Converting Your Document to PDF
Your disquisition should be submitted as a single PDF (.pdf). While you may already be familiar with making PDFs from Word, LaTeX, or other platforms, some methods of creating PDFs will leave out required accessibility features, such as bookmarks and structure tags.
On this page, you will find instructions on how to create a PDF from Word or LaTeX with its accessibility features intact. More information on these features and requirements can be found on our digital accessibility page.
- Converting from Word
- Converting from LaTeX
Converting Word Documents to PDF
When you convert your document to a PDF from Word, required features will be lost if you use 3rd party plugins or print your document to PDF. Instead, you must create it using Word's built-in PDF exporter. To export your document:
- Navigate to File -> Export -> Create PDF/XPS Document.
- Click the Investigate Accessibility button to perform a preliminary check for issues like missing alt-text.
- If there are no items listed under "Errors" in the Accessibility Checker pane, return back to File -> Export -> Create PDF/XPS Document and click the Create PDF/XPS button.
- In the Publish as PDF or XPS dialog box, click Options.
- Set "publish what" to "document". Do not export your document with markup enabled. Note that "document showing markup" is enabled by default and you may need to set this option whenever your export to PDF.
- Enable both "create bookmarks using headings" and "document structure tags for accessibility".
- Click Publish to save your document in your desired location.
In addition to the export method, you can also use "Save As" from File -> Save As or hotkey F12. In the Save As dialog box, change the file type to PDF and check the options as in step 4 above, then save in your desired location.
Converting from LaTeX to PDF
The PDF engine in your LaTeX platform may not generate structure tags for your document. To create a tagged PDF, we recommend using LuaTeX, as documented by the LaTeX Tagging Project. If you are unsure whether your PDF engine produces tagged PDFs, download the PDF Accessibility Checker and use it on your PDF.
Additionally, Overleaf supports tagged PDFs using a proprietary package, though compiling your final document will require a subscription. You can also tag your PDF manually in a PDF editor; computers with Adobe Pro are available in the computer lab on the second floor of the library.
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Disquisition Site Map |
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Preparing to Graduate |
Graduate School Policies • Guidelines & Templates • Pre-submission Requirements • Submit Your Disquisition | |
Formatting Wiki |
General Requirements | Accessibility • Font • Headings • Page Numbers |
| Prefatory Material | Title Page • Approval Page • Table of Contents • List of Tables, Figures, Etc. • List of Abbreviations/Symbols • List of Appendix Tables, Figures, Etc. | |
| Disquisition Body | Paragraph Text • Equations • Tables, Figures, Etc. • References / Citations • Landscape Pages | |
| Appendices | Appendices • Tables, Figures, Etc. | |