Fix Tab Order in Acrobat Accessibility Check Creates Incorrect Tab Order in Form

[tjf209]

I have a form that was converted from Word to PDF, in which the tab order is correct when I tab through it.  I run the Accessibility check, and an error appears for Tab order in the Page Content section.  I click on Fix, tab order is then set to match the structure order.  I then tab through the form and the tab order is wrong.  I then open Prepare Form, and manually fix the tab order.  Run the Accessibility check, and the error appears again for Tab order in the Page Content section.  How do I fix this?

[RachitJain]

Hi,

Thanks for reporting the issue. Can you please share the file via a weblink so that we can help you resolve the issue.

Thanks

Rachit

[tjf209]

 The file is located at Group Medical Vendor Application.

Thank you,

tjf209

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

Your form has so many errors in it that it's difficult to pinpoint exactly which error is causing the problem. Here are some items we found in a quick review of the file:

Multiple form fields in one <Form> tag.

Error: multiple fields in one <Form> tag.

In the order panel (below), the visible labels were merged into one <P>. Make them separate <P> tags.

Order Panel shows merged text into one <P>.

After you straighten out all of the visible body text, then drag and nest a <Form> tag into its <P>, and then drag and nest its OBJR into the <Form> tag.

Should look like this when the tags are corrected:

Corrected tag tree.

But there are many more problems in the file:

• Missing annotations
• Loose annotations in the tag tree
• Form fields in tables (it's OK to do that, but only if the form fields form a matrix of information, such as an order form with multiple rows of fields for quantity, item number, price, etc.).
• No H1 title tag
• Inappropriate use of heading tags
• Printed check boxes and underlines aren't artifacted from AT
• Metadata (File / Properties) is incorrectly filled out

Recommendations:

• Rebuild the <Form> from scratch, starting with a clean and correctly formatted PDF from Word. (A form's visible text must be accessible, too, not just the <Form> fields.) Then use Acrobat's Form tool to add the forms correctly. Add the annotations, and then text. You can view Adobe's free online webinar by Rob Haverty on how to do this at https://adobe.lookbookhq.com/acrobataccessibility View sessions 5 & 6.
• Hire an outside PDF remediator to fix this for you. Our firm does this (as well as training and consulting) but we're booked until the new year. Contact me off list for our best recommendation for other reputable, capable firms who do this. Chagnon@pubcom.com
• Take a formal class in how to make accessible PDF forms. We'll have some sessions running after the new year. www.PubCom.com

[tjf209]

Thank you for the information.  I will pass this on to the person who created the PDF.  

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

My best to you.