How to Fix Missing Alt Text When Converting Word to PDF
Question details
Users experience missing or incorrectly identified alt text on charts when converting Word documents to PDF via Adobe PDFMaker.
- Product
- Microsoft Word / Adobe Acrobat PDFMaker
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting an accessible Word document containing charts with alt text into a PDF.
- Observed behavior
- The alt text is lost or replaced with incorrect identifiers, causing screen readers to announce charts as blank and resulting in Section 508 accessibility failures.
Ensure your Microsoft Word document is saved and that you have administrator privileges to install updates for Adobe Acrobat.
Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader DC
Installing the latest continuous track updates often resolves known bugs with Adobe PDFMaker tagging.
Many PDFMaker tagging and accessibility issues, including missing chart identifiers, have been addressed in recent continuous track updates by Adobe. Ensuring you are on the latest version minimizes conversion errors.
Launch Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader on your computer.
Go to the 'Help' menu at the top of the screen and select 'Check for Updates'.
Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the latest patches, ensuring you receive fixes deployed after September 2021.
Restart your computer if prompted, open your Word document, and try converting to PDF again to verify the alt text.
Manually Reapply Alt Text in the Exported PDF
If updating does not resolve the issue, you can manually fix the accessibility errors directly within the PDF.
Export PDFs Natively with WPS Office
Avoid third-party plugin bugs by using WPS Office's built-in PDF conversion tool. It accurately preserves document formatting, images, and layouts without relying on external PDF makers.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office Writer and open your Word document.
- 2. Select Export to PDF: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Export to PDF'.
- 3. Configure Settings: Choose your preferred export settings and select a destination folder.
- 4. Export the File: Click 'Export' to instantly generate a high-quality PDF directly from your document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my screen reader say my PDF chart is blank?
When PDF tags or alt text are lost during the Word to PDF conversion process, screen readers cannot interpret the visual data, resulting in the chart being announced as blank.
What is Section 508 compliance in PDFs?
Section 508 requires electronic documents to be accessible to people with disabilities. This includes providing proper alternative text for images and charts, as well as establishing a logical reading order.
Does WPS Office require Adobe Acrobat to convert documents to PDF?
No, WPS Office includes a robust, built-in 'Export to PDF' feature that handles the conversion natively, eliminating the need for Adobe Acrobat or the PDFMaker plugin.
