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How do I create an accessible PDF in Adobe Acrobat?

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\uD83D\uDCD8 Instructions

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  1. In the Accessibility Checker Tab, select Title

  2. Go to the Options Menu and click on Fix. Enter the title in the Description box

Method 2: Manually

  1. Click File > Properties > Description

    An image of the Document Properties Tabs in Adobe Acrobat.Image Removed

    the File tab, then click Properties. In the Document Properties Tab, go to the Description Tab.

    The Document Properties box with the Description Tab open. The title is The History of Baseball, an American Pastime.Image Added
  2. Enter a title in the Title text box

  3. Click Initial View, then Show. You will see a drop down list. Choose Document Title

    The Initial View Tab in the Document Properties in Adobe Acrobat.Image RemovedThe Initial View Tab in the Document Properties in Adobe Acrobat. In the Windows Options section, Show is set to Document TitleImage Added
  4. Click OK.

Section 6.2: Creating Bookmarks in PDFs

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  1. Have the selection tool selected and highlight your text you want marked. In this example, we will highlight a piece of page 3 from our baseball course syllabus.

    Disability Accommodation text highlighted.Image RemovedDisability Accommodation text highlighted.Image Added
  2. Go to the Bookmark tab and select, New Bookmark. A new bookmark will appear below.

    Adobe Acrobat Bookmarks Tab open with a new bookmark.Image RemovedDisability Accommodations bookmark has been created and is at the bottom of the hierarchy.Image RemovedThe Bookmark Tab in Acrobat.Image AddedAdobe Acrobat Bookmarks Tab open with a new bookmark.Image Added

Method 2

  1. Use your Marquee Tool to highlight your page.

    Adobe Acrobat Marquee ToolImage RemovedAdobe Acrobat Marquee ToolImage Added
  2. Select the New Bookmark tab and type in the appropriate title for the bookmark.

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  1. The Bookmark Tab in Acrobat.Image AddedThe Bookmark for Part 4 Grading Policy is highlighted.Image Added

Section 6.3: Combining Multiple PDFs

  1. Select the Tools Tab and under Create and Edit, choose Combine Files.

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  1. Adobe Acrobat Tools TabImage AddedAdobe Acrobat Combine Files Tool with a purple page icon.Image Added

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  1. Click the Options Tab

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  1. The options tab with a gear icon.Image AddedOptions panel open with your options checked.Image Added

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  1. Now click Add Files. Search your computer for the files you want to add to the PDF. Once you have all of your files, click Combine.

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  1. A big blue Add Files Button Image AddedA big blue Combine ButtonImage Added

Section 6.4: Adding More Pages

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  1. Open the Navigation Pane, and select Page Thumbnails

    Navigation pane with the page thumbnail selectedImage RemovedNavigation pane with the page thumbnail selectedImage Added
  2. Click the drop down menu and click Insert Pages>From File.

    Options Menu with two vertical circles and dashes in a blue box.Image RemovedOptions Menu with two vertical circles and dashes in a blue box.Image Added
  3. Browse for your file, and select the pages you need.

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  1. Open the page thumbnails and select the page you want replaced.

    The Page Thumbnails open with the first page selectedImage RemovedThe Page Thumbnails open with the first page selectedImage Added
  2. Go to the Menu and select Replace Pages.

    Options Menu with two vertical circles and dashes in a blue box.Image RemovedOptions Menu with two vertical circles and dashes in a blue box.Image Added
  3. Find your folder that has your new page and click select.

  4. On “Replace Pages” be sure your page is set to the page you want replaced and click OK

    Replace PagesImage RemovedThe Replace Pages box in Acrobat.Image Added

Section 6.6: Changing your PDF Page Order

  1. Click the Organize Pages tool.

    Organized Pages Tool Icon. It is a green rectangle and a green arrow pointing down to the silhouette of a box.Image RemovedOrganized Pages Tool Icon. It is a green rectangle and a green arrow pointing down to the silhouette of a box.Image Added
  2. Click on your page that is out of place and drag to where you want it to go.

    Organize pages page in Acrobat.Image RemovedOrganize Pages page with the pages in a different orderImage RemovedOrganize pages section in Acrobat with Page 1 to the left and Page 2 to the right.Image AddedOrganize Pages section with the pages in a different orderImage Added
  3. If you want a collection of pages moved, click one page, and hold shift.

