Alt text for vector art not coming through to Acrobat (ID CS6)

[AaronPDX]

I originally posted this question at InDesignSecrets.com but no responses so I'm hoping the community here can help me (and others) out!

I see that I can apply custom alt text to vector objects in ID, as well as grouped items. But none of the text comes through to the exported PDF. Alt text for linked photos, however, works fine. (Whether a photo is a separate linked file or not seems inconsequential; I pasted a screenshot, added it to Articles, and it was given Tag privilege in Acrobat. No dice for vector art.)

All objects have been added to the Articles panel.

These vector objects aren't showing up in the Tags panel in Acrobat, so that's telling. I can add them there (with some random exceptions, it seems), and add alt text, but (a) that's awkward and why is ID not doing its job, and (b) it doesn't show on hover, which lends a dubious credibility to the enterprise.

If I anchor the grouped vector art to the text story already in the Articles panel, the tag will come through to the PDF. But lacking its custom alt text!

I guess another way to ask this is, "Why does InDesign give preferential treatment to raster images?"

Any help appreciated.

[Pariah Burke · Accepted solution]

Hi, Aaron.

It's a known issue. The ability for AltText to be exported to PDF wasn't added until CC 2018, which was released this Fall.

[hammer0909]

Hi Aaron,

We've been able to include alt text in an exported PDF since CS 5.5 actually but adding alt text to native InDesign objects and groups wasn't added until InDesign CC 2018. If you upgrade, you'll find that it works quite well!

[AaronPDX]

Thank you Pariah and Chad! So glad to have that cleared up. Another member of the team has CC so I will ask her to export it.

[hammer0909]

Glad to help! I just want to be clear though, the feature that you are asking for exists in Adobe InDesign CC 2018 only. Previous versions didn't allow you to apply alt text to native InDesign objects or groups. Good luck!

[AaronPDX]

Good to know, Chad. Thank you.