How to Convert PDF Content to an Artifact for Accessibility
Question details
The user needs to convert specific PDF elements into artifacts to mark them as decorative, avoiding accessibility errors in PAC caused by leftover structural tags.
- Product
- PDF Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Optimizing a PDF document for accessibility standards by removing decorative elements from the document's logical reading order.
- Observed behavior
- Changing content to an artifact while it remains inside a structural container leaves the original container visible in the Tags panel, triggering PAC accessibility errors.
Before modifying PDF tags, save a backup copy of your document, as altering structural containers and creating artifacts will permanently change the logical reading order.
Properly Create an Artifact in the Content Panel
This method ensures that decorative content is safely moved out of its structural container before being designated as an artifact, preventing lingering PAC errors.
When converting content to an artifact, it is crucial to remove it from its original structural tag (like a Paragraph or Table tag) first. Failing to do so leaves an empty or partially empty container that accessibility checkers will flag as a structural error.
Open your PDF document and navigate to the Content panel, typically located in the left-hand navigation pane of your PDF editor.
Locate the specific content (like a paragraph or path) that you want to mark as decorative. Expand its structural container (such as a 'P' tag) and drag the content out of it.
Right-click the newly isolated content in the panel and select 'Create Artifact' from the context menu.
Check the artifact's properties to verify the type is correctly set to decorative. Once confirmed, rerun the PDF Accessibility Checker (PAC) to ensure all related structural errors are resolved.
Easily Rebuild PDF Structures with WPS Office
If you are struggling with complex PDF accessibility tags, you can bypass the hassle by converting your PDF to a Word document using WPS Office. Adjust the layout naturally, and export it back to a clean, structured PDF.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your problematic PDF file.
- 2. Convert to Word: Go to the 'Tools' tab and select 'PDF to Word' to extract and reconstruct the document's structure into an editable format.
- 3. Adjust and Re-export: Make the necessary formatting and structural changes in the Word document, then click 'Menu' > 'Export to PDF' to generate a fresh, cleanly structured file.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PDF artifact?
An artifact is a decorative element in a PDF (such as a background line, border, or page number) that is explicitly hidden from screen readers and assistive technologies to improve the document's accessibility reading order.
Why do I get PAC errors when creating an artifact?
PAC errors typically occur if the decorative content was converted to an artifact while still nested inside its original structural container (like a table or paragraph tag), leaving behind a broken or problematic container.
Can I delete a tag that is not empty?
It is not recommended to blindly delete a non-empty container tag, as doing so can cause structural damage to the document. Always move the content out of the tag first, then delete the resulting empty container safely.