    Three pages are selected and highlighted in blueImage RemovedThree pages are selected and highlighted in blueImage Added
  4. Click a few pages and they automatically become highlighted. Drag the pages to where you want them.

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  1. The three pages were moved from the right side to the left side.Image Added

Section 6.7: Extracting Pages in PDFs

  1. Open the page thumbnails and select your pages you want extracted.

    The Page Thumbnails page with the first page selectedImage RemovedThe Page Thumbnails pane with the first page selectedImage Added
  2. Go to the menu and select Extract pages

    Options Menu with two vertical circles and dashes in a blue box.Image RemovedOptions Menu with two vertical circles and dashes in a blue box.Image Added
  3. In the Extract Pages Menu, you can choose additional pages for extraction. As well as an option to delete the pages, or make the extracted pages a separate file. If you want all of your extracted files on one page, do not do anything and click OK.

    Extract Pages menu with two check boxes and an option to type in the number of pages.Image RemovedExtract Pages menu with two check boxes and an option to type in the number of pages.Image Added

Section 6.8: Cropping your PDFs

  1. Select your Marquee Tool and draw a box around the object you want cropped.

    The marquee tool, a blue magnifying glass in the bottom left corner of a box.Image RemovedThe marquee tool, a blue magnifying glass in the bottom left corner of a box.Image Added
  2. Select Edit PDF Tool, then at the top of the page, select Crop Pages.

    Edit PDF tool with a pink iconImage RemovedCrop Pages button with a blue page iconImage RemovedEdit PDF tool with a pink page icon. A rectangle is on top. Below there is a square to the left and three dashes to the right.Image AddedCrop Pages button with a blue page icon and a crop symbol.Image Added
  3. Highlight your object again and press ENTERenter.

    Example of a course syllabus' Student Learning OutcomesImage RemovedExample of a course syllabus' Student Learning OutcomesImage Added
  4. In the Set Page Boxes, change the numbers in Top, Bottom, Left, and Right until boxes. Try to line up the cropping lines are lined up to the edges of the object. Click OK.

    Set Pages Boxes with the margin numbers changedImage RemovedSet Pages Boxes with the margin numbers changedImage Added

Section 6.9: Splitting a PDF

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  1. Click the Organize File Tool and choose split.

    Image RemovedOrganized Pages Tool Icon. It is a green rectangle and a green arrow pointing down to the silhouette of a box.Image AddedThe Organize Pages tools with Split as the fourth tool. Its icon looks like a pair of scissors.Image Added
  2. Image Removed

    In the Split by menu, choose the number of pages you want split.

    Image RemovedThe Split Menu with options on how to split your pages.Image Added

Method 2:

  1. Click the Organize File Tool and choose split.

    Image RemovedOrganized Pages Tool Icon. It is a green rectangle and a green arrow pointing down to the silhouette of a box.Image AddedThe Organize Pages tools with Split as the fourth tool. Its icon looks like a pair of scissors.Image Added
  2. Image Removed

    In the Split By menu, choose the file size and limit the a low number of MBs in size you want your files to bemegabytes.

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  1. The Split by Options set for File Size at 2 Megabites.Image Added

Section 6.10: Exporting PDFs to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

  1. Go to file>Export to>MS Wordthe File Tab. Click Export to the software of your choice. Save your file and click SettingSettings.

    Image RemovedImage RemovedThe File Tab in Acrobat with Save As highlighted in blue.Image AddedThe Settings button located under the File Name and Save as Type boxes.Image Added
  2. If you want your document to have nice word flow from one page to another, click Retain Flowing Text. If you want to have your text appear in a blocky format, click Retain Page Layout

  3. If there were comments in the file and you want them transferred to MS Word, Excel or PowerPoint, to transfer comments from your project, click Include Comments.

  4. If your PDF has images, click Include Images. If your PDF has images of text or “scanned” text and you want to change ityour “scanned” text, click Recognize Text if . If needed and , set your language to the one you prefer.

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  1. The Save As DOCX Settings with all sections checked. Retain Page Layout is not checked.Image Added

Section 6.11: Exporting Images

  1. Go to the File Menu and click Export>Images.

    Image Removed

    If you want to export your PDF pages as images, click Images then ExportExport then Images.

    The File tab with Export to and Image highlighted in blue.Image Added
  2. If you want to export the images in your PDF, click Images then click Export all Images, then Export

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  1. Go to the top bar and click Add Sticky Note.

