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Re: Z-Order and Tag Order Need to Match?

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From: Ilana Gordon
Date: May 27, 2020 3:18PM

Agree so completely!

Ilana

On Wed, May 27, 2020 at 5:11 PM L Snider < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> What I have been wondering since Acrobat came out with the Z-Order and Tags
> in the dark ages, why the heck are they still separate in 2020? Can someone
> enlighten me on why PDFs have to have so many layers, and why they can't be
> converted to one layer...so we just remediate one layer? I am getting
> increasingly frustrated with tech from the 2000s...
>
> Cheers
>
> Lisa
>
> On Wed, May 27, 2020 at 3:36 PM Paul Rayius < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Ilana,
> > There's often a lot of question/ debate about this. When it comes to PDF
> > standards (both ISO 32000 and PDF/UA, as well as WCAG 2.0 and 2.1)
> they're
> > all quite clear that the reading order in a PDF shall be determined by
> the
> > order of the tags. (To be more clear, WCAG doesn't specify the reading
> > order "rules" for PDF but does provide some guidance in the WCAG
> > Techniques.)
> >
> > The confusion comes into play because some assistive technologies don't
> > actually follow the standards and so they'll read content from "other
> > areas" in a PDF - for example from the Content and or "Z-Order" pane in
> > Acrobat. (The "Z-Order" pane is the one labeled "Order" but many people
> > call it the "Z-Order" because of the "Z" in the icon.)
> >
> > The problem, however, is that as accessible document creators and/or
> > remediators, we can't possibly be called on to remediate according to
> how a
> > particular processor or AT will handle a PDF. In fact, to that point,
> one
> > of the great things about WCAG is that it's intended for accessibility
> > while being technology independent. Personally, I think it's time for
> PDF
> > processors and AT developers to be held accountable and that their
> products
> > should adhere to the standards that are not only available but also
> > achievable. But, that's my soapbox.
> >
> > I hope this helps to clarify, though, that the reading order in a PDF is
> > to be determined by the order of the Tags and not the "Z-Order."
> >
> > Best,
> > Paul
> >
> > Paul Rayius
> > Director of Training
> > CommonLook
> >
> >