Setting and Fixing Bookmarks

WCAG requires many properties and navigational elements to be added to a document to comply with accessibility guidelines and allow assistive technology users to have many places to access the information and navigate the document. Bookmarks is one element that can be used to help users navigate a PDF document and can be added after you have gone through the document and set the correct heading levels. Bookmarks are another navigation tool for accessibility to move through sections using set heading levels.

(Note: If your PDF is exported from an accessible word document, your bookmarks will automatically be set using the heading levels.)

Adding the Bookmarks Navigation Pane

1. Adding Navigation Panes
   • To set the bookmarks go into the Bookmark Navigation Pane.

If you need to find your navigation panes, go to View -> Show/Hide -> Navigation Panes. Here you can select the navigation panes you are looking for.

View drop-down menu in Adobe Acrobat Pro; Show/Hide and Navigation Panes selected.

2. Setting the Bookmarks
   • In the Bookmarks pane, open the options menu and select New Bookmarks from Structure
     
     

     View of menu to select New Bookmarks from Structure

• • In the dialogue box, select the desired structure elements by holding down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and select each structure element you want included in your bookmarks, this is subjective to the remediator, however Microassist usually recommends heading levels 1-3.  (In this case, H1, H2, H3 can all be selected)
    

    Screenshot of the Structure Element selection options.

• • You will have the option to title your group of bookmarks. Type your title in the text field and press enter.
    

    Bookmarks title field filled in with “Example Accessible Document” highlighted.

• • Click OK and you will see your bookmarks populate, click each one to ensure it is navigating to the correct place.
    

    Screen grab of the completed Bookmarks pane from drop down menu.

  • Save an updated version of your document.

Deleting Bookmarks

If you happen to select an element from the list that you did not want to add to your bookmarks, you can easily delete the unwanted bookmark by selecting it from the list of bookmarks and clicking the trashcan next to the options menu or clicking the Delete key on your keyboard.

Icons menu view with Delete trashcan icon selected.

Changing Bookmark Properties

1. To change the name, left click twice on the bookmark you would like to fix and the text becomes editable.
2. To change the location of the bookmark
   • Right-click on the bookmark you want to change and choose properties in the drop-down menu.
   • In Properties, choose the Actions tab, left click the action you would like to change and then click edit to bring up the menu box to make your desired changes.
     

     Screen grab of Bookmark Properties menu with Select Action highlighted.

3. If you just want to change the placement of the bookmark in the list order, you can click and drag each one where you want to place it.

Adding bookmarks is a step in setting specific properties required to meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA Standards, outlined on the W3C website. WCAG suggests giving multiple ways to navigate a page, adding bookmarks will give users one option for navigating a PDF document in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. This property will aid users navigating a document using assistive technology and help give a more inclusive experience.

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