E-mail List Archives
Thread: converting a Word file into an accessible PDF?
Number of posts in this thread: 4 (In chronological order)
From: Jennison Asuncion
Date: Thu, Dec 21 2006 7:40PM
Subject: converting a Word file into an accessible PDF?
No previous message | Next message →
Hello,
Apologies if this has been previously asked and answered here, but a
colleague asked me a question that I didn't have an answer for - if one
has a relatively uncomplicated Word file (with headings, perhaps a couple
of tables), what is the best process to follow to take this file and
convert it into an accessible PDF?
My gut is saying to move the file into PDF Pro and save it into a PDF
there, however, I am unfamiliar whether PDF Pro will automatically do any
necessary tagging of an existing Word file, or
if there is some work that needs to be done.
Any help or direction to resources would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jennison
From: Moore, Michael
Date: Fri, Dec 22 2006 7:30AM
Subject: Re: converting a Word file into an accessible PDF?
← Previous message | Next message →
Merry Christmas Jennison
We use Adobe 7 here at DARS. If the document is created using good
structure and is relatively simple, headings, text, lists, and images
with alt text. The adobe conversion will properly tag the document. It
is a good idea to check the reading order and the tag structure to make
sure that everything worked correctly. If the document author does not
use styles properly, the document will not be properly tagged.
Additionally, in my experience anyway, tables usually need some work to
get the reading order and tag structure correct.
If you have a high volume of PDF documents, you may want to consider the
Common Look plug-in for Adobe, it makes the assessment and remediation
process quite a bit more efficient.
Tagged pdfs work best with the latest releases of screen readers. If
you are publishing documents for use by the general public, I recommend
adding an accessible html version of the document to better accommodate
folks with older systems or software. The University of Illinois has a
really good tool to make this process much easier.
http://www.accessiblewizards.uiuc.edu/
Mike Moore
Accessibility Specialist
Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
(512) 424-4159
From: Andrew Kirkpatrick
Date: Fri, Dec 22 2006 7:40AM
Subject: Re: converting a Word file into an accessible PDF?
← Previous message | Next message →
The best process in that situation is to use The Acrobat menu in Word to
publish to PDF. The structure, links, table headings, image
alternatives will all come through into the tagged PDF.
The new PDF will open in Acrobat Professional once created and you can
run the accessibility checker on it, but you shouldn't need to do
anything to make it more accessible.
AWK
From: Robinson, Norman B - Washington, DC
Date: Tue, Dec 26 2006 9:40AM
Subject: Re: converting a Word file into an accessible PDF?
← Previous message | No next message
Jennison,
I know I'm not answering your question directly, but I'd make the
recommendation you don't rely on PDF for accessibility. We require this
in our policy
(http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/hand/as508a/508a_c6.html#508hdr78) because
of the difficulty in getting an accessible PDF, including dependencies
on the correct tagging in the original (MS Word in your example)
document. PDF and HTML versions are recommended.
Generally speaking, most people I've seen are thinking of PDF as a great
way to publish information when really what they are trying to do is
think of themselves before the user (not thinking about usability for
online access) or forgetting the primary purpose of the content they are
creating is for printing. I only mention this not to be negative but to
suggest you consider why you are using PDF before you create a process
to support something that doesn't help your users.
I hope you find a workable solution. If you do, please let us know what
implement!
Best fortune,
Norman B. Robinson