In this article, we have summarised the most important rules for working with axesWord. If you follow these rules, you should find it easy to start creating accessible PDF documents.
1) Use heading styles
Use the styles that Word offers as standard: use "Heading 1" to "Heading 9" according to the hierarchy in your document and do not skip any levels.
2) Use the Word list functions
- Use the buttons Bullets or Numbering or Multilevel List in Word.
- Or use the styles "List" to "List 5" or "List Number" to "List Number 5".
- You can find out how to create multilevel lists in this article: Create new multilevel list
3) Enter alternative texts for images
- Select an image and enter the alternative text in the axesWord - Role Mapping pane.
- If an image is purely for decorative purposes, assign it the role Artifact in the axesWord - Role Mapping pane.
4) Handle tables correctly
- Data tables
Create styles for the row and column heading cells and assign the appropriate role to these styles in the axesWord Document Settings. You can find a detailed manual on creating accessible tables at: https://www.axes4.com/en/resources-community/manuals - Layout tables
Assign the Layout table role for tables that are only used to arrange texts in a certain way (in the axesWord - Role Mapping pane). Also define the reading direction of the layout table here. - Definition lists
Assign the Definition list role to tables like lists of abbreviations or glossaries (in the axesWord - Role Mapping pane).
5) Create captions for images and tables
By right-clicking on the image/table and selecting the Insert Caption... menu option you can create an automatically numbered caption.
6) Create links, footnotes, and references as active links
- URL or email address: enter the text and Word automatically creates an active link.
- Footnotes/ endnotes: use the buttons Insert Footnote or Insert Endnote in Word (in the References tab).
- Cross-references: use the Cross-reference button in Word (in the References tab).
7) Create TOCs automatically
Use the buttons Table of Contents or Insert Table of Figures (in the References tab).
8) Enter document title
Click on the File tab, then on the Info menu option and enter a meaningful document title in the Title text input field.
9) Set language
Select certain text paragraphs (or the entire document) and click on the language in the status bar (at the very bottom of Word) to make necessary changes within the Language dialog box.
10) Create accessible PDF
- Simply click on the Export PDF button in the axesWord tab.
- Check the PDF document using the free PDF Accessibility Checker (PAC).
Further information needed?