Word accessible form controls do not transfer to PDF

[Dandzi]

Trying to make Word documents accessible and convert them to Adobe Acrobat Pro (PDF).  Word form controls (e.g. check marks) that are made accessible in Word, don't transfer to PDF (not accessible in PDF). Don't want to create fillable forms in Acrobat. What other solutions do I have?

[Tariq Ahmad Dar]

Hi @Dandzi, 

The issue you’re encountering, where Microsoft Word’s form controls (such as checkboxes, text fields, and dropdowns) do not transfer to PDF, is a limitation. These controls are not exported to PDF, regardless of whether you use Adobe Acrobat or another PDF creation tool. 

You may try the following:

1. Design the Form Layout in Word:

• Create the visible structure of your form in Word, including labels and instructions, but avoid using Word’s form controls. 

2. Export to PDF:

• To export the document to PDF, use Adobe Acrobat’s PDFMaker add-in for Word. This method preserves tags and structure better than the “Save As PDF” option. 

3. Add Form Fields in Acrobat:

• Open the exported PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro.

• Use the Prepare Form tool to add interactive form fields (text boxes, checkboxes, etc.).

• Ensure each field has a descriptive tooltip to aid screen reader users. 

4. Enhance Accessibility:

• Use Acrobat’s Accessibility Checker to identify and fix any accessibility issues.

• Ensure the tab order of form fields follows a logical sequence to facilitate keyboard navigation.

Feel free to reach out if you have further questions. And wait for more inputs from users and experts.

~Tariq

[ls_rbls]

++Adding to the topic,

Hi @Dandzi ,

Adding to @Tariq Ahmad Dar 's  suggestions on step "1. Design the Form Layout in Word":

Once you have established the basic structure of your document, take a moment to utilize the Accessibility Checker tool that comes with Microsoft Word.

This tool, although not entirely perfect, is incredibly helpful as it can identify any discrepancies in accessibility within your document's structure.

It will guide you on what aspects require enhancement before you proceed to export your document into a different file format, giving you a higher success rate when exporting to Acrobat PDF accessible documents.

See more considerations here:

• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/make-your-word-documents-accessible-to-people-with-disabi...