How to Fix PDF Accessibility Checker Errors for Lbl and LBody Tags
Question details
The user needs to resolve accessibility checker errors in PDF documents related to Lbl (Label) and LBody (List Body) structure tags, specifically when formatting footnotes.
- Product
- PDF Editors
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Fixing accessibility tagging issues for PDF footnotes to ensure screen readers like NVDA and JAWS interpret the document structure correctly without generating checker errors.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat Pro incorrectly flags Lbl tags nested within Reference tags as errors. Additionally, NVDA announces these footnote references as links instead of references.
Before modifying your PDF structure tags, ensure your screen readers (such as NVDA or JAWS) and PDF accessibility testing software are updated to their latest versions to rule out software-specific reading bugs.
Remove the Nested Lbl Tag from Footnote References
This method resolves false-positive checker errors by using only the Reference tag for footnote numbers.
Acrobat Pro DC's accessibility checker sometimes incorrectly flags <Lbl> tags nested inside <Reference> tags as errors due to updates in its list-element testing algorithm. According to accessibility guidelines like the HHS PDF tagging guide, the <Lbl> tag provides little additional value to assistive technologies in this specific footnote context.
Removing the <Lbl> tag usually clears the error without harming the document's overall accessibility compliance.
Open your PDF document and navigate to the Accessibility Tools panel in your PDF editor.
Open the Tags pane to view the document's logical structure tree.
Find the footnote structure that is generating the error. You will typically see an <Lbl> tag nested inside a <Reference> tag.
Right-click the <Lbl> tag and select 'Delete Tag'. If there is content inside the <Lbl> tag, move the text content directly into the parent <Reference> tag first, then delete the empty <Lbl> tag.
Run the accessibility checker again to verify that the Lbl error has been successfully resolved.
Ignore the False Positive Error
If strict adherence to a specific internal tag structure requires Lbl tags, you can safely ignore this specific checker error.
Create Accessible PDFs Using WPS Office
Avoid complex structural tag errors by creating well-structured documents right from the source. WPS Office allows you to format your documents properly and export them to PDF, minimizing post-export accessibility errors.
- 1. Open Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your source document in the WPS Writer application.
- 2. Format Footnotes Correctly: Ensure your document uses built-in styles for headings, lists, and the 'Insert Footnote' tool for proper reference formatting.
- 3. Select Export to PDF: Go to the 'Menu' at the top left and select 'Export to PDF'.
- 4. Generate the PDF: Configure your export settings and click 'Export' to generate a clean PDF document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does NVDA read my PDF footnote reference as a link?
NVDA screen readers often interpret the <Reference> structure tag as a 'link' rather than a 'reference', depending on the software version. This is usually intentional behavior by NVDA to help users navigate to the footnote content and is not a structural error in your PDF.
Is it mandatory to have Lbl and LBody tags in PDF lists?
For standard lists (like bulleted or numbered lists), <Lbl> (Label) and <LBody> (List Item Body) tags are required to pass standard PDF/UA requirements. However, using an <Lbl> tag nested inside a <Reference> tag for footnotes is optional and can sometimes trigger false accessibility errors.
Will removing the Lbl tag from footnotes break accessibility?
No. Removing the <Lbl> tag and keeping only the <Reference> tag around the footnote number is recommended by many accessibility guidelines, including the HHS PDF tagging guide. It improves compatibility with most accessibility checkers without removing crucial semantic meaning.
