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Topic: RE: PDF Scanner for Accessibility (Via Email)
Conf: (P-PDF) PDF Accessibility, Msg: 134177
From: Duff_Johnson
Date: 6/9/2005 07:43 AM

> Thanks Duff, I figured as much. I do not expect it to work
> with 100% accuracy. We just want to be able to start to get a
> hold on the problem we currently have. We need something that
> can aid us in getting to those PDFs so we can then contact
> the respective department's tech support people. From there
> they can work on bring their documents up to par. Thanks for
> your advice.

OK. Before you run the Checker widget, remember to Add Tags... you want
to give the Checker something to work against!

When you run it, the Accessibility Checker will identify copious
problems with virtually every document - even, as I've said, otherwise
compliant documents. It will not really help you prioritize in terms of
"degree of inaccessibility" or "degree of noncompliance". To a limited
extent, the "Problem Pages" report tends to indicate how nasty the file
is... but then, lots of pages get "passes" when they absolutely should
not.

I suggest looking at your problem a little differently.

First, every document will require a human review. Sometimes, that
review will reveal that making the document compliant is something
that's nearly automatable (with the Add Tags command, plus a little
quality control).

So...

1) Identify higher-priority documents. These would be (typically) the
ones accessed most often. It might make sense to start there. Maybe
the Annual Report, maybe the "Guide to Our Services" document? I don't
know, but there's doubtless a bunch of files need help before all
others. Picking a small group to start with is a good idea anyhow -
you'll learn about all the fun you can have tagging PDFs before you
start devising (and committing to) big workflows!

2) Identify documents that will be easy to make compliant vs. documents
that will be difficult. You may want to assign these categories to
different parties depending on their ability to tackle the problem.

Enjoy!

Duff Johnson
Document Solutions, Inc.
http://www.document-solutions.com