Table regularity fails but same number of columns in each row/rows in each column

[Audrey22160143iu63]

I have a 27 page table within a 164 page PDF, no source file. I tagged the table by tagging the top header row and artifacting other header rows in following pages so all pages under one Table tag. I have gone through every row over and over to count columns/rows and there does not appear to be a problem (all rows have 8 columns). Innitially there were a couple of pages that didn't include the last column as part of the table since no data--and I retagged by putting in "None" in some rows so that I could tag the tables to include the last column as all other pages. Under the top header row, all other rows have the first cell as TH and rest as TD.

I can't figure out after hours and hours why I still get a regularity failed error for this table. Of course when you click the error to go to show in tags panel it just pops you to the overall table so I can't tell where the error is coming from, thus the hours of combing through.

Any ideas how to figure this out?? I would be very appreciative.

[Eric Dumas]

Can you include screenshots to illustrate what you are experiencing and trying to achieve?

[Audrey22160143iu63]

Not sure if this will help. First snip is ONE page of the very big table that shows table regularity error. Second snip shows one table row in tags panel. I can assure you that I have counted and counted and counted to ensure all TRs have same number of cells, etc. Thanks for offering to look!

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

@Audrey22160143iu63, two of the most common regularity errors are:

• Uneven number of rows and columns throughout the table. Looks like you reviewed your table and didn't find that problem.
• Merged cells, either in the header or body.

Can you check that last one?

[Audrey22160143iu63]

Thanks. No merged cells. I even extracted the pages of the table to a new doc, saved as word and added lines to separate columns that appeared to be missing (prob irrelevant because still columns but rest of table had lines), I saved back as PDF and retagged 3 pages of the table and an additional 1 page of another part of the table. I can understand if header issues would show as I do not have TH across the top row because artifacted the tippy top with column categories (TH in the first row of all TRs). I did try to just TH the top row in these extracted pages to see just in case but doesn't touch the table regularity issue. I'm pulling my hair out.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

I even extracted the pages of the table to a new doc, saved as word and added lines to separate columns that appeared to be missing (prob irrelevant because still columns but rest of table had lines), I saved back as PDF and retagged 3 pages of the table and an additional 1 page of another part of the table.

By Audrey22160143iu63

Let's examine this workflow:

1. Did you run Word's built in accessibility checker when the copy was in Word? (And you're right, the borders have nothing to do with anything. Accessibile tables is all about the matrix of columns and rows.)  File / Info / Inspect Document / Check Accessibility.
2. In Word, select the table: are the check boxes for Header Row (defines column headers) and First Column (defines row headers) checked? The checkboxes are in the Table Design ribbon when a table is selected.
3. Export to accessible tagged PDF: either use the Acrobat ribbon, or File / Save As Adobe PDF, or File / Save As / PDF (Microsoft's conversion utility).

Does this method work or does it have errors?

And one more question: which versions of Word, InDesign, and Acrobat Pro are you using on which platform?

[Audrey22160143iu63]

Thanks again, Bev.

I did run Word's built in accessibility checker and it passes.

When the tables are auto tagged, everything is tagged using P tags and not TD tags, so I have to retag as table, etc. if that helps.

I have no idea what the source document was in since I can't get a copy (Word). I use Microsoft 365 Apps for business and saved in that format.

I'll try your other suggestions now! 

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

When the tables are auto tagged, everything is tagged using P tags and not TD tags, so I have to retag as table, etc. if that helps.

By Audrey22160143iu63

Holy canoli  😞

You're using Acrobat's auto-tag tool.

All bets are off when using that tool. It does a lousy job of tagging even simple tables, let alone multi-page ones.

After auto-tagging, you'll have to clean up the tag mess by adding <TD> and <TH> tags by hand, and then dragging their appropriate <P> content tags into them. And then fine tune each cell using Acrobat's Table Editor. Lots of work.

Here's a free guide from HHS (US government) about remediating PDFs. The sections on tagged tables are:

• Pages 31-36
• Page 15

https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-tagging.pdf

And CommonLook's CommonLook PDF remediation software can correct tables quite nicely. But it is a costly program to purchase. https://commonlook.com/

Also, Adobe just released an  Acrobat update with a lot of bug fixes and improvements for accessibility. I urge you to update your Acrobat to the latest, which at this time is 2022.001.20085. Too new to have tested it thoroughly, but it might have a better AutoTag tool.

Finally, whoever created the PDF you're trying to fix should be trained in how to make an accessible PDF from whatever source software program they used, such as Word, PowerPoint, or Adobe InDesign. The industry term is called "born accessible," which means that the PDF is accessible as soon as it's made and doesn't need remediation to bring it into compliance.

The common sense term is "do it right, right from the start."

I do recognize that you might not have control over the workflow and who does what. But strive to make any improvements to the workflow as you can. It saves everyone time and money, and also creates the most accessible form of document for those with disabilities.

Win win win.

[Audrey22160143iu63]

Thanks so much again for your messages.

Yes, I know auto tag is awful--if the table is already tagged, I don't have to "retag." But yes yes yes, fixing multipage tables is so much fun. I am VERY familiar with the HHS guide, thanks!

And yes, I have been creating simple guides so that the creators of future documents can do things better. Sometimes these files are outsourced to a third party, etc. And much of it includes already existing files...

I will attempt to update Adobe, thanks.

And I sent a request in to commonlook for a cost estimate!

Thanks again!

Audrey

[Audrey22160143iu63]

Oh and using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Continuous Release Version 2021.011.20039. Does that help?

[Audrey22160143iu63]

Yes, header and first column rows are checked in Word. Actually, all are checked: header, total, banded rows and first, last, and banded columns.

When I save the tables back to PDF there are NO errors at first but when you look at the tags--they are tagged as tables but inside cell tags are P tags, not TH or TD cells. When I retag with TH and TD cells, the irregularity happens. So infuriating!

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

Here's a quick schematic of a table's tag structure. Compare it with what you have.

<Table>

     <TR> {this is the column header row}

          <TH>

                     <P> {column header text, nested inside the <TH>}

          <TH>

                     <P>

          <TH>

                     <P>

     <TR> {this is the first row of data cells}

          <TD>

                     <P> {cell's body text, nested inside the <TD>}

          <TD>

                     <P>

          <TD>

                     <P>

How does your table compare with the above?

[Audrey22160143iu63]

Well, I don't usually have P tags inside the TD and TH tags. Haven't had any problems with that, and videos I have watched do not say to do that. But I will see if that helps with anything...