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Web Standard: PDF Links

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Definitions

  • A PDF is a document in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF); the filename extension is .pdf
  • The Drupal WebCMS adds the PDF link standard requirements (PDF disclaimer, PDF in the link, file size and number of pages after the link) automatically on the document page.
  • The EPA PDF linking standard applies to all PDF links including PDF links leaving the EPA.gov site. 

Section 508

PDFs are required by law to meet Section 508 accessibility requirements. Occasionally, a PDF may not meet those requirements (e.g., too technical, mathematical formulas, maps or other images).  In rare cases like this, the PDF can be accompanied by contact information for users in need of accommodation.

  • If you are posting a non-accessible (not 508 compliant) PDF and you are not posting the same content in some other accessible format (e.g. HTML or text), provide contact information. (If you include an email address, follow the EPA standard for linking to email addresses.)
  • You may provide contact information in the same box or paragraph as the long disclaimer.
  • Contact information is a phone number or an email address where a person could get help with a document, primarily for purposes of accessibility.
  • Possible contacts include your library, public information center, public affairs office or the person who created the document. Whatever information you provide, the document should be traceable back to the program office which produced it.

Content Requirements

  • When linking to PDFs, follow this format: <link>PDF Title (PDF)</link> (xx pp, yy K, About PDF)
  • Provide a link to EPA’s “About PDF” page ( http://www.epa.gov/home/pdf-files ) on any Web page that links to PDFs. There are two ways to do this:
    • Use the PDF disclaimer box:
      • at the top of a page that includes many PDFs, right before a paragraph or list of PDFs, or 
      • immediately before the first reference to a PDF
    • Use the inline disclaimer when the long version is problematic, or where you have only a few PDFs linked
      • Format: inline disclaimer: <link>PDF Title (PDF)</link> (xx pp, yy K, About PDF)
  •  The "About PDF" link is only required once per page.
  • Include the title of the document and the acronym “PDF” in parentheses in the link text. Make sure it's a good descriptive title for the PDF you're linking to
  • After the link, show the PDF file information in parentheses, listing the number of pages and file size of the PDF as unlinked text, separated by commas.  (xx pp, yy K, About PDF)
    • For the number of pages, use "1 pg" for a single page. For multiple pages, use "XX pp" with a space between the number and "pp".
    • For file size, use "K" for files smaller than 1000 K and "MB" for files larger than 1000 K. For MB, use at most one decimal place. Put a space between the number and "K" or "MB."
    • You may code the file information in parentheses to appear in a smaller font by using the File Info disclaimer (class="fileinfo").
  • Do not add the file type of PDF, the file size, or the number of pages when linking to a document page.  The document page is not a PDF file.  

Examples:

About this Standard

All EPA public web content must adhere to the EPA Web Standards, the U.S. Web Design System guidelines, and the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act.

Original effective date: 07/12/2006
Last approved on: 06/10/2020
Web Council review by: 06/10/2023 (or earlier if deemed necessary by the Web Council) 

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