    Image RemovedThe Sticky Note Icon that looks like a message bubble.Image Added
  2. Highlight a piece of text or image you want, then a comment box will appear.

    Image Removed
  3. Write your comment sticky note and click Post. A little comment box will appear over the text.

    Image RemovedAn example of a sticky note in Acrobat.Image Added
  4. If you want to change the note, click on the note icon and add a reply.

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  1. Add the Comment Tool to your taskbar. Click the Highlighter icon on the top bar.

    Image RemovedImage RemovedThe comment tool with a yellow message box icon.Image AddedThe Highlight Text Icon with a highlighter shape.Image Added
  2. Highlight your text.

  3. If you want to add a comment, double click the highlighted text and type your comment in the box.

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  1. Highlighted Text example with a comment available to the right.Image Added

Method 2: Underlining Text

  1. Highlight the text.

  2. Click the Underline Text Icon.

    Image RemovedThe Underline Text Tool. It looks like a capital T that is underlined.Image Added
  3. Leave a comment in the comment box.

    Image RemovedText underlined in green with a comment available to the right.Image Added

Method 3

  1. Highlight the text.

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  1. Click the Text Strikethrough Tool.

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  1. The Underline Text Tool. It looks like a capital T that has a line going through it.Image Added

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  1. Leave a comment in the comment box.

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  1. An example of strikethrough text with a comment on the right.Image Added

Section 6.14: Adding Comments from Multiple Sources to a PDF

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  1. In the top right corner of the screen, click the Mail Icon and click Default Email Application (Mail)

    Image Removed

    Webmail.

    The Send by mail section with Webmail selected and an example email is entered.Image Added
  2. Click Next, and the send email window pops up.

  3. Send your email, with the pdf attached.

What do you do as the Reviewer?

  1. Click the sticky note tool and leave a comment.

    Image RemovedAn example of a comment asking to make the font bigger.Image Added
  2. Open up the Comment tool Tool and click the three dot menuThree Dots icon.

    Image RemovedImage RemovedThe comment tool with a yellow message box icon.Image AddedA comment box that says make this bigger.Image Added
  3. Click the three button Three Dots icon and choose Export Selected to Data File. This will create an FDF or Forms Data Format File. It will be a document that just has the comments.

    Image RemovedThe three dots icon all the way to the right.Image Added

What do you do when you receive comments back?

  1. Click the three dot menu Three Dots icon and click Import Data File.

    Image RemovedThe three dots icon all the way to the right.Image Added
  2. Go on your computer and highlight all of your data files from your teacher or reviewer.

  3. Click Select.

Now you have your comments listed. But you want to organize them

  1. Go to the comments tabComments Tool.

    Image RemovedThe comment tool with a yellow message box icon.Image Added
  2. Click the Filter Icon. The icon that looks like a flash light.

    Image RemovedThe three dots icon all the way to the right.Image Added
  3. Select the persons comments you would like to see and click apply. Now you will only see the comments from that one person.

  4. To reset the filters, click Clear All.

  5. Other ways to organize comments is by clicking the A-Z tool. This will allow you to organize them by page, author, date, type, checkmark status, and color

Section 6.15:

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The Form Wizard scans your form and automatically add fields for you.

  1. Open the Prepare Form Tool.

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  2. Click Start, your form fields will be created.

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Section 6.16: Creating Form Fields with Text

  1. Click Prepare Form Tool.

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  2. Select Add a Text Field to add text.

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  3. Draw a square where you want the text to be.

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Section 6.17: Creating Fillable Forms

  1. Click the Prepare Form Tool.

    Image Removed

2. To add boxes to your table, click Add a Text Field in the panel above.

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3. To add a date box, click Add a Date Field in the panel above.

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4. To add check boxes, click Add check boxes to enable options the panel above.

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5. To check if all of these boxes are working, click Preview in the top right corner. You should be able to type in your name, choose a date from the calendar, and check boxes.

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Section 6.18: Creating a Checklist in PDFs

  1. Click Prepare Form Tool

    Image Removed
  2. Select Add Check Box Icon, this will allow you to create a list where the user can choose from a selection of choices.

    Image Removed

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Section 6.19: Creating Buttons in PDFs

  1. Click Prepare Form Tool

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  2. Select the OK Icon, and create an appropriate name in the Field Name.

