Fix Word to PDF Table of Contents Tagged as Images in Acrobat
Question details
Users experience an issue where Adobe Acrobat's accessibility checker reports Table of Contents elements, such as dot leaders, as untagged images after converting a DOCX file to PDF.
- Product
- Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting a Word document with a Table of Contents into a PDF and running a document accessibility check.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat's accessibility checker incorrectly flags TOC dot leaders and header numbers as untagged images or figures instead of readable text or background artifacts.
Ensure you have access to Adobe Acrobat Pro to inspect and edit PDF accessibility tags, and keep your original Word document open in case you need to modify the export settings.
Mark Dot Leaders as Artifacts in Adobe Acrobat
The most effective way to resolve this accessibility error is to manually mark the decorative dot leaders as artifacts in the PDF, so screen readers will properly ignore them.
Screen readers do not need to read the repeating dots (dot leaders) that connect headings to page numbers. Because some PDF conversion engines misinterpret these dots as images, marking them as artifacts (or background items) ensures your document complies with accessibility standards without confusing the reader software.
Open your converted PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro, go to the Tools menu, and select 'Accessibility'. Click on 'Accessibility Check' to run the report.
In the Accessibility Checker panel on the left, expand the 'Document' or 'Alternate Text' sections to find the 'Figures alternate text - Failed' errors corresponding to your TOC dot leaders.
Right-click the specific error for the dot leader and select 'Fix' or 'Set as decorative figure'. Alternatively, open the Tags panel, find the Figure tag for the dots, right-click it, select 'Change Tag to Artifact', and confirm.
Modify Save as PDF Options in Word
Adjusting the built-in export settings in Microsoft Word before conversion can sometimes prevent the Table of Contents from being improperly tagged.
Convert Word to Accessible PDFs Smoothly with WPS Office
Avoid complicated tagging errors and seamlessly convert your documents. WPS Office features a robust, highly compatible PDF conversion tool that correctly handles complex document formatting, including Table of Contents layouts.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the Word document containing your Table of Contents.
- 2. Access PDF Export: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top left corner and select 'Export to PDF'.
- 3. Configure Settings: Click on the 'Advanced' or 'Settings' button to ensure structural formatting and bookmarks are included in the export.
- 4. Export the File: Click the 'Export' button to generate a clean, well-formatted PDF file without accessibility tagging errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Table of Contents dot leaders appear as untagged images in PDFs?
During the Word-to-PDF conversion process, certain PDF creation engines misinterpret repeating visual elements like dot leaders as graphic components (figures) rather than standard text characters, leading to untagged image errors.
Do screen readers need to read Table of Contents dot leaders?
No. Dot leaders are purely decorative visual guides designed to help the human eye track from a heading to its page number. Screen readers should skip them, which is why converting them to artifacts is the recommended accessibility practice.
Can I fix PDF accessibility tags without Adobe Acrobat Pro?
Fixing underlying tag structures typically requires an advanced PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat Pro or a dedicated accessibility remediation tool. However, optimizing your export settings from the source document can often prevent the issue from occurring.
Will updating my Word version fix this PDF tagging issue?
It might help. Older versions of Word or outdated third-party PDF plugins sometimes utilize inferior conversion engines. Updating your software or using modern built-in 'Save as PDF' functions often improves tag accuracy.
