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ADOBE ACROBAT 7.0
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Section 2: Understanding tagging and document structure
While the Add Tags To Document command adequately tags most standard layouts, it cannot always correctly
interpret the structure and reading order of complex page elements, such as closely spaced columns, irregular text
alignment, nonfillable form fields, and tables that don't have borders. Tagging these pages by using the Add Tags To
Document command can result in improperly combined elements or out-of-sequence tags that cause reading order
problems in the PDF document. This limitation is another reason why generating a tagged document directly from
an authoring application is the best way to begin the process of creating accessible PDF documents.
Why touchup is often needed
No matter which method you use to tag the Adobe PDF document, you will probably need to use Acrobat Professional
to touch up the tagging and reading order for complex page layouts or unusual page elements.
For instance, the Add Tags To Document command can't always distinguish between instructive figures and
decorative page elements such as borders, lines, or background elements. It may tag all of these as figures, even
though they are not. Similarly, it may erroneously tag graphical characters within text, such as drop caps, as figures
instead of including them in the tag that represents the rest of the text block. Such errors can clutter the tag tree and
complicate the reading order that assistive technology relies on.
If you tag a document from within Acrobat Professional, the application generates an error report after it completes
the tagging process. You can use this report to guide you as you repair tagging problems. You can identify other
tagging, reading order, and accessibility problems for any PDF document in Acrobat Professional by using an acces-
sibility Full Check or the TouchUp Reading Order tool.
Fixing errors in tagging and reading order requires Acrobat 7.0 Professional and the techniques that are described in
the rest of this guide.
Visit the Adobe accessibility website for more information
For more information about using the accessibility features in Acrobat to create accessible Adobe PDF documents,
visit the Adobe accessibility website at www.adobe.com/accessibility.
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