---
auto_generated: true
created: 2026-05-18
manual_updated_at: 2026-05-18
modified: 2026-05-18
name: User_Manual
status: active
tags:
- domain/accessibility
- domain/ai
- type/sop
type: sop
---

# PDF Accessibility Checker User Manual

## What This Tool Does

The **PDF Accessibility Checker** is an enterprise-grade tool that validates PDF documents against **WCAG 2.1 Level A & AA** standards. It combines traditional PDF structural analysis with AI-powered image recognition to provide comprehensive accessibility compliance reports.

### Key Capabilities
- **Automated WCAG Validation**: Checks 30+ accessibility criteria automatically.
- **AI-Powered Image Analysis**: Uses AI to analyze images within PDFs for missing or inappropriate alt text.
- **Visual Inspector**: View specific pages with visual markers indicating exactly where accessibility issues exist.
- **Auto-Remediation**: Provides suggestions and automated fixes for common issues.
- **Batch Processing**: Upload and analyze multiple PDFs simultaneously.
- **Compliance Reporting**: Generates detailed scores, severity counts (Critical, Error, Warning, Info, Success), and WCAG conformance levels.

## Who Uses It
- **Document Creators**: Ensure their PDFs are accessible before distribution.
- **Compliance Officers**: Verify that documents meet regulatory standards (WCAG 2.1).
- **Quality Assurance Teams**: Integrate accessibility checks into their document publishing workflows.

## How to Access

### Web Interface
Access the application via your organization's internal URL. The interface provides:
1. **Upload Section**: Drag-and-drop or click to upload single or batch PDF files.
2. **Results Dashboard**: Displays accessibility scores, severity breakdowns, and detailed issue lists.
3. **Visual Page Inspector**: Interactive viewer to see issues mapped to specific pages.

### API Access
The tool also exposes a REST API for integration with other systems. API access requires authentication via an API key provided in the request headers.

### Command Line Interface
For advanced users, the application can be run via command line. See the developer section for setup instructions.

## Main Workflows

### Workflow 1: Single PDF Analysis
1. **Upload**: Drag and drop a PDF file into the upload area or click to browse.
2. **Processing**: Wait for the analysis to complete (status updates in real-time).
3. **Review**: View the overall accessibility score and severity breakdown.
4. **Inspect**: Use the "Visual Page Inspector" to navigate through pages and see highlighted issues.
5. **Remediate**: Review the list of issues, filter by severity or WCAG criterion, and apply auto-remediation suggestions where applicable.
6. **Download**: Export the full accessibility report (JSON/HTML) if needed.

### Workflow 2: Batch PDF Analysis
1. **Switch Mode**: Click the "Batch Upload" tab to switch from single-file mode.
2. **Select Files**: Drag and drop up to 10 PDF files (max 50MB each) into the batch upload area.
3. **Process**: Click "Analyze All" to start processing. Track per-file status in the batch list.
4. **Review**: Iterate through each file's results using the same interface as single-file analysis.

### Workflow 3: Filtering and Dismissing Issues
1. **Filter Issues**: Use the filter dropdown to show only Critical, Error, Warning, or Info issues.
2. **Dismiss Issues**: For false positives, click the "Dismiss" button next to an issue. This updates the score and allows you to re-calculate the score excluding dismissed items.
3. **Override Checks**: Override specific AI-driven checks if you have domain-specific knowledge that contradicts the automated analysis.

## FAQ

**Q: How accurate is the AI image analysis?**
A: The AI provides approximately 95% automated coverage of accessibility requirements. While highly accurate, it is recommended to review AI-generated alt text suggestions for context-specific accuracy.

**Q: What is the file size limit?**
A: Individual PDFs can be up to 50MB. Batch uploads support up to 10 files simultaneously.

**Q: Are my PDFs stored permanently?**
A: No. Uploaded PDFs are automatically deleted after 24 hours (configurable via `RETENTION_HOURS`). Results JSON files are kept for 30 days (configurable via `RESULTS_RETENTION_HOURS`).

**Q: What does the Accessibility Score represent?**
A: The score is a weighted metric based on the number and severity of issues found. A perfect score indicates no critical errors, though some warnings may remain. The exact calculation considers Critical, Error, Warning, and Info issues.

**Q: Can I use this tool for compliance with ISO 14289-1 (PDF/UA-1)?**
A: Yes, the tool integrates veraPDF for enhanced PDF/UA-1 validation alongside WCAG 2.1 checks.

## Related
- [[01 Projects/pdf-accessibility/DEVELOPER_MANUAL.md]]