Skip to main content
Adrika Bhadauria
Adrika Bhadauria
Participant
February 26, 2026
Question

InDesign Tagged PDF Missing List Attribute Dictionaries for PDF/UA Compliance

  • February 26, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 45 views

We are using Adobe InDesign 2025 to create tagged PDFs for accessibility compliance.

When we export the same document from MS Word, the PDF is auto-tagged and all detailed attribute objects (including list attributes, numbering, and structure attributes) are correctly generated.

However, when exporting from InDesign using the “Create Tagged PDF” option, table attributes and layout attribute dictionaries are generated, but list attributes are missing.

We have ensured that paragraph styles are mapped to tags and the document structure is properly set. Despite this, the exported PDF does not include the list attribute dictionary like Word does.

Our client requires PDFs with full attribute dictionaries for PDF/UA compliance.

We would like to know:

  1. Is there a setting or workflow in InDesign to generate full list attributes automatically?

  2. Or is this a limitation of InDesign?

  3. If not, is a third-party plugin required to achieve this?

Any guidance or recommended workflow would be greatly appreciated.

    1 reply

    E
    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 26, 2026

    This is a known difference between Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Word when exporting tagged PDFs. In short, InDesign does not currently generate the same detailed list attribute dictionaries that Word does.

    Even when:

    • Paragraph styles are properly mapped to tags
    • Bullets/numbering are created using InDesign’s built-in list features
    • The Articles panel is used
    • “Create Tagged PDF” is enabled

    You’ll typically get the correct structure elements (L, LI, Lbl, LBody), and table/layout attributes may be present but the full list attribute dictionary (like Word produces) is often missing.

    Word has a deeply integrated semantic list model, whereas InDesign is primarily layout-driven, so its tagging implementation isn’t as attribute-rich, as far as I know.

    There isn’t a hidden export setting in InDesign 2025 that forces creation of full list attribute dictionaries.

    If your client requires strict PDF/UA compliance at the attribute-dictionary level, the typical solutions are:

    • Post-process and remediate in Acrobat Pro accessibility tools
    • Use a third-party accessibility tool (e.g., axesPDF, CommonLook, callas pdfaPilot)
    • In some workflows, generate the accessible PDF from Word instead

    You may also want to confirm which validator your client is using, as not all PDF/UA checks require identical attribute dictionaries sometimes the requirement is stricter than what InDesign can currently produce.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices