ACCESSIBILITY TESTING: How to Copy Comments from One PDF to Another

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Comment Icons

As an accessibility testing auditor & remediator, I provide commented layouts in PDF format to website developers to help them fix the sections of web pages that need to meet WCAG 2.1 Guideline compliance.

Many of the web pages have the same header and footer content. It is time consuming to have to comment the same sections over and over again for each PDF website page layout.

SO…HERE’S THE FIX

1) In Acrobat Pro DC, add comments to the header and footer (or any other sections that are consistent on all the website pages you are testing) of a “master” layout PDF file…most likely the Home Page. Save the PDF file.

PDF Comments - Files

2) In Acrobat Pro DC, open the “clean” copy of the PDF where you want to import the comments.

3) Click the Comment Tool to open the Comments panel.

Adobe Acrobat DC Comment Tool

4) Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the Comments panel.

5) Select Import Data File.

Import Data File in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

6) In the Import Comments dialog, select the PDF file that contains the tester’s comments you want to import.

7) Click Open and the comments will be imported into the “clean” PDF. Save the PDF.

Import Comments - After

===

Instant Download!

PDF Accessibility Remediation How to Fix 40 Common Errors

Whether you have limited experience with the PDF remediation process, are expanding your knowledge on how to remediate PDFs, or simply need a resource that can help remind you how to fix a frustrating error, the info provided in this e-book can help.

Download now.

===

ACCESSIBLE PDFs: Discover How to Correct Typos in Tagged Text

Four Adobe PDF Icons in a row

What happens when your tagged text doesn’t match visual text?

Even though the text in your PDF looks correct, there may be typos or extra spacing behind the scenes that causes screen readers to announce the content incorrectly.

Tagged text must be free from line breaks and split words. The Adobe Accessibility Checker does not alert you to these issues.

Here’s how you can determine the back-end content issues and fix them, using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.


How to Figure Out What is Wrong with the Content

1) Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

2) Select File > Save as > Text (Plain).

3) Save the file to your computer.

4) Open the text file in Microsoft Word.

5) Use the grammar and spell check tools to find typos or spacing issues.


How to Fix These Problems in the PDF File

1) With the PDF open in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, select the Tags Tree

Tags Tree Icon in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

2) Locate the tag containing the typo or spacing issue.

3) Right click and select Copy Contents to Clipboard

Copy Contents to Clipboard Command in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

4) Right click the tag again and select Properties

Properties option in Adobe Acrobat Pro

5) Paste the copied content into the “Actual Text” field and make the corrections.

Actual Text field in Object Properties of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

6) Save the PDF file.

===

Instant Download!

PDF Accessibility Remediation How to Fix 40 Common Errors

Whether you have limited experience with the PDF remediation process, are expanding your knowledge on how to remediate PDFs, or simply need a resource that can help remind you how to fix a frustrating error, the info provided in this e-book can help.

Download now.

===

ACCESSIBLE PDFs: How to Remediate a PDF Document with NVDA for Accessibility

Five PDF icons in a row

Watch as Certified Accessibility Professional Dax Castro remediates a PDF using NDVA (screen reader) to test and ensure a good user experience. You can also learn NVDA shortcuts while creating an accessible PDF document.

Video Dax Castro Remediate PDF with NVDA

Learn more about Dax at section5oh8.com

===

Instant Download!

PDF Accessibility Remediation How to Fix 40 Common Errors

Whether you have limited experience with the PDF remediation process, are expanding your knowledge on how to remediate PDFs, or simply need a resource that can help remind you how to fix a frustrating error, the info provided in this e-book can help.

Download now.

ACCESSIBLE PDFs: How to Fix Nested Alternate Text Failed Error

Four Adobe PDF Icons in a row

Screen readers don’t read alternate text for nested elements.

If alternate text does exist in your PDF’s nested elements, you will see the Nested alternate text -failed error when using the Accessibility Checker in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

Adobe Acrobat Nested alternate text - Failed error

Here’s how to fix the problem:

1) In Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Accessibility Checker sidebar, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac OS) on the error, then select Show in Tags panel.

Adobe Acrobat Show in Tags Panel

2) In the Tags panel, Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac OS) on the  nested element and choose Properties from the context menu.

3) Remove the Alternate Text from the Object Properties dialog box, and then click the Close button.

Remove alternate text

4) Save the PDF file.

5) Test the PDF again in using the Adobe Acrobat DC Pro Accessibility Checker.

===

Instant Download!

PDF Accessibility Remediation How to Fix 40 Common Errors

Whether you have limited experience with the PDF remediation process, are expanding your knowledge on how to remediate PDFs, or simply need a resource that can help remind you how to fix a frustrating error, the info provided in this e-book can help.

Download now.

===

ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION: How to Create Accessible Crossword Puzzles

Crossword Puzzles

Since 1858, The American Printing House for the Blind has operated in Louisville, Kentucky as the world’s largest nonprofit organization creating accessible learning experiences through educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and visually impaired.

APH has created a web-based app for digital accessible crossword puzzles. These puzzles are fully accessible and can be navigated and solved using a screen reader. There are existing puzzles with academic content for 5th – 12th grade covering topics such as Science, Social Studies, Literature, Math, The Arts, Us History and World History. There are currently over a 100 existing puzzles available.

