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Add Tags to a PDF

Instructions to add tags in Word, InDesign, or Acrobat.

This article applies to: Web Accessibility

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Why Add Tags?

Tags identify each element in a document, such as headings, paragraphs, form fields, images, links, and tables. Tags help screen reader users read the document logically and keyboard users navigate through the document with ease. Both Word and InDesign can automatically add tags when converting to PDF. You can also edit tags directly in Acrobat. For accessibility, confirm that you have tagged all your elements and that your document structure is accurate.

Word

Create Properly Tagged PDFs in Word

InDesign

Create Properly Tagged PDFs in InDesign

Adobe Acrobat

Tagging PDFs in Adobe Acrobat

Acrobat will automatically tag your document for you, but sometimes it is not accurate. Always review your tags for accuracy. If you find many tags are incorrect, it is sometimes faster and easier to clear the page structure and re-tag the document manually. You can also clear the tag structure for a specific page or selected section of your document.

To Clear the Page Structure

  1. Right click or Cmd click on the name of any page.
  2. Select Clear page structure.

OR

  1. In the Touch Up Reading Order panel, select the Menu.
  2. Select Clear page structure.

Read more in Adobe's documentation about how to repair the tag structure in Acrobat DC.

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