Documents
Check PDF Table Headers and Cell Relationships
Published by whatisADA / Grow Wild Agency · Updated
Purpose and preparation
Inspect a PDF table at the cell and header-association level. Work from a copy and determine whether the original authoring file can produce a simpler, more reliable table. Complex headers often need manual review.
A practical example
A report table groups quarterly values under year headers and includes row labels for several service areas.
How to check it
- Identify the row and column context required to interpret each value. Inspect the table, row, header and data-cell structure in the PDF tags.
- Check header scope or explicit associations where appropriate, including spans across rows or columns. Confirm that every meaningful cell belongs to the correct table.
- Navigate representative cells with a screen reader, especially at group boundaries and totals. Record the expected and announced headers for any mismatch.
What can be missed
A checker may detect missing table structure without proving all associations are correct. Do not flatten a complex data table into an image to remove a warning.
Record your test
Use this worksheet to record what you actually checked. Notes stay on this device when you choose Save; they are not sent to us. Avoid personal or confidential information on shared devices.
These are your observations, not automated results or a conformance certificate. A complete evaluation needs appropriate scope, supported technologies, all applicable criteria and relevant page states.
Primary sources and scope
This is independent implementation guidance with original examples. The linked standard contains the full definitions, exceptions and conformance requirements. A criterion or checklist alone does not establish legal applicability or whole-site conformance.