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bren87
Inspiring
July 31, 2023
Answered

InDesign Cannot Artifact Leader Dots [Accessibility]

InDesign has no way of artifacting leader dots. This can only be done in PDF. Leader dots are commonly used in tables of contents to guide the reader's eye from the end of the entry to the page number. Leader dots are voiced by access technologies such as screen readers and force users with disabilities to hear, "DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT ..." If they are not artifacted. This is a painstaking process that requires InDesign users to learn PDF Remediation, a highly specialized skillset that is typically outside the role of the average Graphic Designer. Currently, the process for artifacting leader dots is to ind the first leader dot in the Tags tree. Right click on it and choose Show in Content Panel. Expand the content containers until you find the first set of leader dots. Right click on them and choose “Create Artifact.” Ignore the options panel and click “OK” to set the artifact. Repeat with all other leader dots. This issue affects EVERY SINGLE InDesign user who is required to make accessible content. Please make artifacting leader dots an option within InDesign so painstaking remediation is not required.

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bren87Correct answer
Inspiring
February 8, 2024

Use a character style to set the underline. The style will automatically artifact it in the PDF.

 

  • New Character Style
  • Name it Underline or whatever you want
  • Set the Underline Options: checkmark to turn it on, and then choose whatever you want for thickness, distance from the baseline, color, etc.

 


Oh wow!  Outstanding; Thank you!!

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21 replies

bren87Author
Inspiring
August 1, 2023

This is truly excellent.  I was told this was NOT possible to do in InDesign at an accessibility conference so I reported it.  Thank you for providing this workaround!

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notannhavoc
Inspiring
August 24, 2023

I'm having a similar problem - underlined text  - the underline needs to be artifacted  in the resultign pdf but I cannot  selct it in the ID file to  set it as artifact - tried  Willi's workaround but it also generated a line that  is seen as a path - someone said ID does an excellent job of artifacting lines - not so -  perhaps an earlier version - certainly not the current version 18.5

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karin.carlson
Inspiring
February 8, 2024

Perhaps there's a difference, to InDesign, between a "rule" and a "path". That's the distinction I'm gathering. I still see the paths in the content panel but they don't appear to be in the tags.

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    Willi Adelberger
    Community Expert
    Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 31, 2023

    Instead of dots use a stroke with a dotted line, as it will increase flexibility. Look at the example.

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      bren87Author
      Inspiring
      July 31, 2023

      Yes, you can do that, and artifact the dotted line.  But you have to do it manually, instead of using a tab stop with a leader dot that is associated with your Paragraph Styles.

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      John Mensinger
      Community Expert
      John MensingerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 31, 2023

      Could also be done with a Character Style applied using a GREP Style within the Paragraph Style.

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      kglad
      Community Expert
      kgladCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 31, 2023

      <moved from cc desktop ideas>

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      bren87Author
      Inspiring
      July 31, 2023

      This is where Adobe told me to post it after I submitted this in admin console.  🤷

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      kglad
      Community Expert
      kgladCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 31, 2023

      post it here, https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests

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