Previewing results

Previewing results

You can look at a converted document before you download it. This matters because a refund is only available before you download the output (see Refunds), so it is worth checking first.

Ways to preview

Watch it as it converts

In the conversion wizard, a Live preview appears while the document is converting. Pages show up as they finish, so you can start reviewing before the whole document is done.

Preview the accessible HTML

On the dashboard, select a completed file to expand it, then choose the preview (eye) icon next to Accessible HTML. The converted document opens in a new browser tab, rendered the way it will appear to anyone who opens it.

Compare with the original

For PDF and image uploads, a Compare link appears next to the HTML. It opens a side-by-side view with your original document on the left and the converted accessible HTML on the right. Use the zoom control to enlarge the original (50% to 200%).

Compare needs a screen at least 1024 pixels wide. On a smaller screen you will see a message suggesting a larger display; the HTML preview still works.

For screenshots and more detail, see Downloading and previewing.

What to look for

Read the preview the way your audience will. Focus on the things automated checks can’t fully judge:

• Reading order. Does the content flow in the order a person would read it, especially across columns, sidebars, and footnotes?
• Headings. Do the headings match the document’s outline? Screen reader users navigate by heading.
• Images. Does each meaningful image have a description that says what it shows? Decorative images should not be described.
• Tables. Do the tables have clear header rows, and do the cells line up with the right headers?
• Lists and links. Are lists real lists, and do link texts make sense on their own?
• Math and special characters. Are equations and symbols intact?
• Nothing missing. Compare page counts and sections with the original.

Two other places help. The file’s score and its conformance report show what was checked and what passed; see WCAG reports. The accessibility checklist lists remaining items for a person to confirm.

If the result isn’t what you expected

You have several options, roughly from least to most drastic:

1. Fix it yourself. Open the document to edit the HTML in a visual or code editor. About three seconds after you stop typing, the accessibility panel re-checks it for free, and saving keeps a version-history snapshot.
2. Adjust the look. Fonts, sizes, spacing, and colors can be changed in the document settings. See Downloading and previewing.
3. Try preserving the design. If your document is a designed page such as a flyer or poster, Preserve the design keeps the original appearance and tags it in place.
4. Request a refund, before you download. If the result isn’t usable, a refund returns what you paid and deletes the file. It is only available if you have not downloaded the output, within the limits on the Refunds page.
5. Ask us. Contact support with the file name and what you expected. Check Troubleshooting first for common causes.