# Alternative Text
## Content
To assist visually impaired individuals in understanding the content of shapes, users can add alternative text (alt text) to shapes. When content is accessed using a screen reader, this associated alternative text is identified and read aloud, enabling users to better understand the shape’s purpose or meaning.
DsExcel Java provides the [setTitle](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/drawing/IShape.html#settitle),[ setAlternativeText](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/drawing/IShape.html#setalternativetext), **and** [setDecorative](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/drawing/IShape.html#setdecorative) methods of the [IShape](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/drawing/IShape.html) interface, which are used to set the title and content of a shape’s alternative text, or to indicate whether the shape is decorative.
| **Method** | **Description** |
| ------ | ----------- |
| [setTitle](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/drawing/IShape.html#settitle) | Sets the title for the alternative text of a shape. |
| [setAlternativeText](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/drawing/IShape.html#setalternativetext) | Sets the main content for the shape's alternative text. |
| [setDecorative](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/drawing/IShape.html#setdecorative) | Indicates whether the shape is decorative. When set to **true**, the shape is marked as decorative and will generally be ignored by screen readers.- Setting the [setAlternativeText](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/drawing/IShape.html#setalternativetext) method to a non-empty string automatically sets **Decorative** to **false**.
- Setting the [setDecorative](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/drawing/IShape.html#setdecorative) method to **true** clears the alternative text.
Default value: **false**. |
>type=info
> * Shapes, as well as pictures, charts, slicers, group shapes, linked pictures, and controls support alternative text.
> * SpreadJS does not support the [setDecorative](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/drawing/IShape.html#setdecorative) method. If a file has the [setDecorative](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/drawing/IShape.html#setdecorative) method set and is exported to SJS or SSJSON format, the **Decorative** setting will not be retained.
## Add Alternative Text
Refer to the following sample code to add alternative text to a shape.
```java
// Create a new workbook.
Workbook workbook = new Workbook();
IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.getActiveSheet();
// Add a rounded rectangle shape.
IShape shape = worksheet.getShapes().addShape(AutoShapeType.RoundedRectangle, 10, 10, 200, 100);
// Set alternative text.
shape.setTitle("Test Shape");
shape.setAlternativeText("This is a rounded rectangle.");
// Save to an excel file.
workbook.save("SetShapeAltText.xlsx");
```
The output is shown in the figure below:
## Mark as Decorative
Refer to the following sample code to mark the shape as decorative.
```java
// Create a new workbook.
Workbook workbook = new Workbook();
IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.getActiveSheet();
// Add a rounded rectangle shape.
IShape shape = worksheet.getShapes().addShape(AutoShapeType.RoundedRectangle, 10, 10, 200, 100);
// Set alternative text.
shape.setTitle("Test Shape");
shape.setAlternativeText("This is a rounded rectangle.");
// When a shape is marked as decorative, the alternative text will be cleared.
shape.setDecorative(true);
// Save to an excel file.
workbook.save("SetShapeAltText.xlsx");
```
The output is shown in the figure below:
