How to Set the PDF UA Identifier in Adobe Acrobat Pro

Today we’re learning how to set the PDF UA identifier using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. This is one of many essential steps in ensuring your document is PDF UA compliant, which is crucial for accessibility to all users.

Video Guide

The PDF UA Identifier is a piece of metadata contained within the document properties. The identifier tells users that the document claims technical compliance with PDF UA standards.

Identify Missing Metadata

First, we need to check if our document has the identifier. Often, this step is overlooked, but it’s vital for compliance. Here’s how to check and set the metadata in a PDF.

Access the Preflight Menu

Next, navigate to Adobe Acrobat’s Preflight menu. Here’s how:

Close any open tools.
Select ‘Print Production’ then ‘Preflight’.

From the Preflight menu:

Type in ‘UA’ in the search.
Look for the ‘Set PDF UA-1 Entry’ option.
Click ‘Fix’ to apply the setting.
Save the Document

Once you’ve set the identifier, don’t forget to save your file. This step ensures that all changes are properly applied and retained.

Download the Free Section 508 Checklist for PDF Accessibility:

Test for Compliance

Finally, test your document. You’re looking for all green checkmarks. This confirms that your document now adheres to the PDF UA standards, ensuring accessibility for all users.

Congratulations, you’ve successfully set the PDF UA identifier in your document! Remember, this is just one of many aspects of creating accessible PDFs.

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!