Structure and reading order
The document is missing its hidden structure
Accessible PDFs contain hidden labels, called tags, that say what each part of the page is: a heading, a paragraph, a list or a table. When some or all of the tags are missing, screen readers can't tell these parts apart.
Who it affects
People who use screen readers, and people who zoom in or change how text is displayed.
Why it matters
Without tags, a screen reader sees one long run of text with no headings to jump between. Text may also be read in the wrong order.
How to fix it
- Create the PDF from the original file with accessibility turned on, instead of printing or scanning to PDF.
- In Word: choose File, then Save As, then PDF. Under Options, tick "Document structure tags for accessibility".
- Use Word's built-in styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, lists, tables) so the tags come out right.
What RemeDocs does
RemeDocs adds these tags automatically.