[Bug]: Flextable issue rendering from quarto to latex - a11y

[Schiano-NOAA]

Feature related to a problem:

• when rendering a flextable (unsure of other table formats) in quarto to latex and adding tagging, tagging cannot be applied
• there is a lot of redundant and unnecessary calls in the latex code produced from quarto
• \multicolumn argument is sometimes empty (re: Gemini)
• \multirow argument is unnecessary (re: Gemini)
• Redundant use of \ between words in header names such as Fleet\ North (can specifically cause odd spacing in latex)
• Re: Gemini -- Repeated font commands in every cell
  Remove all \textcolor[HTML]{000000}, \fontsize{11}{11}\selectfont, and \global\setmainfont{Arial} from inside the \multicolumn and \parbox commands. Set \setmainfont{Arial} once in your preamble
• \ascline is not standard and should be replaced with \hline

Reprex:

\begin{longtable*}[c]{|p{0.75in}|p{0.75in}|p{0.75in}|p{0.75in}|p{0.75in}}

\ascline{1.5pt}{666666}{1-5}

\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{\textbf{Product\ Category}}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{\textbf{Quarter\ 1\ Sales}}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{\textbf{Quarter\ 2\ Sales}}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{\textbf{Growth\ (\%)}}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{\textbf{Notes}}}}} \\

\ascline{1.5pt}{666666}{1-5}\endfirsthead

\ascline{1.5pt}{666666}{1-5}

\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{\textbf{Product\ Category}}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{\textbf{Quarter\ 1\ Sales}}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{\textbf{Quarter\ 2\ Sales}}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{\textbf{Growth\ (\%)}}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{\textbf{Notes}}}}} \\

\ascline{1.5pt}{666666}{1-5}\endhead

\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{Fruits}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{12,000}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{15,000}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{25.0}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{Seasonal\ peak}}}} \\

\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{Vegetables}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{8,500}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{9,200}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{8.2}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{Steady\ growth}}}} \\

\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{Grains}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{6,200}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{7,000}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{12.9}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{New\ product\ line}}}} \\


\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{Dairy}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{9,800}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{10,500}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{7.1}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{Stable}}}} \\

\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{Protein}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{7,500}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{8,100}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{8.0}}}} & \multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright}m{\dimexpr 0.75in+0\tabcolsep}}{\textcolor[HTML]{000000}{\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont{\global\setmainfont{Arial}{Good\ performance}}}} \\

\ascline{1.5pt}{666666}{1-5}

\end{longtable*}

Proposed solution:

• Simplifying code to make tables
• Following suggestions from Gemini as noted above
• Making sure no tables headers are merged
• Use the following code:

\begin{longtable}[c]{|p{0.75in}|p{0.75in}|p{0.75in}|p{0.75in}|p{0.75in}|}
\hline % Replaced \ascline
\multicolumn{1}{|>{\raggedright\arraybackslash}m{\dimexpr 0.75in}|}{\textbf{Product Category}} &
\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft\arraybackslash}m{\dimexpr 0.75in}|}{\textbf{Quarter 1 Sales}} &
\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft\arraybackslash}m{\dimexpr 0.75in}|}{\textbf{Quarter 2 Sales}} &
\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft\arraybackslash}m{\dimexpr 0.75in}|}{\textbf{Growth (\%)}} &
\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright\arraybackslash}m{\dimexpr 0.75in}|}{\textbf{Notes}} \\
\hline % Replaced \ascline
\endfirsthead
%
\hline % Replaced \ascline
\multicolumn{1}{|>{\raggedright\arraybackslash}m{\dimexpr 0.75in}|}{\textbf{Product Category}} &
\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft\arraybackslash}m{\dimexpr 0.75in}|}{\textbf{Quarter 1 Sales}} &
\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft\arraybackslash}m{\dimexpr 0.75in}|}{\textbf{Quarter 2 Sales}} &
\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedleft\arraybackslash}m{\dimexpr 0.75in}|}{\textbf{Growth (\%)}} &
\multicolumn{1}{>{\raggedright\arraybackslash}m{\dimexpr 0.75in}|}{\textbf{Notes}} \\
\hline % Replaced \ascline
\endhead
%
Fruits & 12,000 & 15,000 & 25.0 & Seasonal peak \\ \hline
Vegetables & 8,500 & 9,200 & 8.2 & Steady growth \\ \hline
Grains & 6,200 & 7,000 & 12.9 & New product line \\ \hline
Dairy & 9,800 & 10,500 & 7.1 & Stable \\ \hline
Protein & 7,500 & 8,100 & 8.0 & Good performance \\
\hline % Replaced \ascline
\end{longtable}

*Note

• formatting is not perfect and table lines are excessive for our use case
• example is missing necessary packages

Add'l details:

necessary packages:

\documentclass{article} % Or your document class
\usepackage{longtable}
\usepackage{array}     % For m{} columns, >{} and \extracolsep
\usepackage{calc}      % For \dimexpr
\usepackage{xcolor}    % For \textcolor
\usepackage{fontspec}  % For \setmainfont
\usepackage{multirow}  % For \multirow command
% \usepackage{hhline}    % For more flexible horizontal rules (optional, replaces \hline)
% \usepackage{booktabs}  % For publication-quality rules (discourages vertical lines)

\setmainfont{Arial}    % Set Arial globally for the document

% If you want colored lines (requires xcolor and colortbl)
% \usepackage{colortbl}
% \newcommand{\tablelinecolor}{gray} % Define your line color
% \arrayrulecolor{\tablelinecolor}

\begin{document}