Tag Tables - Resource ?

Hi,

Looking over the presentation what I got was that the presenter did not regularly use the Table Editor
(Table Inspector in Acrobat 8 Pro).

Understandable when you run a business that tends to use more "industrial strength" tools.

With that said, if you (like me) only have Acrobat Pro then all you have is Table Editor/Inspector.
I like Table Editor better (the user interface for addressing cell attributes).

From experience, I can assure you Table Editor "gets it done" - presupposes something more than a passing
acquaintance with the what and why of PDF logical hierarchy and structure elements (tags).
With that, the activity is not particularly hard, just detailed oriented and rather repetitive (aka tedious).


How to tag tables?
A quick outline.


Start in the author file.
Use an application that supports tag management.
(FrameMaker, InDesign, PageMaker 7 (no longer supported by Adobe), or MS Word (tag management via Adobe's PDFMaker)


All inserted tables, in authoring file, to have an appropriate header row.
Avoid complex tables. Not that hard, by far, most can become multiple stand alone "simple" tables.
Populate table cells.
Avoid drop shadows for outer ruling of table and any shading/color in cells (no "eye candy").
Output the tagged PDF.
Use Table Editor to validate/fix cell Type, validate/fix Scope, add table IDs and
Associated Header Cell IDs to all cells that need it, and validate/fix cell Row Span or Column Span as need.


Remember to add the Table Description.


Walk the tag tree (as described in the presentation).
Look over what you get from a Save As to accessible text.
Observe what Accessibility checker reports for Adobe PDF and for the second (the Section 508) choice.


Become comfortable with what Section 508, WCAG 1.0, and WCAG 2.0
say about tables as it helps with the "table big picture".


With that said - pull in the PDF file "PDF Reference and Adobe Extensions to the PDF Specification".
It is your definitive source (other than a copy of ISO 32000-1:2008) for PDF.


http://www.adobe.com/devnet/pdf/pdf_reference.php


Start with 14.8.4.3.4, then step back and chew through the sections under 14.
Eventually, you'll want to graze the remainder; but I found it easier to pick a "topic" hub and then follow spokes out.
Really like a 3D web with inter-connected strands -but that's what I "see" in my mental gym.


[Edit]
If you are working out of PowerPoint the tables in output PDF get interesting.
This thread may be informative -
.Acrobat 9 Table Editor.

http://www.acrobatusers.com/forums/aucbb/viewtopic.php?id=16504


Post number 8 to the thread has a link to a Captivate video that may be of interest.

An Acrobat 8 "Package" PDF.
Not specific to producing a table.
As the link label below states, it looks at adding table IDs and Headers.


[url=https://acrobat.com/#d=O2*1gFgWCI5HI1Qx-Op8vg]Table ID-Headers Work Practice[/url]

Be well...

Cleaning up tags for simple tables from MS Word.

An Adobe Captivate video, embedded in a PDF.
Acrobat Reader/Acrobat version 9.x is required for viewing.
Neglected to provide a "poster"; so, a white square shows when you pull on the link.
Sorry 'bout that .Use the link below to access the PDF from acrobat.com -- Use "Download" button (upper left).

https://acrobat.com/#d=NnBeuuwxI7L6SXDTfAVSvw


Be well...