looking for?"

Browse by Term

  • Renamed from "Search by Term" to more accurately represent the page functionality
  • Updated the default Help Text to be more detailed
  • Added aria-label to letter links to better describe their purpose
  • Auto-set focus to first term in the term list after a letter is clicked
  • Auto-set focus to the first link in the results list after a term is clicked

Advanced Search

  • Updated the default Help Text to be more detailed
  • Remove redundant aria-label from the category search boxes

Random Images

  • Added Help Text
  • Changed "View More Images" link to say "Refresh" to more accurately represent the action being performed

Individual Record Page

  • Added headings for easier navigation by landmark, e.g., screen reader shortcut keys
  • Updated page layout for record data to make better use of space
  • Added a link on Image Metadata records to easily return to the record it is attached to

Forms

  • Forms now open in a modal on the current page instead of opening in a separate window
  • Added input type and autocomplete attributes where applicable for easier entry

Interface Management Site (IMS)

Note: While not directly related to the accessibility of PPO, the following items were also updated to reflect corresponding changes previously mentioned above.

  • Multiple tabs: Updated references to "Search by Term" to use the new "Browse by Term" name
  • Site tab: Removed "Random" Catalog Sort option
  • Browse by Term tab: Simplified label text for category options
  • Help Text tab: Added new section for custom Random Images help text