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USING ACROBAT 9 PRO
Accessibility, tags, and reflow
These stages are presented in an order that suits most needs. However, you can perform tasks in a different order or
iterate between some of the stages. In all cases, first examine the document, determine its intended purpose, and use
that analysis to determine the workflow that you apply.
For more information about creating accessible PDFs, see these online resources:
• Guide to creating accessible PDFs, General Services Administration:
www.section508.gov/docs/PDFGuidanceForGovernment.pdf
• Acrobat plug-in for creating Section 508-compliant PDFs:
www.commonlook.com/documents/english/cl_adobe_home.asp
• Best practices:
amp.ssbbartgroup.com
Consider accessibility before you convert a document to PDF
Whenever possible, think about accessibility when you create the source files in an authoring application, such as a
word-processing or page-layout application.
Typical tasks in the authoring application include adding alternate text to graphics, optimizing tables, and applying
paragraph styles or other document-structure features that can be converted to tags. For more information, see
"Creating a tagged PDF from an authoring
Note: If you intend to design PDF forms, use Adobe LiveCycle® Designer, which is dedicated to the design of interactive
and static forms. LiveCycle Designer adds structure tags to forms, improving accessibility.
Add fillable form fields and descriptions, and set the tab order
If your PDF includes form fields, use Advanced > Accessibility > Run Form Field Recognition to detect form fields and
make them interactive (fillable).
Use the Forms tools to create fillable form fields, such as buttons, check boxes, pop-up menus, and text boxes. When
you create a field, type a description in the Tooltip box in the Properties dialog box for that field. Screen readers read
this text aloud to the user. For more information, see
You can also use the TouchUp Reading Order tool to add descriptions to form fields.
For information on setting the tab order to use document structure, see
Add other accessibility features to the PDF
This stage includes setting the document language, making sure that security settings don't interfere with screen
readers, creating accessible links, and adding bookmarks. For more information, see
page 296,
"Prevent security settings from interfering with screen
page 295, and
"About
bookmarks" on page 306.
Tag the PDF
Improve the accessibility of PDFs by adding tags in Acrobat. If a PDF doesn't contain tags, Acrobat attempts to tag it
automatically when users read or reflow it, and the results may be disappointing. With a tagged PDF, the logical
structure tree sends the contents to a screen reader or other assistive software or hardware in an appropriate order.
For best results, tag a document when converting it to PDF from an authoring application. Examples of these
applications include Adobe FrameMaker®, Adobe InDesign®, Microsoft Word, or OpenOffice Writer. If you do not
have access to an authoring application that can generate a tagged PDF, you can tag a PDF any time by using Acrobat.
application" on page 285.
"Create form
fields" on page 189.
readers" on page 296,
Last updated 9/30/2011
"Set form field
navigation" on page 196.
"Set the document
"Add accessible
283
language" on
links" on
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