{"id":1234022,"date":"2021-05-17T13:53:29","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T20:53:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=1234022"},"modified":"2021-05-17T14:23:54","modified_gmt":"2021-05-17T21:23:54","slug":"creating-accessible-pdfs-in-arcgis-pro","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/creating-accessible-pdfs-in-arcgis-pro","title":{"rendered":"Creating Accessible PDFs in ArcGIS Pro"},"author":8242,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[22941],"tags":[28911,760302,26451,27981],"industry":[],"product":[36561],"class_list":["post-1234022","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mapping","tag-accessibility","tag-arcgis-pro-2-8","tag-cartography","tag-layout","product-arcgis-pro"],"acf":{"short_description":"Learn how to create an accessible PDF in ArcGIS Pro 2.8. ","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Support for creating accessible PDFs is available in ArcGIS Pro 2.8!! This is big news! Accessible PDF files can be accessed by screen readers, making the document\u2019s content available to a wider audience.<\/p>\n

Previously, to create an accessible PDF you would need to export your layout from Pro and then use a different software, like Adobe Acrobat, to tag the document for screen readers and provide other accessible information.<\/p>\n

Now Pro supports creating tagged PDF files (for layout exports) with alt text for elements, and metadata commonly associated with accessible PDFs. Pro doesn\u2019t add heading tags, support bookmarks, or allow text to be tagged for multiple languages. These functions, as well as adjustment to the reading order, still require using Adobe Acrobat or another software.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get to the practical details. Sure, this can be done, but how?<\/p>\n

Step 1: Create your layout<\/h2>\n

First you need to build (or open) your layout. Any layout can be exported as a tagged file and be called \u201caccessible\u201d, but a good accessible layout is more than just tags. It is designed with accessibility in mind. Things like color choice can have a big impact on who can read your map. Also, when designing an accessible layout it\u2019s a good idea to have information conveyed outside of the map. If someone can\u2019t see the map, can they still understand the document based on the surrounding text and tables? The state of Minnesota has an excellent accessibility guide for static maps with design tips<\/a>. I recommend checking it out.<\/p>\n

Step 2: Add alt text<\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019ve designed your layout, it\u2019s time to add alt text. Alt text is descriptive text used for graphics and charts that a screen reader reads. If you are trying to read a document and\u00a0 can\u2019t see the map or charts, a screen reader reads out the alt text for those items so you understand the information without seeing it. In Pro alt text is available for map frames, charts, and pictures. Scale bars, legends, north arrows, and graphic elements (rectangles, lines) are tagged as decorative items, meaning someone who can\u2019t see could understand the document without hearing a description of these items. Decorative items don\u2019t have alt text.<\/p>\n

To add alt text open the Element pane, expand the Accessibility section and type in the Alt text. Remember, the alt text could be the only information someone has about the element, so be specific and comprehensive. Don\u2019t just say \u201cit\u2019s a map\u201d or \u201ca bar chart\u201d rather, explain the information being shown. Since scale bars, north arrows, and legends don\u2019t have alt text you can explain the information they convey in the map frame alt text (or by using dynamic text on the layout itself).<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":1234042,"id":1234042,"title":"AltText","filename":"AltText.png","filesize":356834,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/AltText.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/creating-accessible-pdfs-in-arcgis-pro\/alttext","alt":"A layout in Pro with a map frame selected. The Element pane is open and the alt text box is highlighted, showing where you can add alt text.","author":"8242","description":"","caption":"","name":"alttext","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1234022,"date":"2021-05-17 20:22:24","modified":"2021-05-17 20:23:37","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1110,"height":683,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/AltText-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/AltText.png","medium-width":424,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/AltText.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":473,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/AltText.png","large-width":1110,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/AltText.png","1536x1536-width":1110,"1536x1536-height":683,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/AltText.png","2048x2048-width":1110,"2048x2048-height":683,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/AltText-756x465.png","card_image-width":756,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/AltText.png","wide_image-width":1110,"wide_image-height":683}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Step 3: Turn on tagging and add metadata<\/h2>\n

Next up, you need to export the layout to PDF. By default, exporting to PDF does not include tagging for accessibility. You need to turn that on separately by going to the new Accessibility section of the export pane and checking on Include accessibility tags. Here you can also fill out the PDF metadata, which is another important part of making a PDF accessible. Screen readers use this information to provide a better experience and support search capabilities.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":1234052,"id":1234052,"title":"ExportPane","filename":"ExportPane.png","filesize":19586,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ExportPane.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/creating-accessible-pdfs-in-arcgis-pro\/exportpane","alt":"The export pane for a layout PDF export. The accessibility tab is shown with populated metadata and the Include accessibility tags option checked","author":"8242","description":"","caption":"","name":"exportpane","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1234022,"date":"2021-05-17 20:24:42","modified":"2021-05-17 20:34:29","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":347,"height":678,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ExportPane-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ExportPane.png","medium-width":134,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ExportPane.png","medium_large-width":347,"medium_large-height":678,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ExportPane.png","large-width":347,"large-height":678,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ExportPane.png","1536x1536-width":347,"1536x1536-height":678,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ExportPane.png","2048x2048-width":347,"2048x2048-height":678,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ExportPane-238x465.png","card_image-width":238,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ExportPane.png","wide_image-width":347,"wide_image-height":678}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Step 4: Export<\/h2>\n

Finally hit the export button! The output is a PDF tagged for screen readers, with alt text and metadata.<\/p>\n

To summarize<\/h2>\n