WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Can mobile users choose not to download pictures and graphs in PDF documents, Mac and accessible PDF?

for

From: Paul J. Adam
Date: Nov 19, 2012 10:26AM

Hi Birkir, it is possible to create tagged, accessible PDFs on a Mac using Acrobat Pro. The built in app used to view PDFs on a Mac, Preview, does not pick up on any of the accessibility structure or tags though, neither does Adobe Reader. So basically PDFs are not accessible to VoiceOver users. They can only be read as plain text documents without access to the headings, alt text, table headers, etc.

Paul J. Adam
Accessibility Evangelist
Deque Systems
<EMAIL REMOVED>
www.PaulJAdam.com
@pauljadam on Twitter

On Nov 18, 2012, at 2:22 PM, Birkir R. Gunnarsson < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Hi listers
>
> I am creating a little brochure (in Icelandic) with information on PDF
> accessibility (mostly based on the excellent content of the WebAIM
> website on the subject, with full credits and references of course
> when it is ready). It is aimed at people producing PDF documents,
> mostly with Adobe Acrobat.
>
> I am wrapping up the "alt text" section of the document, and
> explaining the need for adding alt text.
> I would like to extend the potential users of alt text to phone users
> with low bandwidth data connection who choose not to download
> pictures. I know this is true for HTML graphics, but I suspect when
> you download a PDF document to your phone, you cannot choose to not
> download graphics.
> Can anyone verify this for me?
>
> Also, can I make the statement that it si near impossible to produce
> accessible PDF files using a Mac (OSX)? I have not found any programs
> that do this on a Mac, and I have seen statements, though not brand
> new, to that effect, but of course I do not want to insult Mac users,
> or make such sweeping statements without being pretty sure of being
> correct about this.
>
> Thanks very much
> -Birkir
> > >