    Image Removed
  3. This will create a button to activate an action. Like Printing, or Submitting

4. Select All Properties, and go to the Action Tab. In the Add an Action field, change Select Trigger to Mouse Up. For selecting an action, choose the appropriate action for your button. This example has a reset button so we will use the action “Reset a form”.

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Section 6.20: Adding a Calendar in PDFs

  1. Click Prepare Form Tool.

    Image Removed
  2. Select Add a Date Field, and place the box into a Date Cell.

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Protecting your PDF

  1. Click the Protect Tool.

    Image RemovedProtect Tool with a purple shield icon.Image Added
  2. In the panel above, select Protect Using Password.

    Image RemovedThe Protect Using Password OptionImage Added
  3. Select your choice of needing a password for allowing viewers to see or edit the PDF.

    Image RemovedThe Protect Using Password Box. Viewing is checked with options to type in a password.Image Added
  4. Create your Password and click Apply.

Section 6.

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16: Protecting your PDF with a Password Encryption

  1. Click the Protect Tool.

    Image RemovedProtect Tool with a purple shield icon.Image Added
  2. Select Advanced Options and click Password Encryption.

    Image RemovedThe Advanced Options Dropdown MenuImage Added
  3. A pop up menu will ask if you want to change the security in the document, click Yes.

    Image RemovedA popup box asking if you are sure you want to change the security of the document. There are yes and cancel buttons.Image Added
  4. The Password Security – Settings Menu will appear and it will give you two levels of protection. You can protect the document from being opened at all, or just from being edited. If you want the document to opened by using a password, click Require a Password and create your password. If you want restrictions on editing and printing, click the check box in the Permission section and create a password.

  5. Check Enable Text Access for Screen Reader Devices for the Visually Impaired. When you are done, click OK, and reenter your permission password.

    Image RemovedThe Password Security Settings box with options to create passwords. Enable text access for screen reader devices for the visually impaired is checked.Image Added
  6. Save the document

Section 6.

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17: Redacting Content in PDFs

  1. Go to the Tools Tab, under the Protect & Standardize section click Redact.

    Image RemovedImage RemovedThe Tools Tab in Acrobat.Image AddedThe Redact Tool with a Pink highlighter icon.Image Added
  2. Select the Redact Text & Images Menu and click Properties. Redaction Tool Properties Menu will allow users to tell Adobe Acrobat what they want a redacted section to look like.

    Image RemovedImage RemovedThe Redacting Tool with a pink highlighter icon.Image AddedThe Redact Text and Images Options Menu with a capital T icon half covered by a blue square.Image Added
  3. To redact text, just highlight your text. You will see a border around it, but it is not redacted yet. Click Apply to make an official Redaction.

    Image RemovedRedacted content with the word Contracts highlighted in a red box.Image Added
  4. If you are sure, you want your content redacted, click OK and save your file. Your files content has been redacted.

    Image RemovedRedacted content with the word Contracts highlighted in black.Image Added

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  1. Right Click the side bar and choose the Destinations Pane.

    Image RemovedThe Destinations Pane in Acrobat.Image Added

  2. Highlight your text. In the destination pane, click the New Destination Icon. Right Click the Destination and rename it.                          

    Image RemovedImage RemovedThe New Destination Icon in Acrobat.Image AddedAn example of a new destination. Part 1 Introduction.Image Added
  3. Scroll up to your Table of Contents. Highlight the section you want linked, and right click the section and click Create Link. In Link Type, choose Invisible Rectangle, and under Link Action, choose Go to a Page View.

    Image RemovedThe Create Link Box with Part 1 Introduction highlighted.Image Added
  4. Click Next, you will get another pop-up menu asking if you want to set the link. DO NOT SET THE LINK. Just double-click your destination to the left and you will be able to immediately go to the section you linked.

Section 6.25: Accessible Text

  1. Open your document, spreadsheet, or presentation

  2. When typing in text, you want to consider the color contrast between the text and the background. For small text, (under size 18), a good contrast ratio is 7:1 or higher. For bigger text, (over size 18) a good contrast ratio is 3:1 or higher. Black text on a white background or 21:1 is considered to be the most accessible contrast ratio.

  3. To color your text, highlight your text and go to the Font Panel in the Home Tab.

    Image Removed
  4. Select the Font Color Tab and choose a color.

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