Export PDF that has PDF/UA Compliance property set in Acrobat

[Manan Joshi]

This may be a lame question, but I have a requirement from a client that I need to export interactive PDF out of InDesign that when opened in Acrobat shows the PDF/UA Compliance as set. I searched the DOM but could not find any such property. So the question is, is this possible at all to do from InDesign? Is this really just about setting the property as shown in the Acrobat interface?

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

There is no way to set PDF/UA compliance within InDesign. It's one of many things that would need to be handled in Acrobat.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com · Accepted solution]

@Steve Werner is correct: The PDF identifier is applied in Acrobat, not in InDesign or its export settings.

But understand a key factor: the identifier doesn't actually certify anything because the process of validating a PDF for accessibility compliance can't be done by software alone. A human being must also evaluate the file and determine if accessibility requirements have been met.

Examples: software checker can only determine whether a file is tagged or not. Yes or No.  But a human is still needed to determine whether they are the correct tags. We have sample of documents with the identifier but are all P tags (no headings, lists, etc.) and a couple that aren't even tagged at all -- but they have the compliance identifier!

So think of the PDF/UA identifier as being a self-certifying marker: YOU, after validating and examining the file, declare that is is compliant.

The bigger question: are you willing to state that in your opinion the file meets PDF/UA accessibility requirements? You willing to stand up in court about that? If so, then go ahead and put the identifier on the file. If you're not so sure, then I'd avoide putting it on the file.

Most likely, your client doesn't know much about accessibility if they're asking for the identifier, unless they too will review and validate the file.

Just IMHO.

--Bevi Chagnon

US Delegate to the ISO committees for PDF and PDF/UA

[Manan Joshi]

Thanks for the input @Steve Werner and @Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com I suspected this based on my searches on the internet. Now that you guys have confirmed it, I am more confident on what I was reading at other places.

-Manan

[Sarah Bundy24253010otvx]

I am also working on designing accessible forms in InDesign and if you're still learing, like I am, I can highly recommend Chad Chelius' accessibilty courses on LinkedIn learning. The accessibility process is VERY involved and he explains what to do and how to do it; he also gives recommendations for helpful tools and a link to the PAC 2021 checker, which will help ensure PDF/UA compliance. Good luck!

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

...the PAC 2021 checker, which will help ensure PDF/UA compliance.

By @Sarah Bundy24253010otvx

First, PAC is now updated to 2024 version. See Axes4 website: https://support.axes4.com/hc/en-us/articles/7371921627794-PDF-Accessibility-Checker-PAC-2024

But no software checker — weather Adobe's built-in checker, PAC, or any other brand — can't "ensure PDF/UA compliance."  Software programs can only check yes/no situations and I estimate about 50% of accessibility is subjective — such as there's "this" way to meet, and here's "that" way.

 Accessibility requires that someone be able to determine if the file is accessible or not.

—Bevi

US Delegate to the ISO committees for PDF and PDF/UA standards

[Sarah Bundy24253010otvx]

Thank you for the link to the 2024 version! I didn't realize there had been an update.

It wasn't my intention to imply that the PAC checker would solve all accessibility problems; my intention was to recommend a tool to help evaluate accessibility better than what's built in to Adobe Acrobat. 

Ultimately, designers need a lot of training and practice to make accessible PDF documents. Knowledge and understanding of the process is key, but using the right tools helps.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

Absolutely!