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Using Reflow view to check reading order
One quick way to check the order of elements in a document is to temporarily reflow the text in Reflow view. In this
view, Acrobat flows the tagged Adobe PDF document one page at a time as a single column of text that fits across the
width of the document pane. Reflow view lets you check whether other stories are interrupting the flow of text that
spans columns or pages. You cannot save or edit a document while it is in Reflow view.
Acrobat displays most, but not all, text in Reflow view. Form fields, comments, digital signature fields, and page
artifacts, such as page numbers, headers, and footers, do not display in Reflow view. Also, Acrobat does not reflow
pages that contain both readable text and form fields or digital signature fields.
When properly tagged and structured, headings and columns (left) flow in a logical reading order in Reflow view (right).
If the reflowed document doesn't read in the order that you expect, use the TouchUp Reading Order tool to locate
and fix the problem areas. See "Section 11: Repairing reading order and basic tagging problems" on page 59 for
instructions.
To use Reflow view:
To reflow a document, choose View > Reflow.
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To exit Reflow view, either choose View > Reflow again, or select any other view, such as Actual Size, Fit Page, or
Fit Width.
Other ways to check the reading order
Acrobat and Adobe Reader offer several features that people with disabilities use to read accessible Adobe PDF
documents. You can use some of these same features, as well as other tools that are available only in Acrobat, to check
the reading order of content and to obtain valuable information about how users will experience your document.
You may find one of the following features easier to work with than another:
• Turn on Read Out Loud.
(To turn on this feature, choose View > Read Out Loud. See "Using the Read Out Loud feature" in Acrobat Help
for more information.) This feature is also available in Adobe Reader.
• Save a document as accessible text.
and select Text (Accessible) in the Save As Type drop-down menu. Then read the document in a word-processing
application.) This feature is also available in Adobe Reader.
• Save the document as HTML.
and select one of the HTML options in the Save As Type drop-down menu.)
Use this feature to hear the document read aloud according to the current reading order.
Use this feature to visually confirm the reading order. (Choose File > Save As
Use this technique to view the reading order as a web page. (Choose File > Save As
Section 10: Evaluating Adobe PDF documents for accessibility problems
ADOBE ACROBAT 7.0
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