How to Fix Associated with Content Accessibility Errors in PDF
Question details
The user needs to resolve Associated with Content and Alternate Text failures reported by the PDF accessibility checker.
- Product
- PDF Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Running a document accessibility check on a PDF file to ensure compatibility for screen readers.
- Observed behavior
- The accessibility checker reports errors because alternate text is assigned to content that is not properly tagged or associated with the actual page content.
Ensure you have access to the Order and Tags panels in your PDF editing software, and save a backup copy of your document before modifying the tag structure.
Review and Correct Untagged Content or Artifacts
Identify elements in the document structure that have unattached alternate text, and either tag them correctly or mark them as artifacts.
These accessibility errors typically happen when alternate text is floating in the document structure without being attached to a specific requiring element, such as a graphic.
By reviewing the logical reading order, you can determine if the problematic element is meaningful content that needs tagging or decorative content that should be ignored by screen readers.
Navigate to the accessibility or structure tools in your PDF editor and open the Order panel.
Look through the document for an element that does not show a gray box and a sequence number. This missing sequence indicates untagged content or a deliberate artifact.
If the untagged element is meaningful (like an image or chart) and should be read by assistive technology, assign the correct tag to it so it appears in the tag tree, and ensure the alternate text is properly applied.
If the element is purely decorative and intended to be an artifact, delete its alternate text completely, as screen readers do not need to process it.
Run the accessibility checker again to confirm that the structure has been corrected and the errors are resolved.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'Associated with Content' mean in a PDF accessibility check?
It means there is alternate text or tags present in the document's structure tree that are not properly linked to any visible, meaningful element (such as an image or graphic) on the actual PDF page.
Why do decorative images cause accessibility errors?
If decorative elements are given alternate text instead of being properly marked as artifacts, screen readers will attempt to read them. This provides unnecessary information to the user and triggers an error in standard accessibility checkers.
How can I easily find which element is causing the error?
You can use the Order or Tags panel in your PDF editor to review the structure. Elements that lack sequence numbers or do not highlight on the page when clicked in the panel are typically the source of the issue.
