How to Fix the Standard Structure Type is Remapped to Span Error | PAC 2024

In today’s post, we will be examining the PAC 2024 error “Standard Structure Type is Remapped to Span.” This issue often arises when certain standard structure types—such as RT, Ruby, and RB—are incorrectly mapped to “span.” Consequently, this misalignment can cause problems during accessibility validation. Therefore, it is essential to properly define these structural elements to ensure compliance with accessibility standards. To help resolve this issue, the following steps will guide you through correcting the mappings using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

Video Guide

Understanding the Standard Structure Type Error

When converting a document from Word to PDF, PAC 2024 may display an error indicating that “standard structure type RT, Ruby, and RB is remapped to span.” This occurs because the document contains incorrect role assignments, causing accessibility validation to fail. To fix the issue, the role mappings need to be adjusted within the Tags panel in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro DC: Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and open the PDF document that is experiencing the accessibility error.
2. Access the Tags Panel
   • Navigate to the “Tags” panel on the left-hand side of the screen.
   • If the Tags panel is not visible, enable it by selecting “View” > “Show/Hide” > “Navigation Panels” > “Tags.”
3. Edit Role Mappings
   • In the Tags panel, right-click and select “Edit Role Map” from the context menu.
   • This will open the “Role Map” dialog box, which displays the various role mappings for the document.
4. Modify Document Roles
   • Expand the “Document Roles” section.
   • Next, locate the problematic mappings, such as “RB span,” “RT span,” and “Ruby span.”
   • Delete each of these mappings by selecting “Delete Item.” This will remove the incorrect role assignments.
5. Save the Changes
   • Click “OK” to confirm the deletions, and save the modified PDF to apply the changes.
6. Revalidate with PAC 2024
   • Open PAC 2024 and reload the PDF.
   • Check the “WCAG” tab and review the results. The previous error should no longer appear, indicating that the issue has been resolved.

Tools Required

• Adobe Acrobat Pro DC for accessing and modifying the Tags panel.
• PAC 2024 for validating PDF accessibility against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Download the Free Section 508 Checklist for PDF Accessibility:

Following this process in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC can correct role mapping errors. Your documents will pass PAC 2024 validation and meet accessibility standards. Properly adjusting role mappings ensures that documents are accessible and comply with best practices for inclusivity.

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!