Need to create accessible crossword puzzles? Here are some resources that can help.

1) APH Accessible Crossword Puzzle App Review

2) Crossword Puzzle User Guide
This User Guide offers information on how to create new puzzles. This is a fantastic opportunity for teachers to take those crossword puzzle worksheets and make them accessible! These digital crossword puzzles also teach and provide opportunities to strengthen tech skills and digital grid math skills.

3) Sample Accessible Crossword Puzzles

===

WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY TESTING & REMEDIATION SERVICES: Mary Gillen is an experienced Website Accessibility Compliance Auditor and Remediator. She can test your website to determine if it meets accessibility standards:

WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

===

ACCESSIBLE PDFs: How to Correct “F” or “UF” Key Missing in File Specification Error

Four Adobe PDF Icons in a row

Using InDesign to export a PDF file?

Sometimes you will find the error “‘F’ or ‘UF’ key missing in file specification” when checking the accessibility of the PDF in PAC 3.

PAC 3 Error F or UF

Here’s how to fix it, using Adobe Acrobat Pro:

1) Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

2) Select More Tools > Print Production >Preflight.

3) Select the Acrobat Pro DC 2015 Profiles from the drop-down within the Preflight dialog box.

How to correct F or UF key using Preflight Tool in Adobe Acrobat Pro

4) Click the blue wrench icon.

5) Under the Document category, select the Insert missing F and UF entries for embedded files option.

6) Press the Fix button in the bottom right corner of the dialog.

7) Save the PDF file.

8) Test the PDF again in PAC 3.

PAC 3 F or UF Key Error Corrected

9) The original error should now “pass” as accessible.

===

Instant Download!

PDF Accessibility Remediation How to Fix 40 Common Errors

Whether you have limited experience with the PDF remediation process, are expanding your knowledge on how to remediate PDFs, or simply need a resource that can help remind you how to fix a frustrating error, the info provided in this e-book can help.

Download now.

===

ACCESSIBLE PDFs: How to Correct Typos in Tagged Text

Four Adobe PDF Icons in a row

What happens when your tagged text doesn’t match visual text?

Even though the text in your PDF looks correct, there may be typos or extra spacing behind the scenes that causes screen readers to announce the content incorrectly.

Tagged text must be free from line breaks and split words. The Adobe Accessibility Checker does not alert you to these issues.

Here’s how you can determine the back-end content issues and fix them, using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.


How to Figure Out What is Wrong with the Content

1) Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

2) Select File > Save as > Text (Plain).

3) Save the file to your computer.

4) Open the text file in Microsoft Word.

5) Use the grammar and spell check tools to find typos or spacing issues.


How to Fix These Problems in the PDF File

1) With the PDF open in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, select the Tags Tree

Tags Tree Icon in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

2) Locate the tag containing the typo or spacing issue.

3) Right click and select Copy Contents to Clipboard

Copy Contents to Clipboard Command in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

4) Right click the tag again and select Properties

Properties option in Adobe Acrobat Pro

5) Paste the copied content into the “Actual Text” field and make the corrections.

Actual Text field in Object Properties of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

6) Save the PDF file.

===

Instant Download!

PDF Accessibility Remediation How to Fix 40 Common Errors

Whether you have limited experience with the PDF remediation process, are expanding your knowledge on how to remediate PDFs, or simply need a resource that can help remind you how to fix a frustrating error, the info provided in this e-book can help.

Download now.

===

ACCESSIBLE PDFs: How to Set the Document Root

Human hands holding a young green plant

Every PDF document needs a “root.”

I get this question all the time from fellow PDF remediators:

“I am getting this error: ‘”Part” structure element used as root element.’ How can I fix it?”

You need to set the root of the PDF as “Document.”

HERE’S THE FIX

1) In the Acrobat Pro DC Tags pane, create a new Document tag and position it at the root under the Tags tree.

Accessibility Tag Pane Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

2) Select the rest of the tag structure and drag it inside (under) the root Document tag.

3) Save the file.

===

Instant Download!

PDF Accessibility Remediation How to Fix 40 Common Errors

Whether you have limited experience with the PDF remediation process, are expanding your knowledge on how to remediate PDFs, or simply need a resource that can help remind you how to fix a frustrating error, the info provided in this e-book can help.

Download now.

===

PDFs: The Importance of Figure and Image ALT Tags

To be accessible to screen readers, figures and images in PDF documents should not have blank ALT text, except for decorative images which should be marked as artifacts.

Each image should have an ALT attribute describing the picture, which screen readers can read aloud.

EXAMPLE:

Still life with colorful tulips

ALT=”Still life photo of colorful tulips in a glass vase”

ADDITIONAL NOTE: When an image contains words that are important to understanding the content, the text alternative should include those words. This will allow the alternative to accurately represent the image.

Read more about PDF Techniques for WCAG: Text Alternatives.

===

Instant Download!

PDF Accessibility Remediation How to Fix 40 Common Errors

Whether you have limited experience with the PDF remediation process, are expanding your knowledge on how to remediate PDFs, or simply need a resource that can help remind you how to fix a frustrating error, the info provided in this e-book can help.

Download now.

===