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Re: PDF Accessibility Checker (PAC) vs. Adobe Acrobat Pro XI full check

for

From: Lucy Greco
Date: Mar 13, 2014 9:59AM

I say go the html way. Really it's a better format to read and in the end
easier for all

Lucia Greco
Web Accessibility Evangelist
IST - Architecture, Platforms, and Integration
University of California, Berkeley
(510) 289-6008 skype: lucia1-greco
http://webaccess.berkeley.edu
follow me on twitter @accessaces

-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Liko, Todd
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2014 5:13 AM
To: ' <EMAIL REMOVED> '
Subject: [WebAIM] PDF Accessibility Checker (PAC) vs. Adobe Acrobat Pro XI
full check

Hello all.

I use both tools to assess a PDF document for accessibility. Both tools
provide reports and are more often than not, quite different from each
other. For example, PAC always flags borders, table borders, etc... as
untagged content, whereas, Acrobat full check does not. Adobe full check
always flags table irregularity even when colspan or rowspan are properly
set.

Neither tool flags if the <Reference> tag is properly used for links
referencing content within the document, but that makes sense as the
automated check cannot determine if the link in internal or external. I
always add it because it is part of the ISO Standard.

I also realize the PAC tool assesses against the Matterhorn Protocol which
is not required under WCAG 2.0, therefore returns many errors that
probably can be overlooked. I prefer to address the errors, however, in
order to be proactive.

I guess my question is should I care that the table borders are untagged,
that the <Reference> tag or <Label> tag is not being used? Obviously
addressing all of these items requires more effort and time and I am
getting some pushback/questions as to why it takes so my time to make a
PDF document accessible.

There are also suggestions that we simply convert all PDF documents to
HTML 5, in order to meet the Standard on Mobile Devices.

Any thoughts or feedback would be much appreciated.

_______
Todd Liko
Communications Advisor | Conseiller en communications Web Services |
Services Web Communications and Marketing | Communications et Marketing
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