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darlasanti81
darlasanti81
Participating Frequently
March 21, 2019
Question

Reading order issues for accessibility

  • March 21, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 4623 views

I am working on converting fillable pdf documents to ADA compliant and the last step is the reading order that I keep getting stuck on.  When I move an item in the reading order it throws all of the other structure off. I cannot get the reading order to stay in place and was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on how to handle this issue.  I will be willing to accept any guidance, please.  I tried contacting someone from Adobe and recommended to entering my concern here.  

Thank you,

Darla

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

a_C_student16379412
a_C_student16379412
Inspiring
April 9, 2019

The Order Panel is worse than useless. I always use the Content Panel instead. It gives a greater level of control and doesn't eff up the tag order.

darlasanti81
darlasanti81Author
Participating Frequently
April 10, 2019

Thank you for the feedback, much appreciated

Warm regards,

Darla Santillanes

Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
Legend
April 2, 2019

Since the original poster said the PDF has form fields, then there are 3 main reading orders she could be referring to:

  • The reading order of the tags tree/Panel
  • The reading order in the Order panel
  • And the reading order (aka tab order) of the form fields themselves.

Generally, if you move items in the Order panel, their corresponding tags in the Tags panel will also change.

But if you move items in the Tags panel, most likely nothing will change in the Order panel.

And the order of the form fields isn't affected by either.

Recommend viewing Adobe's new video recordings on working with accessible PDFs by Rob Haverty (one of Adobe's accessibility experts). They're free and give excellent guidance. https://events-ar.adobeconnect.com/content/connect/c1/881497641/en/events/catalog.html

|    Bevi Chagnon   |  Designer, Trainer, & Technologist for Accessible Documents ||    PubCom |    Classes & Books for Accessible InDesign, PDFs & MS Office |
    Y
    yn68_2
    Inspiring
    March 22, 2019

    Just to help anyone that might be able to assist, can you provide a few more details?

    1. What tool/app are you using to edit read order?
    2. If Acrobat Pro, can you specifically define how you are moving items in the read order? Are you using the Tags View? The Order View? Other?
    3. Elaborate on how the structure is changed. Do you mean the visual layout on your form changes? Like, text disappears? Or do you mean that tags in your Tags View jump to different areas/pages in the Tag structure order?

    - noel

    darlasanti81
    darlasanti81Author
    Participating Frequently
    April 1, 2019

    Thank you for responding, I appreciate it. I am using Adobe Acrobat Pro and every time I move one thing the order moves and it is hard to get it in the right order. I appreciate any additional information.

    [cid:image004.png@01D4E873.98ACEDE0][cid:image001.png@01D4E873.1A2E9310]

    Warm regards,

    Darla Santillanes

    Administrative Assistant

    San Juan College- Office of Financial Aid

    4601 College Blvd. Farmington, N.M. 87402

    (505) 566-3564

    Fax: (505) 566-3593

    santillanesd@sanjuancollege.edu<mailto:santillanesd@sanjuancollege.edu>

    Y
    yn68_2
    Inspiring
    April 1, 2019

    Acrobat Pro, check!

    Can you go into detail on what exactly you are moving and how you are moving it? The reason I ask is to help troubleshoot, we need to understand exactly what you are see and doing. For example, are you literally moving text on a page? Or are you using the Acrobat Pro Tags panel to move tags around? Or are you using some other tool to move things? What order are you seeing change? Tags from the Tags View or content/page order in the Order View?

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