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Teleconference Details

Date: 2008-04-04

Time: 1:00-3:00 CDT, 2:00-4:00 EDT

Agenda

Friday, 4-04-08 (continue with PDF)

PDF TOPICS

1. DOCUMENT TYPE & CONVERSION: (Cheryl Todd & Kristen Freilich)

Is converting to html still the best way of making PDF documents accessible?
How easy is it to create html documents from PDF documents?
How easy is it to make an existing PDF document accessible?
What steps are needed?

2. COLOR & CONTRAST CONSIDERATIONS (Nolan Crabb & Konstantinos Yfantis)

3. FORMATTING EFFECTS (Nolan Crabb & Konstantinos Yfantis)

For example, bold, italics, etc.

4. TABLES & COLUMNS (Cheryl Todd & Kristen Freilich)

How are tables and columns handled in PDF?
Are tables created in PDF accessible?

5. IMAGES & ICONS (Cath Kilcommons & Marsha S.)

What accessibility issues exist for images and icons in PDF documents?
How can we work to address these issues?

6. ADOBE'S ACCESSIBILITY CHECKER (Chris Dobson & Lisa Fiedor)

Quick & Full check.
How well do they work?
What do they miss?

INTRODUCE NEW FLASH TOPICS

Animation (Vance Martin & Phil Kragnes)
Accessible Components (e.g. buttons, text input) (Anne-Marie Armstrong & Don Amos)
Keyboard Access (Cath Kilcommons & Marsha S.)
Captions (Cheryl Todd & Kristen Freilich)
Reading Order (Christy Blew & Ken Petri)
Text Equivalents (Christie Gilson & Nancy Swenson)
Audio Playback Control (Nolan Crabb & Konstantinos Yfantis)
Testing for Accessibility (Chris Dobson & Lisa Fiedor)

Minutes

Minutes from Previous Meeting, 3-07-08.

Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. CST

Attendees:

Don Amos
Nolan Crabb
Chris Dobson
Christie Gilson
Cath Kilcommons (note-taker)
Vance Martin
Ken Petri
Hadi Bargi Rangin
Marc Thompson (facilitator)
Konstantinos Yfantis

Reminders & Announcements

Marc: New URL should be easier to get to http://uiuc.edu/goto/bpdcc/
Hadi: Webcasting tool used by Norm Coombs...TC (Talking Community). Hadi found that several participants were familiar with this. Hadi thinks this is an appropriate tool and we may consider using instead of teleconferencing. Teleconferencing is costing quite a bit of money.
They will be doing a presentation to the preview what it can do... if anyone is interested maybe we will do an offline test.
Marc: Linking out to examples from documents.... should we link out to examples, should they be docs for word, pdf for Adobe, etc? Christie thought that would be useful.
Cath: suggested that maybe we have a sample doc used across the testing.
Ken & Kostas: Syllabus templates and examples may be a useful outcome.

PDF Topics Discussion

1. PDF USE & HISTORY (Vance Martin & Phil Kragnes)

Vance reported on PDF use and history.
Vance noted that Phil sent out their findings to the listserv. Full details for their findings are on the BPDCC listserv.
Why use? Use PDF because it is portable, and usable across computers - print to PDF, is commonly used.
Some common usages include download to citation software... can be used across. Keeps constant across platforms.
Eventually became the standard of the print document format.
Pros and cons. Secure encrypted watermark, can be shared and unalterable. Not as easy to get the content to cut and paste from it.
Many programs can create PDF. Many of the non-Adobe products will not create a document that flows properly nor will they have tagging and bookmarking. Within Word/Acrobat Pro results not same from print menu versus menu item "Convert to PDF" Styled and structured documents converted via the menu option convert to PDF. Do not use print option (distiller) as this will not create tagging.
Save as PDF in OO will create tagged.
New Microsoft addin for 2007 can created tagged PDF.
OCR in Acrobat - about 85%, another
Native - fairly accessible. Scanned less accessible.
Authoring Tools - Various tools - what creates PDFs... OO, 2007 Add-in, MS Word, Adobe InDesign all can create tagged PDF.
Going to print to PDF, will not create the various options. Using menu option PDFs can be created in various ways...

2. TAGGING: (Cath Kilcommons & Marsha S.)

Cath spoke to tagging.
Had done much research on this topic - see http://accessibility.colostate.edu/ahg07/modules/adobe/pdf.htm
Also, excel spreadsheets of testing results at http://accessibility.colostate.edu/pdi07/
Tags are labels that explain how information is categorized. Tags can be used to understand what information is being viewed, and how it relates to the entire document.
Most people will never need to use tags, or even know they exist. However, tags provide very valuable interpretive cues to people who access information through assistive technology.
Christie asked about being able to share this info - Cath offered the resources at http:/accessibility.colostate.edu. General consensus is we will not share the information we are currently researching for this group outside of this group until the information is fully revised and finalized.
Marc: People who are making submissions... please include references when you consult other sources for information you provide in your research findings.
Nolan says screenreader can better understand what comes next in the document. Marc can use some of the same commands . "Starting to read in process...." f6 move .
Bookmarks can be used to change magnification as well as moving focus. Select bookmarks, moves right hand pane, hit F6, Chris mentioned that you can create a bookmarks to create a specific view. Bookmarks can be used to change magnification as well as moving focus. Does it change the overall document? Can zoom in.

