PDF Output - Alternate text for images

[kcann]

Hi

Our accessibility expert has asked that my PDF output include alternate text for images. All of the images in my document have alternate text defined in the source image files (from MadCap Capture), but this alternate text does not appear in the PDF output.

Thanks

K

[lacastle]

I don't know if this is an option in the PDF target, but Adobe offers instructions for how to create alternate text for images using Acrobat.

Add alternate text for a figure
1. Choose View > Navigation Panels > Tags.
2. Expand the logical structure tree to find and select the <Figure> tag element for the image.
To find a tag more easily, use the TouchUp Reading Order tool to select the figure—or text near the figure—in the document pane, and then choose Find Tag From Selection from the Options menu in the Tags tab.
3. Choose Highlight Content from the Options menu in the Tags tab to see a highlighted area in the document that corresponds to the tag.
4. Choose Properties from the Options menu in the Tags tab.
5. In the TouchUp Properties dialog box, click the Tag tab.
6. For Alternate Text, type text that describes the figure.

[LTinker68]

I wonder if PDF output will pick up the value of the title attribute for images (not to be confused with the topic's <title> tag). When you insert an image, you have an option to add alternate text and title text (via the "Screen tip" field). I think the title text has something to do with accessibility, so maybe that's what PDF looks at. It's also possible that Flare just strips out those attributes when you build PDF output.

If populating the title attribute for images doesn't flow through to the PDF output, then make sure you submit a feature request at http://www.madcapsoftware.com/bugs/submit.aspx.