CommonLook® PDF Accessibility Wizard (PAW) for MS Office
Note: The start date for the PAW beta program has not been set yet. However, if you wish to be added to the list of beta candidates, Please click here
Note: PAW will be currently available for MS Word only. Versions of PAW for Excel and PowerPoint will be available in the short term.
PAW is a breakthrough technology that makes it possible to create accessible PDF documents directly from Microsoft Office applications . Organizations no longer require specialized teams to handle the accessibility process, significantly lowering the cost of compliance with accessibility standards.
PAW makes accessibility an integral part of the authoring process. As easy to use as spell check, PAW enables organizations to greatly improve the quality and quantity of accessible information. Use of PAW does not require prior knowledge of accessibility as the Accessibility Wizard presents simple-to-understand instructions that guide the user through Section 508 and other important accessibility checkpoints.
PAW is designed to minimize the time it takes to add accessibility to Word and PDF documents. Users are presented with only those checkpoints that are relevant to the content of the MS Office document they are authoring. Additionally, PAW enables users to check for and add accessibility information where such information is supported by MS Office.
Features and Benefits
- Improved Quality of Accessible Documents: Content authors provide accessibility information at document creation time.
- Increased Quantity of Accessible Documents: Accessibility becomes part of the standard authoring process.
- Lower cost of Compliance with Accessibility Standards: Reduces need for expensive, after-the-fact accessibility repairs.
- Author-Level Tool: Integrated in MS Office and activated when a Word, Excel or PowerPoint document is saved as an Accessible PDF.
- Comprehensive Verification: Applies all PDF-relevant Section 508 checkpoints and identifies instances of non-compliance.
- Easy Remediation: Corrects Section 508 compliance problems quickly and easily.
- Easy-to-Use: Wizard automates most tasks and provides easy-to-understand detailed instructions. No prior knowledge of accessibility is required.
- Fast: Takes less than 5 minutes for an average 5-page document.
- Style Mapping: Standard MS Word styles are automatically mapped to appropriate PDF tags.
- Table Formatting: Fixes complex tables. Generates appropriate PDF structures for headers and creates ‘speak text’.
Supported Platforms
Windows Vista, XP or 2000.
MS Word 2007.
Windows Internet Explorer 6.0 or later is required.