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PDF tables that span pages / repeating header rows / AT

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From: Dona Patrick
Date: Jun 12, 2017 5:39AM

I've been recommending and following my own advice that when tables span
pages on PDF files the header rows that are repeated on each page after the
first page should be marked as background, and the table be combined into
one (as recommended by HHS' Encouraged Fixes for PDF files
<https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/making-files-accessible/pdf-encouraged/index.html>
).

Repeated Headers are not Tagged as Background A data table spans more than
one page and the repeated header row on each page is tagged instead of
being marked as background. Tag all repeated headers as background and
remove TR tags from tag tree. For this item, ASPA/DCD uses manual
inspection. Inspect the document for tables that span pages. Open the tag
tree to see if the repeated header is tagged. No tools used.
Recently I have tried to read these tables using JAWS and discovered that
the JAWS does not recognize the header cells on subsequent pages (pages
where the header cells are artifacted). JAWS associates the row header
cells, but not the (properly marked up) column header cells with the data
cells.

I assume my settings on JAWS or Acrobat are not correct, because why would
this be recommended if the header cells on previous pages are not being
announced by screen readers?

Thank you,

Dona Patrick