Adjusting reading order makes display changes

[todd_rohrer]

I have a 175+ page PDF I'm trying to make accessible. In InDesign, I set up tags and structure, thinking they'd help with Reading Order. Apparently I was wrong, because the results in Acrobat DC are just about the most nonsensical ordering of items I've ever seen.

In the Reading Order panel, I tried dragging and dropping the elements to the correct order, but then items on the page that are overlapping are disappearing. What's going on here and how do I fix it?

Another problem I'm seeing is when I drag and drop the order, sometimes the item I was dragging disappears. This is so confusing and frustrating!

[a_C_student]

Yep, common problem - called the Z order problem. The items are still there, just hiding behind other items. I recommend using the Tags Pane rather than the Order Pane to adjust reading order. Use the Content Pane to readjust the order in the visual representation of the document. For example, if text goes into hiding behind a shaded box, in the Content Pane move the shaded box to a position before the text. Text will reappear. I posted a video on this topic that you might find helpful - z order problem - YouTube

[todd_rohrer]

Fantastic. I watched the video and have one question: Why does an item that is supposed to be behind another item have to be placed before it in the content panel?

I mean, I get that it's just how Acrobat works, but I wondered if you knew the logic behind it.

[a_C_student]

Sorry, don't know. I guess it had to be one way or the other. Maybe John Warnock flipped a coin?

[VennFlorida · Accepted solution]

I found the solution. I am working on a 650 page doc and some items are not included in the reading order. Selecting them, then setting them as text in the Reading Order Panel made them 'disappear'. After fiddling around with it, I realized that Acrobat thinks something is in front of the disappeared text. I slid the box containing the text to the right and started clicking in the 'blank' space, and sure enough, there were empty boxes there. I deleted them all and VOILA - the text is visible again. Slide the original box back into place and you're good to go.

Cheers!

[S. S]

Hi @VennFlorida,

Hope you are doing well. 

Thanks for writing back what worked for you!

Marking this as a correct answer for future users to use as a reference.

-Souvik