Page Numbering [WCAG.PDF.17]

Test Basis (WCAG 2.0)

This test is based on the WCAG 2.0 Technique PDF17: Specifying consistent page numbering for PDF documents

Technique URL (WCAG 2.0)

Why this maybe a Barrier

Page numbers are helpful for navigating large PDF documents. Users can enter a page number in the PDF viewer control to go to a specific page. Pages in PDF documents are often referenced by the page number, for instance in the table of contents or in cross-references.

If the page numbering of a PDF document is not consistent, navigation within the document gets more difficult. For instance if the front matter uses other numbers, then the main content, starting on the page numbered 1, may actually be the fifth or sixth page in the document.

If the page numbering used by the PDF viewer control differs from the numbering on the pages, users can not navigate to the referenced pages by entering the page number in the PDF viewer control.

WCAG 2.0 Reference

1.3.1 Info and Relationships:“Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text. (Level A)”

WCAG 2.0 Success Criteria 1.3.1

3.2.3 Consistent Navigation:“Navigational mechanisms that are repeated on multiple Web pages within a set of Web pages occur in the same relative order each time they are repeated, unless a change is initiated by the user. (Level AA)”

WCAG 2.0 Success Criteria 3.2.3