PDF with doc security Screen reader compatibility

PDF
Dec 12, 2023

Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers

Actual Result: causes problems in 27 screen reader / browser combinations

For expected failures, the results show which AT combos the failures affect. Results are recorded from the user's viewpoint, so describe the user impact of authoring errors.

This is a PDF with Content Copying for Accessibility set to Not Allowed in Document Properties

Code used for this test:


		<a href='SR_PDF_doc_security.pdf'>SR_PDF_doc_security.pdf</a>
	

Change History

Last updated: December 12, 2023

  • Bad NVDA with Chrome Causes problems from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Bad NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2017.3 to NVDA 2019.2
  • Good NVDA with FF Stable - OK from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2023.3
  • Bad JAWS with Chrome Causes problems from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Bad JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 17.0.2007 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
  • Good JAWS with FF Stable - OK from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2023.2311.34
  • Good VoiceOver macOS Stable - OK from VoiceOver macOS 10.14 to VoiceOver macOS 13.6
  • Better VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 12.4, but now OK in VoiceOver iOS 16.6
Screen readerBrowserModeNotesWhat the user hears
Fail NVDA 2023.3Chrome 120 Reading Document content not read Blank
OK NVDA 2023.3FF 115 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail NVDA 2023.3Edge 120 Reading Document content not read This file has limited permissions. You may not have access to some features.
Fail NVDA 2022.2Chrome 105 Reading Document content not read Embedded object unavailable
OK NVDA 2022.2FF 102 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail NVDA 2022.2Edge 105 Reading Document content not read This file has limited permissions. You may not have access to some features.
Fail NVDA 2021.2Chrome 94 Reading Document content not read Embedded object unavailable
OK NVDA 2021.2FF 91 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail NVDA 2021.2Edge 94 Reading Document content not read This file has limited permissions. You may not have access to some features.
Fail NVDA 2020.2Chrome 86 Reading Document content not read Embedded object unavailable
OK NVDA 2020.2FF 78 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail NVDA 2020.2Edge 92 Reading Document content not read This file has limited permissions. You may not have access to some features.
Fail NVDA 2019.2Chrome 79 Reading Document content not read Embedded object
OK NVDA 2019.2FF 68 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail NVDA 2019.2IE11 Reading Document content not read Secured Acrobat Reader DC, AVPageView text frame
Fail NVDA 2018.4Chrome 73 Reading Document content not read Embedded object
OK NVDA 2018.4FF 60 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail NVDA 2018.4IE11 Reading Document content not read Secured Acrobat Reader DC, unknown
Fail NVDA 2017.3IE11 Reading Document content not read Secured Acrobat Reader DC, AVPageView text frame
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Chrome 120 Reading Document content not read
OK JAWS 2023.2311.34FF 115 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail JAWS 2023.2311.34Edge 120 Reading Document content not read This file has limited permissions. You may not have access to some features.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Chrome 105 Reading Document content not read
OK JAWS 2022.2207.25FF 102 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail JAWS 2022.2207.25Edge 105 Reading Document content not read This file has limited permissions. You may not have access to some features.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Chrome 94 Reading Document content not read
OK JAWS 2021.2107.12FF 91 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail JAWS 2021.2107.12Edge 94 Reading Document content not read This file has limited permissions. You may not have access to some features.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Chrome 86 Reading Document content not read
OK JAWS 2020.2008.24FF 78 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail JAWS 2020.2008.24Edge 92 Reading Document content not read This file has limited permissions. You may not have access to some features.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1Chrome 79 Reading Document content not read
OK JAWS 2019.1912.1FF 68 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail JAWS 2019.1912.1IE11 Reading Document content not read
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2Chrome 73 Reading Document content not read
OK JAWS 2018.1811.2FF 60 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail JAWS 2018.1811.2IE11 Reading Document content not read
Fail JAWS 17.0.2007IE11 Reading Document content not read
OK VoiceOver macOS 13.6Safari 16.6 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
OK VoiceOver macOS 12.5Safari 15.6 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
OK VoiceOver macOS 11.5Safari 15.0 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.15Safari 14.1 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
OK VoiceOver macOS 10.14Safari 13.0 Reading Reads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
OK VoiceOver iOS 16.6Safari 16.6TouchReads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
OK VoiceOver iOS 15.6Safari iOS 15.6TouchReads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
OK VoiceOver iOS 14.7Safari iOS 14.7TouchReads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
OK VoiceOver iOS 13.3Safari iOS 13.3TouchReads document contents, and ignores document security. This is a document with PDF document security set, using the Security tab in Adobe Acrobat Document Properties to disable screen reader access to the document.
Fail VoiceOver iOS 12.4Safari iOS 12.4TouchDocument content not read

Test notes

All tests were carried out with screen reader factory settings. JAWS in particular has a wide variety of settings controlling exactly what gets spoken.

Screen readers allow users to interact in different modes, and can produce very different results in each mode. The modes used in these tests are:

  • Reading Content read using the “read next” command in a screen reader
  • Tabbing Content read using the “tab” key in a screen reader
  • Heading Content read using the “next heading” key in a screen reader
  • Touch Content read when touching an area of screen on a mobile device

In the “What the user hears” column:

  • Commas represent short pauses in screen reader voicing
  • Full Stops represent places where voicing stops, and the “read next” or “tab” or “next heading” command is pressed again
  • Ellipsis … represent a long pause in voicing
  • (Brackets) represent voicing that requires a keystroke to hear