3. Document Type and Conversion (Cheryl Todd & Kristen Freilich)

Although Cheryl and Kristen were not in attendance, conversation on this topic ensued.
Conversion to HTML? Post html as well as the PDF.
Portable reading devices also can use the HTML.
Marc: PPT to HTML (student had problem printing individual slides from HTML PPT). Converting PPT to PDF... more available to student who wanted to print out.
Often find that PDF are offered because they are large docs...
HTML as always it preferred.
Any time you add bookmarks and tags documents will become larger.
Hadi: Most PDFs are under 10 pages...
Marc: Document length proviso for Best Practices draft?
One reason may be that posting a large document with bookmarks makes it easier to navigate.
How easy is it to create HTML from PDF? Should it be done? (Cath notes here - I think you lose structure and should use original document).
Styles that are not carried over as tags become part of the PDF display, HTML structure and PDF structure are not the same.
Reminder: Any revisions people make need to be sent to the list.
Retrofitting PDF? Good reference: http://www.htctu.fhda.edu/trainings/manuals/web/CreatingAccessibleAA8.pdf

4. Interactive Forms (Christy Blew & Ken Petri):

Ken Petri reported on interactive forms.
Make sure that the tool tip is an accurate description is
Live Cycle Designer /
Security settings can effect how you are able to use a form.
Validation / forms to be validated against custom validations but don't seem to work all that well... have a required field...
Designer comes in Adobe Acrobat Pro for Windows but not Mac.
Use succinct tool tips!
Use tool tips rather than Custom Screen Reader Text.

5. SCANNED PDF DOCUMENTS (Anne-Marie Armstrong & Don Amos)

Don Amos reported on scanned PDF documents.
OCR complexity of document has a lot to do with how successful the OCR.
Recommend scanning around 300 dpi
Reading order,
Scanned textbook needs to be checked carefully, extraneous and unusual markup can be inserted.
Scanned PDF,
need
Christie - Issues with titles, can have artifacts
Set to spell
Certain fonts will repeat the same text over and over.
E-reserves, all scanned as
Best Practices for Scanning. Simple tips to create a clean copy...
Start with the best possible copy...
Align squarely with scanner...
Highly recommended ... types of scanners
$250 USB scanner Plus Tech Opticbook, excellent accuracy
Epson photo scanners come with Abbyy Sprint and can have auto-doc feeders attached.
Abbyy sprint is a license that can be upgraded for Abbyy Pro or Omnipage Pro.

6. Security Features (Christy Blew & Ken Petri):

Ken Petri reported on security features.
Security Features can interfere with form access.
Can password protect (screen reader does fine.)
Can encrypt it - 5 0r 6 levels of control over what can be done.
Setting copying permission "Enable text access for the visually impaired."
Some security settings can interfere with FS Virtual Printer. Cath will follow up with where it becomes a barrier and whether it is a problem to disable copying or printing.

7. Scrolling & Navigation (Christie Gilson & Nancy Swenson)

Christie Gilson reported on scrolling and navigation issues.
Hadi asked about keyboard support? How is the keyboard support?
Keyboard support in Reader and in Acrobat.
Supports some standard internet and windows commands, but also
Overwrites some keyboard commands, no evidence of
Christie mentioned a key remapping or hot key program - did not catch name of program.
Christie - looked at Adobe JAWS help file - standard keyboard commands should

8. Displaying Documents (Christie Gilson & Nancy Swenson)

Christie Gilson reported on viewing a PDF in Reader vs. on the net (Reader vs. embedded in browser).
Have to know the keystrokes to navigate in Reader (if you are not a power user it is scary).
Should also mention that default settings.
Clear set by set setting for default for setting the display.
Per document - Can choose file doc properties and initial view.
Per computer ?
Add on for word - (Chris Dobson) initial view. Chris will follow-up with more info on this.

Next Meeting: March 28, 1:00-3:00 CST (2:00-4:00 EST)

Next meeting for March 28, 1:00-3:00 CST, 2:00-4:00 EST.
Any additional PDF topic suggestions should be sent to Hadi and Marc.
Please post all research findings to the BPDCC listserv.
Christy asked about research teams.
Marc indicated that research teams should be set for now. Current research teams are based on responses to Hadi's query about research time commitment. We can re-evaluate if it looks like a particular member has become inactive.

Respectfully submitted,

Cath Kilcommons

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