Links/bookmarks vs tab order

[maryiap69659905]

Hi guys,
i have some links and bookmarks in my pdf form. When i press the links and go back to pdf, the tab order starts from the first link in the document (even though the link was not the first), but not from the link i pressed. In terms of bookmarks, it visually goes to a destination, but tab order does not work properly as well, it goes to the next field after bookmarks.
Does anyone have any ideas how to fix it? Thank you in advance!

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

@maryiap69659905 , you mention PDF form fields, hyperlinks, and bookmarks. Not sure which one is causing problems for you but they are separate parts of the PDF's structure.

It sounds like your Tab Order is incorrect, but in a form, there are 2 tab orders: the tab order of the form fields themselves, and the tab order of the rest of the content in the PDF.

To correct the overall document's tab order:

1. Open the Pages Panel (left hand side)
2. Select all of the page thumbnails in the panel. Control + A / Command + A are keyboard shortcuts to do this quickly.
3. Right-click on any single thumbnail that's in the selection and choose Properties.
4. Select Use Document Structure to set the tab order for all of the selected pages.

This process will set the document's tab order to match the Tag Panel's tree, which is what you want in an accessible PDF.

To correct the form fields' tab order:

1. Switch to the Forms tool (right-hand side) and change to edit form mode.
2. You'll now see the outlined form fields in the PDF, and the forms toolbar on the right.
3. Locate the Field list on the right.
4. Drag and drop the fields into the correct order.

Finally, if the bookmarks aren't "tabbing" in the correct order, then slide them up/down in the Bookmarks Panel (left hand side).

Hope this helps.

--Bevi Chagnon

[maryiap69659905]

Bevi Chagnon, not exactly. It's more about accessibility after links and bookmarks. As i mentioned earlier, I want the tabbing order starts from the specific fields, but ONLY if links were opened. If the links are not opened, the tabbing order is usual: from top to the bottom, from left to the right. I know, it sounds a little bit complicated, but i hope i explained precisely. Thank you.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

maryiap69659905  wrote

It's more about accessibility after links and bookmarks.

Not sure why hyperlinks and bookmarks would cause a tab order failure. They are not related or connected.

Hyperlinks and bookmarks are navigation aides to allow the user to quickly go to a section of the PDF. Other than they must be accessible themselves, they have nothing to do with the accessibility or tab order of the PDF file.

It doesn't matter whether the hyperlinked is clicked or not. The tab order and accessibility of the PDF is a separate issue.

Which is why it appears that one or both of your tab orders is probably off. Please review what was written above to ensure that both are correct.

maryiap69659905  wrote

I know, it sounds a little bit complicated, but i hope i explained precisely. Thank you.

It sounds like there's a problem with how your PDF form was created. Let's see if we can diagnose the problem for you.

Question: open your PDF, and then open the Tags panel.

Where in the tag tree are the form field <Form> tags located?

If you can, take a screen capture of it so that we can see their location.

[maxwithdax]

What you are describing below seems a bit more like decision-based navigation. If they did this.. then tab this way. If they did that...then tab another way. This is not possible in Acrobat.

Please let us know if we are answering your question.

-Dax

maryiap69659905  wrote

Bevi Chagnon, not exactly. It's more about accessibility after links and bookmarks. As i mentioned earlier, I want the tabbing order starts from the specific fields, but ONLY if links were opened. If the links are not opened, the tabbing order is usual: from top to the bottom, from left to the right. I know, it sounds a little bit complicated, but i hope i explained precisely. Thank you.

[maxwithdax]

Did you get this solved maryiap69659905? A screenshot or two would be super helpful.

Thanks

-Dax