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Alternative text for figures - automate

Tuffy_Ven
Registered: Jun 29 2008
Posts: 68

Hi All,

I want to add alternative text to images. We can achive this using "Reading Order Tool".
Is it possible to do automate this proces in any way.
Any suggestions will be appericiated.

Thanks in advance,

daka630
Expert
Registered: Mar 1 2007
Posts: 1420
Bon dias,

Of course, if the alternate text description for figures is placed in an authoring file
(FrameMaker, InDesign, MS Word) and the application's associated tag management
features are used, then the tagged output PDF(s) Figure element(s) will all have the desired alternate text in place.

I believe that Netcentric's CommonLook plug-in for Acrobat Pro may have a feature that faciliates post-processing PDF Figure elements for alternate text.

Regardless, the least resource intensive method is to provide the alternate text upfront in the authoring file.
Already paid for the application's license so using what it provides steps up the application's ROI, eh?

( ...bet that would make some need charts in a powerpoint presentation )Be well..

Be well...

Tuffy_Ven
Registered: Jun 29 2008
Posts: 68
Thanks in response.

can this be done in postscript file?

Thanks in advance.
daka630
Expert
Registered: Mar 1 2007
Posts: 1420
Hi,

Quote:
can this be done in postscript file?
[edit] - maybe not (?) see end of post.

But, you may want to look over pdfmark and PostScript documents.

[url=http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/pdfs/pdfmark_reference.pdf]pdfmark Reference Manual[/url]

[url=http://www.adobe.com/devnet/postscript/]PostScript Technology Center[/url]

[url=http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/ps/index_specs.php]Adobe PostScript language specifications[/url]

[Edits]
Corrected URL to the pdfmark document.
Look at pdfmark document's page 51, Table 4.1 --- may be something there.

Be well...

Be well...

Tuffy_Ven
Registered: Jun 29 2008
Posts: 68
Kind of you.

Thanks a lot.
Tuffy_Ven
Registered: Jun 29 2008
Posts: 68
Hi,

we tried in PS, alternate text information for images is not getting saved in PDF.

In iamge application if we insert the Alt text and load in application and convert to PS. The information is not saved.

it is possible automate this functionality? please suggest.
daka630
Expert
Registered: Mar 1 2007
Posts: 1420
Hi,
Unfortunately, I think you are in something of a cul-de-sac.

While the image application permits addng alternate text, if the application's output to PDF is via a "file > print" then there is no tag management.
For pre-staged alternate text to "pass through" there must be appropriate tag management.
Examples:
Adobe PDFMaker provides tag management via a configuration selection of "Enable Accessibilty and Reflow with [b]tagged Adobe PDF[/b].
FrameMaker to PDF
InDesign to PDF.
Office 2007's save as -> PDF - XPS, using the option for accessibility (n.b., this process can result in "faux" elements).
Other applications as well.
The key is how well the tag management "agent" complies with ISO 32000-1.
Many still have a ways to go.

If your image application has no associated tag management "agent" then you must add Alternate Text descriptions to the output PDF.
Two methods come immediately to mind.
(1) Use Acrobat Pro
(2) Use Netcentric's CommonLook plug-in for Acrobat Pro.

Be well...

Be well...

Tuffy_Ven
Registered: Jun 29 2008
Posts: 68
Yes, you are true.

I have found the solution in all these ways.

Thanks for you valuable hints.