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508 compliance tagging for fancy graphics

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2010-04-28 14:01:30
mark99k
Registered: Apr 28 2010
Posts: 24
Answered

First-timer here. We have series of docs to be made 508-compliant. So far all is well, except that some have an elaborate map at the end. In other docs with (simpler) images we'd been able to add a detailed description in a tag and have it pass the Full Check. In these docs, however, the checker typically reports 200+ images failing the check. Evidently it sees each component of the map -- each blob of color, legend, label, line, symbol, etc. -- as a separate image.

What to do? We note that, if we save the map as a JPG and then re-PDF that image, the checker finds only 1 image untagged, and tagging it satisfies the check. But that's gotta be cheating, eh?

Grateful for any clues. We're running AA 9 Pro on Windows XP.

MT

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 9.0, Windows
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2010-04-28 14:16:15
#1
DuffJohnson
Expert
Registered: May 30 2006
Posts: 96
mark99k wrote:
First-timer here. We have series of docs to be made 508-compliant. So far all is well, except that some have an elaborate map at the end. In other docs with (simpler) images we'd been able to add a detailed description in a tag and have it pass the Full Check. In these docs, however, the checker typically reports 200+ images failing the check. Evidently it sees each component of the map -- each blob of color, legend, label, line, symbol, etc. -- as a separate image.
Yes, it's stupid that way.
mark99k wrote:
What to do? We note that, if we save the map as a JPG and then re-PDF that image, the checker finds only 1 image untagged, and tagging it satisfies the check. But that's gotta be cheating, eh?
That is not cheating. That is one acceptable workaround... assuming that the JPG is itself acceptable to the author and to users.
Don't forget that the "Full Check" is anything but - you have to "walk" your tags tree as well, check and validate table structure, etc, etc.
Good luck!
Duff Johnson

Duff Johnson
w - http://www.duff-johnson.com
t - http://www.twitter.com/duffjohnson

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2010-04-28 14:27:53
#2
mark99k
Registered: Apr 28 2010
Posts: 24
Interesting. Thanks for this. Where could we find primer-level instructions on "walking" the tags tree?

Also, are you saying the "official" (non-worked-around) method is to tag each little element of the map, that is, that there's no nonoppressive middle-ground method?

MT

MT

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2010-04-28 14:36:34
#3
DuffJohnson
Expert
Registered: May 30 2006
Posts: 96
mark99k wrote:
Interesting. Thanks for this. Where could we find primer-level instructions on "walking" the tags tree?
It's addressed in my Tech Talk from last year "Making PDF comply with Section 508". See this page:

http://www.acrobatusers.com/tech-talks

mark99k wrote:
Also, are you saying the "official" (non-worked-around) method is to tag each little element of the map, that is, that there's no nonoppressive middle-ground method?
There is no "official" method. We're working on Guidelines for implementing PDF/UA, and they will contain that sort of information (ie, guidance that's intended to be Official).

Only crazy people tag each little element of the map. Sadly, I've seen it done. There is zero relationship between the number of vector graphics that make up a given chart and the semantic meaning of the chart.

What you want to do is tag only the semantically-correct number of Figure graphics as required to convey the meaning of the content.

Graphics that you don't tag should be marked as artifacts, which removes them from consideration for the tag tree.

I hope that helps. Have fun!

Duff Johnson
w - http://www.duff-johnson.com
t - http://www.twitter.com/duffjohnson

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