How to Fix Table Header Cell Issues in PDFs | PAC 2024 Tool

In Today’s post, we’re learning how to fix the “table header cell has no associated subcells” error in the PAC 2024 tool. Use this step-by-step guide to resolve this issue using Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word to ensure your tables are properly structured and recognized by accessibility checkers.

Video Guide

Identifying the Issue

Identify the table header cell issue within the PAC 2024 tool as the first step in resolving it. This tool tests PDFs for various accessibility issues and flags any problems with the document’s structure, including table headers not properly associated with subcells.

1. Open PAC 2024 Tool: Launch the PAC 2024 tool and run the accessibility check on your PDF document.
2. Check Results: Look for the error indicating that a table header cell has no associated subcells. This error means that the tool cannot identify which cells are related to the table header, which can cause navigation and reading issues for assistive technologies.

Fixing the Table Header Cell in Adobe Acrobat

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat and navigate to the Tags panel to locate the problematic table.
   • Go to View > Show/Hide > Navigation Panes > Tags.
2. Find the table in question within the Tags panel. Expand the structure to see the table elements.
3. Right-click on the table header and select Table Editor to open the table editing options.
4. Click on the table header cell, hold the Shift key, and select any additional headers to group them together.
5. Right-click the selected headers and choose Table Cell Properties. In the properties window, set the scope to Column and click OK.

6. Save the document to apply the changes.

7. Reopen the PAC 2024 tool and run the accessibility check again. Verify that the error for the table header cell is resolved and that a green checkbox appears for the table structure.

Download the Free Section 508 Checklist for PDF Accessibility:

Fixing the Table Header Cell in Microsoft Word

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open your document in Microsoft Word.
2. Click on the table to bring up the Table Design tab.
3. Ensure that the Header Row option is selected in the Table Design tools. This setting helps Word identify the header row for the table.
4. Optionally, you can also select the First Column option to emphasize the first column as a header, if applicable.
5. Save your document and export it to PDF.
   • Go to File > Save As and select PDF from the format options.
6. Open the newly created PDF in Adobe Acrobat.
7. Use the Prepare for Accessibility tools to ensure that the table headers have the correct scope set.
   • Go to Tools > Accessibility > Reading Order and verify the table structure.
8. Run the PAC 2024 tool on the new PDF to confirm the table header cell issue is resolved.

Follow these steps to ensure you format your tables correctly to make them accessible. Properly setting the scope of table headers to Column in Adobe Acrobat or ensuring proper table formatting in Microsoft Word can prevent the “table header cell has no associated subcells” error in the PAC 2024 tool. Regularly validating your documents with accessibility tools is essential for maintaining compliance and promoting inclusivity.

Additional Tips

• Consistent Formatting: Consistently apply header and column settings in Word before exporting to PDF to avoid repetitive corrections in Acrobat.
• Regular Checks: Periodically run accessibility checks during the document creation process to catch and fix issues early.
• Learn and Adapt: Stay updated with accessibility standards and tool updates to ensure your documents meet the latest requirements.

Let me be your champion for inclusion. I offer tailored solutions (and self-paced courses!) to ensure your documents meet and exceed compliance expectations. For more detailed insights, tutorials, and in-depth discussions on accessibility and related topics, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel: The Accessibility Guy on YouTube. Subscribe for regular updates!